I’ve really been thinking about that a lot today. Through talking to people, to reading post in Divas, I just have to wonder how long it takes people to break into the NY market.
This sounds crazy every time I think it, but it’s true. I’ve been at this for 5 years. I subbed my first manuscript in June 2001 to Harlequin Blaze. I knew almost nothing about the industry. I wrote a book, then talked a lot to my dad’s cousin (who wrote regencies) who told me how to research who to send it to. I figured it out and sent it. Actually using really bad lines in my query like “I am young and feel my book would really strike a chord with the younger market, because I am part of that market.” And “My book it your typical Harlequin, but with tabasco sauce.” What the f*ck was I thinking? Oh man. And I got a rejection, but it was actually a really great one. Not form, and with lots of compliments. But this was when I was wet behind the ears and didn’t know there were good rejections, bad rejections, and form rejections. I saw it was a rejection and burned it. Ignoring the ‘you are obviously a talented writer’ part.
So I took more of my relatives advice, and joined the RWA. That’s when I really got started. But even then…how serious was I about getting to NY? To getting published? I think I was sort of interested, but I was more concerned about dating, and school, and just having fun in my early twenties. I was doing what I think a rather large group of writers do. I would write one book. One. And I would send it out twice a year. I would send it to the agent and editor I met at the Seattle conference. If they didn’t want it, I’d wait until the next years conference and then pitch the same book to a new agent and editor.
It took me until 2005 until I wrote my second book. And as I started to market it, I was taking advice from a local chapter member Cherry Adair . She gave me the best advice. I said what do I do next? Just send it out until it sells? She said send it out, and write another book. Immediately. And when you’re done with that one, write another one. And so within one year I wrote two books around 70k and a novella ‘The Pirate’s Booty’ which I’ve sold.
I’m very productive, and I think I’ve come far in that aspect. But there’s one more step I need to do. I need to start sending my stuff out. I’m comfortable in my epub life now. And even though I have two books I want to sell to NY, I rarely send out queries. In these five years I would say it would be amazing if I’ve sent out 20 total. I start to get agent interest, and I’ll put everything on hold. Which I know you’re not supposed to do. Most of my friends will have to send out like 25+ queries to get agent interest. A lot land agents that way. So what’s my problem?
When am I going to take that final step and start the massive storm of sending out my stuff to a bizillion places? When am I going get to the end of the road and reach NY. My goal. A lot of people’s goal.
So where do you stand in your writing? Have you hit’m hard in NY? Are you waiting to hear back? Are you waiting to send? Or are you still pitching the same book you wrote three years ago? Or maybe you’re still writing the same book you started a year ago. Let’s share. :)
Here’s my pic of the day….
I need one of those buttons on my keyboard, Shelli! The road to NY - I’d say I’m in the slow lane. No danger of me passing anyone yet. I’ve been at this since 2003 and just these past few months have started the firestorm of queries to agents. I’m the tortoise in this race. It may take me longer to get there but I will.
I’m waiting to hear back from an agent who I’ve been working with for awhile now. We’ll see what happens.
But if she doesn’t bite, I’ll send my queries off to other agents ASAP. I’ve learned that the act of sending out queries motivates me more than anything else to get to writing.
I have a 70k word novel that I need to send out to HQ but it’s like I’m almost scared to. Like I think it’s total crap and why would anyone buy it anyway? That’s my own nerves talking. Dumb, dumb, dumb.
I had a revelation yesterday while I drove to go register my son in jr high (aack! an almost teenager!). I need to get off my butt and work harder. Do more. Write more. Send out more. Don’t be afraid. If you get a rejection, polish yourself off and send out more.
Your blog came at the perfect time!
Hey, how did you get a picture of my keyboard???
I’m pitching a book I wrote two years ago and recently revised and trying to write another full. For me, it’s just a lot of smaller stories get in the way so I write them thinking to get them done and out of the way and next think I know it could be months since I’ve written on the full. So of course I’m like “How am I ever going to get to the big houses if I can’t finish the darn thing?”
NY is starting to show some interest in my work. Actually, I had an agent interested a couple of years back, but I never followed up. I don’t think I was ready then.
Heck, I’m not sure if I’m ready now, but I’m definitely going for it this time!
I agree, though. There’s a certain sense of security being an established author with an e-pub.
I’m working on a couple of ideas at the moment. I want to have completed manuscripts before I start my next agent blitz. This year I’ve set myself a target to have a project ready to go out to agents by the end of the year. What I do try to do though is always have a few submissions out in the mail. At the moment I have two with editors, one with an agent and two with my editor. I like to keep hope in the mail. If I receive a rejection I try to get something else out and continue working on existing or new projects while I wait. That’s the theory anyway.
I’m trying to claw my way out of a serious writer’s block. :( I’m seriously overanalyzing every word I write. Ugh.
My first MS i think i sent out toe 15 agents and then moved it off to E.
The next one, I got a rejection from the then most wanted agent and was crushed and moved it to E after only querying 5 agents.
The next one, my first paranormal I’m currently firing that off to as many agents as I can - and yes, I got a rejection from the ‘then most wanted agent’ who i’ve gotten over. I don’t pin my hopes on one agent anymore.
Meanwhile I’m writing my butt off to pitch directly to E. I don’t plan to abandon the E market if I hit the big houses.
A friend of mine had an agent query process she picked up from a published friend called Five Alive–keep five queries out at any given time. It worked for her, and her friend.
The first time I’d landed an agent I think I’d sent out about 20 queries and gotten about six requests to read my material back (one at a time is for weenies). The second time (after I sold) I sent out seven, got four requests and offers from three agents.
It took me 2.5 years to sell, but in that 2.5 years I racked up around 100 rejections. I think you have to do what’s best for you–personally, for me, I found it hard to write for an epub and write for NY
You are doing awesome Michelle! You’ve sold a few books to e-pub, and now focus on sending out to a billion agents. You are on a role, and keep it moving!
I’m kinda like Stacy that I start working on little ones and forget my novel. I have one more novella in this series and after that I cracking down on my novel. I’m hoping to submit that to NY. That will be a first for me. I haven’t been writing very long so NY will be a huge step for me. I scary step but one I will make myself do.
Man, I want one of those keys lol. :)
I need to get more serious about sending stuff to NY. I only have one thing out right now. I’m very comfortable with Cobblestone though, and no matter what happens I’ll be sticking with epubs too. ;)
I had an agent. I feel like I’m finally beginning to recover from the damage, lol. I am working on a new chick lit and I think once it is perfected I will storm the shores of NY once again.
I so need an oh shit button!!!
I’ve done the agent thing and got good feedback both times.
Mara Bergman at Walker books liked my kids series but said she couldn’t sell them, but said if I wrote something else she’d take a look. I forgot all about that until a couple of months ago so might write a YA soon.
Rupert Heath liked Pervalism, but KNEW he couldn’t sell because of the content. Said he was glad to have read something intriguing for a change, which gutted me as he liked my work - just couldn’t sell it.
I’ll approach agents again sometime. When, no idea, maybe when Five Pyramids is finished.
:o)
The first novel I ever started writing I abandoned it at about 35K and haven’t gone back. Just recently…like this week…I’ve decided I’m going to revisit it and finish it. I’ve also started writing a cozy mystery that I’ve set a goal to finish by the end of the year. I will be sending out queries to agents by the end of the year come hell or high water. I’ve got my list already ready. I think the list I’ve compiled has about 30-35 agents on it. I’m going to start with 5 and if/each time I get a rejection I’ll cross that one off the list and send out another one until I exhaust the entire list. Hopefully, before I get to the end…someone will love me and request my work. :-)
(((Bella))) There truly is nothing worse than a bad agent =( Been there/done that.
Shelli…you have more guts and courage than anyone I know! You have already put yourself out there and have gotten 2 e books published! That’s alot more than most can say so be proud of that! Keep doin what you’re doin and the right agent will be there at the right time and then I can say, “I read her early work and its amazing!” big hugs girlie!!