I promised I would provide information about publishers and the tools to reach them, so
here are a few starting points:
1) Understand that for most writing (novels, plays, memoirs and non-faction) you
will need an agent. There are only a very few publishers that will look at work
that has not been submitted by an agent, and those that do are often for self-
publishing.
So, step one is to find an agent and it is not easy.
1) Make sure that your manuscript is complete. That means you have
spell-checked, reviewed it multiple times and have finished editing and
rewriting.
2) Write a two-paragraph summary – one that could work on the back
cover of a book.
3) Write a one-page summary that explains the story in more detail
4) Arrange to meet an agent in person. This is the best and fasted way to
sign with an agent/agency, but it can be expensive. Sign up and go to
a conference where there are agents accepting pitches (10-20 minutes
for you to describe your work using the summaries you have already
written). Before you go, however, do your research. Find out what
genres the agent is interested in representing, which authors the agent
has successfully sold to publishers, and how closely the agent will
want to work with you.
A note about older writers meeting agents – don’t be intimidated by
all the youth at conferences. Sure, if an agent is a smart business-
person, he/she/they will want to sign on an author that may bring
several more manuscripts. However, my guess is that many older
writers have several manuscripts finished or nearly finished in their
desk drawers. When you meet an agent, if you think they are
interested in your work, casually mention you have other manuscripts.
Don’t make a big deal of it as they want to decide on your current work
first, but I think it helps if they are aware there are more that are
possibilities.
5) The tools you need to find both conferences and agents are plentiful.
Here are a few:
- Poets and Writers
- Publishers Market Place
- Query Tracker
- Manuscripts Wish list
Identify three or four agents at a time and research what they like and don’t like. When
you submit, know in advance that they may not answer for months, although most will
let you know about how long it will take them to review your work. While you are waiting
keep writing and keep searching.
It is also helpful to have a few ‘credentials’ for your work. Next blog will cover the
importance of awards and why you should enter contests while simultaneously looking
for agents.
Don’t give up. Some of the best writers were discovered late in life.