I've come to the conclusion that I really like agents with blogs. Like, a lot. Sure, the agent researching process can suddenly take 2-3 times as long, ESPECIALLY when you come across a like-minded individual who just happens to write posts you can't get enough of. But sometimes, the company website just doesn't cut it, you know? A blog allows an agent to express his or her personality... likes, dislikes, preferences, weird habits--like drinking a 12 pack of diet orange soda everyday (which, incidentally, made me feel much better about my own escalating Diet Coke addiction)--etc. These things while seemingly completely random, silly, and irrelevant, can be very useful when writers like me are trying to narrow down which agents would be most receptive to our cause. A blog really does open a window into the agent's personality. I've read about many an agent expressing frustrations over the fact that writers send in material that is not relevant to anything they are looking for. To those complainers I have but one suggestion: get a blog.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Fingers Crossed
I found a fantastic literary agent today, Vickie Motter. Her blog: http://navigatingtheslushpile.blogspot.com/ was fantastic! She was witty, engaging and full of insightful tips for writers! It was interesting to discover her, because I've never come across an agent who was as devoted to staying in touch with writers the way she was. Most agents don't have the time (understandably) to keep up a blog like that. But she not only had one, but I could tell it was something she diligently maintained. I probably spent too much time reading her posts, but I couldn't help it! I found her "voice" (so to speak) familiar... she seemed to be someone that I would likely get along with, if we ever had the chance of meeting.
Anyway, after leaving a few comments of my own on her blog (which I NEVER do... busy people like that don't have time to read them anyway, right?!), I dusted off my query letter, made a few changes, crossed my fingers and sent her my request. I have this crazy, weird hope that she'll actually ask for more material, which I'm trying to tell myself not to do because honestly... with so many queries coming in my chances are slim to none. But I hope, hope, HOPE she'll read it and like it anyway. Its important to me to work with someone I can get along with. And--okay, you're right--I've never met her, so don't really know if we'd get along. HOWEVER, she's still the first agent to pop up that I have felt an instant connection to... well, the most connection you can have over the Internet, I suppose ( :
In other news, revising is going well. It was tough to get back into the book, as I knew it would be, but I'm finding myself settling into the comfortable groove of writing again. And--surprise, surprise--I love it! Its funny, because I think I've just recently discovered HOW MUCH I really love writing. Its so fun to influence human emotion through the written word. I love making people laugh... love to make them hang on my every word... love to hear the reaction when a hard-written cliff hanger has the desired suspense. I love it! I always knew I enjoyed writing, but coming off of a 4 month fast when I had to devote my time entirely to the study of law, its like an epiphany... I'm renewing and re-realizing (is that even a word?!) the love all over again. With that said, I sincerely hope I can get a fantastic agent SOOOOON (I'm SO impatient!) and get this project rolling in the right direction!
Anyway, after leaving a few comments of my own on her blog (which I NEVER do... busy people like that don't have time to read them anyway, right?!), I dusted off my query letter, made a few changes, crossed my fingers and sent her my request. I have this crazy, weird hope that she'll actually ask for more material, which I'm trying to tell myself not to do because honestly... with so many queries coming in my chances are slim to none. But I hope, hope, HOPE she'll read it and like it anyway. Its important to me to work with someone I can get along with. And--okay, you're right--I've never met her, so don't really know if we'd get along. HOWEVER, she's still the first agent to pop up that I have felt an instant connection to... well, the most connection you can have over the Internet, I suppose ( :
In other news, revising is going well. It was tough to get back into the book, as I knew it would be, but I'm finding myself settling into the comfortable groove of writing again. And--surprise, surprise--I love it! Its funny, because I think I've just recently discovered HOW MUCH I really love writing. Its so fun to influence human emotion through the written word. I love making people laugh... love to make them hang on my every word... love to hear the reaction when a hard-written cliff hanger has the desired suspense. I love it! I always knew I enjoyed writing, but coming off of a 4 month fast when I had to devote my time entirely to the study of law, its like an epiphany... I'm renewing and re-realizing (is that even a word?!) the love all over again. With that said, I sincerely hope I can get a fantastic agent SOOOOON (I'm SO impatient!) and get this project rolling in the right direction!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Frightening
Frightening is the word I will use today to describe how I feel about getting back to my book. Frightening because its been so long. Frightening because... what if my characters don't remember me? What if I don't remember them? Frightening because, what if I read what I've already written and hate it? So many "what if's" and as usual, the unknown is, well, frightening...
But along that line of thought, I just finished a fabulous book by a relatively new-ish writer, Kate Morton. Maybe she isn't even new... are you still a new writer if you've written three successful novels? Maybe. Anyway, I read her book called The Forgotten Garden and got completely swept up in the mysterious storyline. It was delicious! Intrigued as to why I'd never heard of her before, I Googled her (gotta love Google). I found her website, which was as equally charming and mysterious as her book. She mentioned on her website that she tries to stay involved in her work at least everyday. While admitting that sometimes she absolutely hates her work (what writer doesn't, honestly??), she said that there is a danger of slipping out of the story if you spend too much time away. She also confessed that she does not like to leave her characters where she left them "swaying aimlessly" while they wait for her to come back and give them new life.
If Kate's characters sway aimlessly if she's away for a measly little 24 hours, I'm wondering what my characters are up to now that I've been absent for about 4 months.... probably in a deep, dark, Sleeping-Beauty-esque slumber. Or dead. Either way, I suppose I'm about to find out. Time to stop putting off the inevitable and breathe new life--as Kate would say--into my sadly neglected subjects.
But along that line of thought, I just finished a fabulous book by a relatively new-ish writer, Kate Morton. Maybe she isn't even new... are you still a new writer if you've written three successful novels? Maybe. Anyway, I read her book called The Forgotten Garden and got completely swept up in the mysterious storyline. It was delicious! Intrigued as to why I'd never heard of her before, I Googled her (gotta love Google). I found her website, which was as equally charming and mysterious as her book. She mentioned on her website that she tries to stay involved in her work at least everyday. While admitting that sometimes she absolutely hates her work (what writer doesn't, honestly??), she said that there is a danger of slipping out of the story if you spend too much time away. She also confessed that she does not like to leave her characters where she left them "swaying aimlessly" while they wait for her to come back and give them new life.
If Kate's characters sway aimlessly if she's away for a measly little 24 hours, I'm wondering what my characters are up to now that I've been absent for about 4 months.... probably in a deep, dark, Sleeping-Beauty-esque slumber. Or dead. Either way, I suppose I'm about to find out. Time to stop putting off the inevitable and breathe new life--as Kate would say--into my sadly neglected subjects.
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