Tuesday, August 25, 2009

It’s Hard Being Anal

I’m doing a slow trickle with this new wave of queries. I’m finding new agents left and right to submit to…and here I thought I’d submitted to all there was out there when I sent out my last batch, but I’ve managed to find about 40 more. And I’m still looking.

The problem, it takes FOREVER!

It’s my own fault. I’ve compiled my list, color coded the agents based on whether they want only a query (pink) or a query with some type of sample or synopsis (light blue).

Well, before an agent/agency makes my list, I have to research them as thoroughly as possible. This isn’t news to any serious writer out there looking to get published.

However, when I get to the point where I’ve opened a new email draft, and I’ve addressed my query letter, I still Google them one last time. I look at their webpage, I read over any post on them on Absolute Write, and then if it’s still all good THEN I submit.

Being anal like this will probably pay off in the end—let’s hope—but man it’s slow! It took me 2 hours to send 4 emails tonight! Lol.

Now, I’m going to lose some brain cells sitting in front of the tv, and eating some orange sherbet. Yummers!

Oh, btw, I submitted my manuscript to the agent from the Secret Agent contest this morning…despite what I said, I did not wait for a shower and coffee. I woke up at 6:15, logged on and sent it! Godspeed…

3 comments:

Stephanie said...

Wishing you luck on the contest!!

I do the same as you...I read everything I can about the agent before they make my list. (My favorite site for checking up on agents is http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/) Then before I send that email, I check back on their site, make sure nothing has changed in their submission guidelines, etc....

Someday our hard work will pay off!

Karen Denise said...

Yes! Someday it will pay off in spades...not really sure what that means, but I'm assuming it's good.

I always check backgrounds and bewares from AW, but I think I'm going to give anotherealm a looksee. Thanks!

Amanda Borenstadt said...

I reallllllllly hope it'll pay off. Sometimes I feel like I'm ramming into the wall to get onto platform 9 3/4 and it just ain't open.