Tips
from a Slush Pile Find:
How One Writer Got an Agent
By Ronlyn
Domingue
Author of The Mercy of Thin
Air: A Novel
When people
ask how I got my agent, I often respond, “Divine intervention.”
In May
2003, I finished my first novel, or thought I had. Within a few
days, I mailed query letters and excerpts to five agents, one of
whom I’d met at a conference. Three sent polite rejections, one
read the manuscript then declined, and the last (the one I’d
met) said he liked what he saw but didn’t think it was finished
yet.
I revised
The Mercy of Thin Air
one last time, my confidence solid. The manuscript went back to
the interested agent -- then he passed on it. Frankly, we were
both disappointed things hadn’t worked out. And I don’t recall
breathing for about a month.
Once I
emerged from the anaerobic stupor, I approached my agent search
like a job.
First, I
set my criteria. I only considered agents who were members of
the Association of Authors’ Representatives. I wanted someone
with a track record of sales to major publishing houses. And
finally, which was out of my control, I wanted an agent whose
faith in this novel was as intense as my own.
Second, I
created a database that held the names, addresses, and pertinent
information on dozens of agents. They represented writers I
liked or novels similar to mine in subject matter or theme. Each
was ranked based on how interested I thought they’d be in my
work and on how much information I could find. Some were held
pending more research; others marked “do not send” because they
were allegedly disreputable.
Third, I
sent out individually tailored queries and accompanying excerpts
to those ranked highest in my database. In total, I submitted to
60 agents. From 50, I received outright rejections. The other 10
read the manuscript. I was surprised to get sincere compliments
from several who declined and equally bewildered by those whose
soul-testing, awful comments made me question my very existence.
Yet, there
was Agent #10. Call it a miracle, indeed, because the first 30
pages of my novel arose from a slush pile into the hands of an
intern who gave it to the agent who was, in turn, intrigued
enough to see the whole manuscript. In late August 2004, the
phone rang (good news doesn’t come in an SASE) and on the other
end was Jandy Nelson -- an AAR member who routinely sold her
authors’ work to major houses and who loved The Mercy of Thin Air
as much as I did.
Occasionally when I tell this story, an acquaintance will stare
in horror and gasp, “You sent to how many? It took
how long?” My
response is always the same: “It’s all about persistence.” This
is a competitive business we’ve chosen -- or been dealt -- and
only the persistent survive to get published.
Below are
some tips I developed that I hope will be helpful to other
not-yet-published writers. You might get lucky with the first
submission -- or it may take you 50, 100, or 200 attempts. No
matter what, you must have an unwavering faith in what you
created and be willing to keep trying.
-
Make a
list of writers you like and of published books that are
similar to yours. Then, find out who represented these
works. Check each book’s acknowledgments or do some
sleuthing on-line. (I never had to resort to this -- it
seems too sneaky -- but I’ve heard that you could call a
publisher’s publicity department, claim to be interested in
the rights to the book, and ask for the writer’s agent’s
name. Phew.)
-
“Google” every agent. It may be necessary to search multiple
sites to ensure that you have correct data. A number of
agents will be listed on literary agency websites, but
updates to those sites are sometimes delayed. Agents --
especially ones who haven’t been in the business long --
move around a lot. Basically, do your homework. (In many
cases, once an agent’s listing hits a market guide you can
buy at a bookstore, the information is obsolete. The
internet is going to be a far better resource.)
-
Find
out exactly how to approach each agent. These days, more
agents accept e-mail submissions, but many still want snail
mail.
-
Send an
agent only what he asks to see and in the format he wants.
If he wants a query and the first 30 pages, send that. Some
agents have guidelines about margins and font styles. If you
can’t find information on someone’s requirements, it’s
typically safe to mail your query letter, the first 20 pages
of your book (one and a quarter inch margins on all sides,
12 point Times New Roman font), and a self-addressed stamped
envelope for a reply.
-
Personalize every query, and make a connection to the agent.
State what you like about a client’s work or how you think
your book fits into her interests. Please, address each
person professionally, spell correctly, and double check
addresses. (Note: Mass mailings -- snail or otherwise -- are
obvious and off-putting.)
-
Never
e-mail or snail mail your entire manuscript unless it’s
requested.
-
Always,
always, be gracious and courteous, even when you’re
rejected. This industry is a small world of its own, and you
want all bridges to remain open.
-
There
are dozens of resources online, but these sites were the
most helpful to me:
Copyright © 2006 Ronlyn Domingue
Author:
Ronlyn Domingue is the author of The Mercy of Thin Air
(Atria Books; September 2005; $24.00US/$33.00CAN;
0-7432-7880-1). She lives in Louisiana and is at work on her
second novel. For more information, please visit
www.ronlyndomingue.com.
