Monday, June 17, 2013

What's YOUR Literary Agent Number?



Before book apps were invented, there were agents. Before e-books and print on demand books and even some of today's publishing companies were established, there were agents.  In fact the first known literary agent opened for business way back in 1875.  He was the original gatekeeper between a writer and a publisher.  He took his job seriously and demanded the best from each and every writer who sought his representation.

In over 135 years THAT hasn't changed.  Literary agents today still demand the best from the writers who seek them out.  Writers like me who know without their support and guidance my path to publication may be a nearly impossible journey to make.  So I polish my stories and send them out with a wish and a prayer...into the hands of the agents. People who test the publishing waters before my stories ever get to them. They have a strong intuition of what sells and what won't.  They take calculated risks as they sift through the slush pile and mounds of queries loading down their inboxes each day and reject the stories they know they can't be passionate about.

And the rejection letters return home to the writers...words of regret that their story wasn't chosen and a wish for better luck next time.  Sometimes just empty silence screaming louder than any words actually could.  What's a writer to do?  

Cry?

Give up? 

When I decided it was time to start submitting my stories this year, I also decided I would take the bad with the good. That I would accept the rejections from agents as simply part of being fully vested in this writer's life.  And you know what? Today I decided to set a goal of just how many agents I'm willing to let reject my story in the hopes it will find a home of it's own one day.  

My number is 100.  I won't start considering Plan B until I have received 100 rejections for each manuscript I send out. Standing alone, 100 seems like a pretty big number to me.  But when you consider there are thousands of literary agents in the world...heck, maybe tens of thousands...then a measly 100 isn't too much to ask for, is it?

So think about it the next time you open an email or a letter from an agent...only to read "I'm so sorry but your story isn't the right fit for our company".  That might make THEM feel better for having sent it but really doesn't make YOUR day.  THAT's when you need to decide...

What's YOUR number?

I've only got 95 more to go on my first story...









18 comments:

  1. I found my number, it is 2 the limit of my patience. Makes sense really I've always been a bit of a number 2

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    1. Hi JP! In your case, 2 was definitely enough if it means we get your story sooner...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  2. Oh dear, I lost count after 100. It becomes a bigger and bigger challenge, and I never walk away from a challenge. You go girl, you can do it!

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    1. Hi Yolanda! I'm having so much fun on the journey that I'm sure I'll go to 100 and beyond if necessary...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  3. I like the idea of starting out with a number - because otherwise it gets seriously depressing. 100 - that seems nice and round and could take awhile.... a worthy number. Good Luck

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    1. Hi Sue! I thought so...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  4. I honestly don't think I'd make it to 100! I am impressed with your patience and perseverance, Donna! A neat idea. All best and good luck!

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    1. Hi Miranda! Thank you for your kind words. I was raised on patience and perseverance...I don't know any other way to be...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  5. Waaay back in the days when actual paper rejections were common, I also thought that after 100, I'd quit. But then I got to a hundred, and then I passed 100, and my mindset changed. I decided that all those rejection letters were bringing bad karma into the house! So I shredded them (all except a few that I use at my school visits), and I stopped saving them and stopped counting them, and I just write and submit because that's what a writer does, and I am a writer. I was probably around 200 rejections when my book was published, but by then I had stopped counting.

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    1. Hi Genevieve! Oh, I don't plan on quitting...just have to start on my next hundred...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  6. I'm writing YA and I'm not sure there are 100 agents who rep it, but that is a good number. And I'm going to keep going until I hit it, or more!

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    1. Hi Judy and welcome to my blog! I find your comment interesting because all I DO find are agents who rep YA...it's harder in my opinion to find agencies repping picture books than young adult...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  7. I'm not sure I have a number. I just started the query process myself for a project and haven't decided yet, just what I'll consider as my agent number. I commend you for starting with the triple digits. But perhaps you won't have to see that number at all :-)

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    1. Hi Angela! I'm not the type of person to start small that's for sure...lol...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  8. The number for my last novel was 60. I chose it because one of my writing friends, who had more experience with agents, always stopped at 60. But I'm planning on shooting for around 100 with the novel I'm querying now.

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    1. Hi Julia and welcome to my blog! To me it's just a number but also more than that...it's a visual for me to realize I need to do whatever it takes to get my stories in the hands of agents so they can find a home...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  9. 10 for now, seeing as I've only sent in 1 ms to be rejected 1 time so far. I don't think me being 11 years old helps my chances... I think they think I'm joking and wasting their time. :(

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    1. Hi Erik! I like that you have a beginning number in mind. As far as your age goes, I will disagree with your assessment and here is why:

      1. Strong writing is strong writing no matter the age of the writer. The more you practice and the more you write, the better your writing voice will be and THAT will appeal to any good agent or publisher no matter what your age may be.

      2. There are many "kid" authors in the world of children's literature. Here are some...Thomas Chatterton, Hilda Conkling, Lope de Vega, Francis Hawkins, Dorothy Straight, Gordon Korman, Maddy Johnson, Michael Brasier, Anne Frank. Some were published when they were as young as 6 years old. They all had something to give to the world through their writing and they didn't allow their age to stop them.

      3. It's mainly about presentation. How you interact with those around you. You are already making connections in the publishing world and I don't think any of those people see you as just some kid "playing" at writing. You are dedicated to your book reviews on your blog and you are participating in many online writing events which can only help you in the long run.

      You have to keep in mind there is no such thing an "instant success" with writing and every "rejection" is a lesson either in how to improve your work or a lesson in perseverance...and THAT is something YOU know a lot about my Black Belt friend...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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