Write That Book Already!: The Tough Love You Need To Get Published Now (11 page)

We’re going to start by giving you the same advice you’d get before a job interview: know the people you are pursuing. It’s a waste of everyone’s time pitching an agent or agency with material that isn’t a good fit. You want to find
the
agent who is right for you. Begin networking in the world of publishing and among other writers. As in a job search, it’s helpful (but not a guarantee by any means) to be referred by a client, someone in the publishing industry, or a friend.

But first, a few words of warning. After a group reading by several authors who’d contributed to an anthology, the conversation turned to a discussion of the various authors’ agents. One woman gushed about hers, and another—who was looking for someone to represent her new book—was intrigued.

“Your agent sounds great,” she said innocently. “Will you tell me who she is and how to contact her?”

“Sure,” said the more established author. “Can I date your boyfriend?” (Actually it was a different verb, but here at Author Enablers headquarters we frown on the public use of this verb. So date you.)

This is an extreme example, and we’re not saying we approve of this behavior, but you might be surprised at how close-mouthed published authors can be about divulging their agents’ names until/ unless they’ve read your work and think it’s (a) terrific and (b) a good fit for their agent. Despite the air of mystery, you must remember that there are many literary agents looking for good writers with fresh ideas. Yes, it can be hard to get their attention, and yes, there are hoops to jump through, but you can research and identify the “live ones” without having to rely on the luck of chance meetings or calling in favors with your writer friends.

“Great,” you say. “You just told us a story about why not to do this, and anyhow, how do I meet the client of an agent, someone in the publishing industry, or the friend of an agent?” Okay, this might not work for everyone. Relying on personal contacts is only one approach to cracking the agent code. And if you don’t have any contacts in the publishing business or know any writers, we’re not suggesting you start handing out your manuscript to authors at bookstore readings or accosting agents on the streets of Manhattan.
You
want to be accosted by
them.

So where do you find agents? We’re glad you asked. There are several publications that provide listings of literary agencies. One of the best known is the
Literary Market Place
, an extensive listing of publishing professionals, a publication found in most libraries as well as online. In
LMP
you’ll find agents listed along with their specialties and interests. Most agents also have websites that define their submission requirements. It’s not in your best interest to ignore these requirements, as many agents have assistants who make the first cut according to adherence to these simple guidelines. There are other publications that can help in this quest, such as the publications produced by Writer’s Digest and online newsletters like
Publishers Lunch.
Some books and online sites also offer agent listings—your librarian or local bookseller can lead you to the most up-to-date. Most important is making sure you have access to the most current information. Once you’ve identified some promising agencies, you can often check for guidelines and preferences on their websites.

If you can afford the time and tuition, writers’ conferences and workshops are wonderful places to meet agents. For instance, the San Francisco Writers’ Conference offers an event called “Speed Dating for Agents” that allows you access to several agents in the space of an hour. Other writer’s conferences offer one-on-one meetings with agents, as well as many other benefits including an environment in which you can think about nothing but writing for a week or a weekend.

THE AUTHOR ENABLERS’ TOP-SECRET AGENT-FINDING TRICK

Here is the Author Enablers’ top-secret trick for identifying the best and most successful agents in your genre. Go to a bookstore or library and read the acknowledgment pages in books similar to yours. Most authors will thank their agents, and if you see certain names popping up over and over again, you’ll know that these are the names of agents who successfully sell books in your genre.

NOW THAT YOU HAVE YOUR LIST OF AGENTS

Okay, you’ve figured out what your genre is, and found a list of reputable agents who represent books similar to yours. What’s next?

FICTION WRITERS

If you are an unpublished writer and you have a completed work you want to sell, start by crafting your best query letter, and then follow it up with sample pages that will knock the socks off an agent. If you write genre fiction—a loose publishing term that generally refers to categories such as romance, horror (some say there’s little difference), science fiction, fantasy, and thrillers— then you may want to join one of the appropriate organizations, such as Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, or Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, so you can network with other writers in your genre. Recommendations by previously published authors carry weight with agents. Also, why not join a writers’ group? The support of a group and improvement to your craft can only help you in your quest to write the best possible book and find representation. You may even end up in a group with other writers who have been published before, know the ropes, and can help you make connections. If writing literary fiction, get noticed by submitting your writing to literary magazines and contests. Build up those credentials. If you attended a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program for writing don’t forget to note this in your resume and bio, and put those student and faculty contacts to use in any reasonable way you can. But don’t be a pest.

NONFICTION WRITERS

Credentials are crucial for nonfiction authors—especially for business or self-help books. It is very difficult to sell a nonfiction proposal to a major house unless you are an expert on your subject and/or you have an established platform. Your platform might include some of the following elements:

• Media contacts in television, print, and radio

• A syndicated or regionally popular column

• A significant online presence (e-zine, website, blog, and so on)

• Published articles in a field that is directly related to the subject of your book

• An affiliation with a known and respected university or an eminent position among the clergy

• Twenty or more speaking engagements a year

Our point is, if you are a nonfiction writer, generally you need to bring something to the table besides your great proposal that will convince an agent that there’s an audience out there for your work.

Regardless of your genre, remember to be courteous and respectful when you talk to agents. In fact, remember to be courteous and respectful when speaking to anyone—it is the right thing to do, and it will get you much further in life.

If an agent is disrespectful to you then you don’t want to be represented by him or her. A good agent will return your e-mails or calls, keep you informed on the status of your submissions, and will send you your payments promptly. Most legitimate agents
do not
charge fees for consultations. Agents make money selling authors’ work to publishers. If an agent wants to charge you money just to look at your writing, the Author Enablers think you should walk away. And if an agent turns out to be a jerk, crazy, lazy, or just plain stupid, then you don’t want that agent to represent you.

Tough Love from the Author Enablers

Are you selling, or selling out? If it sounds like we are advising you to sell out your art—well, when it comes to your book, it’s time to sell, if not sell out. After all, if you don’t sell the book, very few people will get to read it—and isn’t getting read the whole point? If you can’t pitch the book in a clear, compelling, succinct way, then there’s a good chance your agent won’t be able to, either.
Remember: the inability to concisely summarize a book is often a sign that the concept is not well conceived.
‹«

QUERY LETTERS 101

A good query letter is brief and to the point. It should grab agents by the lapels and make them want to represent you. One page is fine, or two at most. You should summarize your book in a sentence or two, in a fashion similar to the “logline” of a Hollywood-style elevator pitch. For example:

• In this compelling debut novel, a depression-era Southern lawyer represents a black man in a rape trial; children learn deep, hard truths.

• In this charming picture book for beginning readers, a reindeer learns the value of his embarrassing bright red nose and finds his place in world.

• In this epic historical novel, God invents the world in six days and takes a vacation. Capers ensue.

In your query letter, start by letting the agency know why you contacted them. Were you referred by someone? Why is this agency the one for your book? Next, pitch your book: what is your novel or nonfiction proposal, and why is it a great book idea? If you have a story or anecdote that conveys your idea, use it now—don’t save it for later. Be clever or charming, deep or exciting—strike a tone that is appropriate for you and your work, but do your best to grab the agent’s attention.

Say why you are the person to write the book. If it’s a novel, what is your writing background? What programs or conferences have you attended? Have you been published before, or won any awards? Who are your literary mentors and idols?

If your work is nonfiction, what are your credentials? Who is your audience? Do you have a platform? If your book is about the circus, it’s more important to let them know that you ran away and joined the circus when you were ten years old than that you attended Stanford University (and to us, more interesting, but then we wish
we
had joined the circus). The point is to make clear why you are the person to write this book. But lying won’t get you anywhere—don’t pretend to be someone you aren’t. What is called for is a good fit between the book you are proposing to write and yourself.

Finally, thank the agent for taking the time to read your materials, and remember to provide your contact information: phone number, address, and e-mail. Allow six weeks or so for a reply, and don’t be a pest—nagging won’t win you any friends.

There is no exact formula, and this entire process could take as long as a year, or even more. It’s an important step to gain the representation of a literary agent, and there really aren’t any magic shortcuts. Remember, you only need one agent, and it’s worth putting in the time and energy to find the one that’s right for you. In the process you will learn a lot about yourself, your writing, and your book. You won’t just be someone who longs to be an author—you will be on your way.

To speed things along it is okay to send queries to more than one agency at a time unless you’ve promised someone an exclusive read. If you do make such a promise, limit it to a month or so. Have a clear deadline, after which it is agreed it is okay for you to send your work to other agencies.

CONGRATULATIONS! NOW GET BACK TO WORK

Perhaps you’re in the shower, at the dentist’s office, or even at work. Wherever you are, when
the
phone call comes—the one from the literary agent who has responded to your query letter, read your manuscript, and wants to represent you—you’ll never forget the moment. Enjoy it, relish it, write about it in your journal, call your best friend, celebrate with a bottle of champagne and a great meal, and then get over it. You have a lot of important work ahead of you. Maybe your mother, your best friend, and even your writing group cronies think your manuscript is perfect, but your new agent is likely to recommend a rewrite. It’s a good idea to listen to what the pros have to say and to choose your battles wisely.

More and more, agents are taking on some of the role of editors, and in a competitive marketplace, no one wants to pitch any book by a new author that isn’t as near perfect as possible. This doesn’t mean you won’t have more work to do once your book is sold; it does mean that it’s very likely you’ll be asked to make some revisions before your agent is willing to take your book to market.

This is a crucial time in your publishing career, and also in what everyone involved hopes will be a long and fruitful association between two professionals.

“
The
phone call” will probably catch you by surprise when it comes. Still, it’s your responsibility to be a pro. Here’s the right way to handle the phone call:

Phone:
Ring, ring!