These questions came in the form of a comment to a post I did regarding why writers need agents. I felt this warranted its own post. Thanks to Michael for the great questions.
At last somewhere out there willing to talk to us mere mortal authors. I was beginning to think you editorial folk were imaginary and that publishers use your image to wear down writers. Phew!
No, you had it right the first time. We’re superhuman beings who fly around looking for writers to squash under our big red pens.
Still just what will it take to reach that pot of gold beyond the distant, sometimes invisible rainbow? I mean do we just surrender under the mountain of rejections we get from agents and write a new book?
What you’re really asking is whether you’re writing is good enough to continue the submission process, and I can’t answer that. No one can. The question of, “does my writing suck?” rattles through the brain of every writer, and that’s why writers hunger for experienced feedback. It’s also why writers get so frustrated when they receive form rejection letters. Getting honest feedback is gold, so writers should belong to several writers’ crit groups, whether online or in person.
Do we write a new book?
Absolutely. Writers should never stop writing. Just because you’re making the submissions rounds, you should be working on a new book. As long as you’re involved with some good writing groups, writers always improve with each new work. Most put their first books in their desks and let them gather dust, and they end up submitting their third or fourth book. Flip side of that is that I know plenty of first time writers who got their first book pubbed by very large publishers. In short, there are very few hard and fast rules. But knowledge rules all. Be smart and be informed about your craft and the business.
How do we even know our first book wasn’t of readable quality in the first place?
You don’t. I’ve known several writers who printed up about 25 copies of their books, distributed them to people they knew would be brutally honest. Based on the feedback, they went back to the drawing board and rewrote their work. They repeated the process after about a year after working with an editor, taking some classes, and joining crit groups. One ended up getting a very nice deal with a large publisher. The other is sitting on my desk right now. My feeling is that if you surrender now, you’ll always wonder whether you stopped submitting too soon.
More importantly, how do we get to first base with an agent?
First, write a great book. Do your homework and seek agents that rep the type of work you write. Take a look at your query letter and synopsis. Is it tight, clear, and short? Many writers unvalue the importance of a kickass synopsis, and I can say that a lousy one will have an agent or editor reaching for a form rejection letter in the blink of an eye. I know many agents who will quit reading after the first paragraph. I’m not saying this to scare you, but to educate you.
There are a couple posts on our blog here and here that deal with the pitch and writing a synopsis. Writing a great synopsis takes a hideous amount of time. And it should; your career basically depends on it.
It seems to me, as a writer that this is like the pimple faced geek trying to get a date with the most beautiful girl in school and the chance of her jock boyfriend knocking us mere writers on our literary arses is going to be yet another lesson why we writers of the future will remain in the past.
Are you kidding? “Mere writers” are being published every day. I’m not sure what “the writer of the future” is. I’ve not heard of this classification before. There are writers. Period.
Look, I’m going to be a bit tough here, because I think you and many other writers need to hear it. This business is extremely competitive and can be harsh. The writer needs to have a solid constitution that can withstand rejection and brutally honest critique – if not from an agent or an editor – certainly from reviews. Literature is subjective, and not everyone is going to like your words. The trick is finding the agent who believes they can sell your work.
Where is it written that life offers guarantees of fairness and the nice guy always finishes first? This is a business about making money by publishing marketable literature, and you have to treat this as a business. At no point in time have there been more writers. It’s a buyers market for agents and editors, and we have the luxury of picking the very best. If you’re looking for a sense of being given a chance, then you’re in the wrong business. No one will give you a chance. Someone will take your work on because they feel your work will land a nice publishing deal. Looking for a sense of fair play is best left to reprimanding one’s children.
Now, that I’ve succeeded in sounding cruel and heartless, let me add that agents and editors forge, for the most part, very good, and sometime very close, relationships with our authors. We’re human and are actually very nice people (for the most part). But make no mistake about it. It’s a business first.
What is the so-called ‘Diamond in the Rough’ they are looking for?
This is the manuscript that shows great promise by the merits of a fabulous plot, marketable idea, and great writing that may need finessing. I’ve known agents who’ve worked with their clients for a couple years helping to get their manuscripts ready for submission. In fact, we signed an author whose agent had worked with him on his manuscript for four years. The agent was very savvy and knew exactly what kind of prospects the work had and sought out publishers whom she felt would deliver the goods.
How does the pimple faced geek get the prettiest girl to notice them?
First, the pimple-faced geek shoves aside his insecurities and starts believing in the merits of their work. Nothing is a bigger turn off than the apologetic writer, and we see plenty of them. The writer who shows confidence is far more likely to be a presence during their promo phase. If I see an author who sees himself as a wanna-be, then I have a high level of confidence that he’s going to flop at promotion. Agents smell this as well. So, I’m not going to refer to you as a pimple-faced geek. You’re a writer, so start acting like one. Learn the business, get involved in the literary community. Join crit groups, get your work read to see if your work needs finessing or if you’re sitting on the next best thing. My mantra is ‘Knowledge is power,’ so surround yourself with as much information as you can. Your submission process will be that much stronger for it.
If you want the inside scoop on what floats our boats, 
Sane and wonderful advice, as usual! But, I’m going to key in on one point and play the devil’s advocate for a moment. Only because of the day I’ve had and a particular news item that struck a nerve. Regarding your comment:
Where is it written that life offers guarantees of fairness and the nice guy always finishes first? This is a business about making money by publishing marketable literature, and you have to treat this as a business.
I agree with you but (drum roll please… I hate to even bring this up)what exactly is “marketable literature?” And, clearly, sometimes the nice guy not only doesn’t finish first; he comes in dead last.
As you can imagine how frustrating it is for struggling authors who spend years perfecting their novels and have countless doors slammed in their faces to see the biggest headline in the book industry is about an animal who got away with murder. OJ. (There, I said it…ugh)
Something like this tends to really demean the publishing industry. I can’t seem to get published, writing what I believe to be enjoyable novels that send a strong, realistic, message to society on topics most would prefer to not read about. In an enjoyable way, they give the reader countless information on how to protect themselves, and their children, from people like him. OJ, and the Goldman family, both had agents in like one day? Obviously, and taking into consideration what I do in my “day job,” something like this really floors me.
I can write enjoyable novels, and not get published. If I go out tomorrow and commit some heinous act; publishers will be beating down my door. I understand that most of the publishers, and agents, don’t agree with the book but I felt the need to rant like a lunatic about it anyway. It’s extremely frustrating…
Sorry, Lynn; I didn’t mean to fill up the whole page of your blog but, again, the unspoken “anything goes” rule in the biz sometimes gets to the best of us.
Promise to be cheerier tomorrow! Best wishes, always….
Lynn, thanks for the wonderful comments and encouragement. I almost feel embarrassed to make a suggestion, but as the King of rejections, perhaps I might offer a little advice that could enhance what you said.
First, query to agents or publishers you know can get your books sold. Start high and work your way down. Agents first, then publishers.
Keep going as the rejections come in. Read them. If they are a form letter, toss them in the shoe box. If they offer some personal information on your manuscript, read it and learn from it.
Keep submitting until you find yourself querying Hell itself. If they won’t have it, then try to figure out what you did wrong.
In the mean time, keep writing. By the time the first one is sold or scrapped, you will have another project to submit.
Don’t worry if it isn’t good enough. The agents and publishers are not bashful. They will let you know. Worry about selling yourself short.
Now where did I put that soap box? Oh, here it is. (I got to remember not to stand on that old thing. I get so long winded)
what exactly is “marketable literature?”
It’s that vague-assed manuscript that any particular publisher or agent may feel will sell well. I say vague-assed because what’s marketable to me may not be marketable to Jane Editor or Joe Agent. It’s subjective, and yes, for a writer, this revelation sucks stale Twinkie cream.
And, clearly, sometimes the nice guy not only doesn’t finish first; he comes in dead last.
Dead last of what? Nice guy who writes brilliant stuff has a higher chance of eventually being recognized. And at that, what’s brilliant? It’s in the eye of the beholder, and that would be the agent or editor.
The question is when to give up. I’d say that if Nice Guy has been rejected by about a hundred outstanding agents and editors, he may not have such a brilliant work. That’s why writers can’t be islands. They have to be a part of a writing community that will offer unbiased crits of the work.
As you can imagine how frustrating it is for struggling authors who spend years perfecting their novels and have countless doors slammed in their faces to see the biggest headline in the book industry is about an animal who got away with murder. OJ. (There, I said it…ugh)
Oh, gawd, say halleluiah! I say the same thing about movies…are there no directors willing to make good movies where we’re not subjected to hormonal, zit-faced teenagers whose biggest quandary is how they’re going to get into some cheerleader’s bloomers AND steal the final math exam? There’s no doubt about it, a ton of crap gets pubbed. Why? Because crap sells. The more voyeuristic and dysfunctional it is, the better it sells.
We have several titles that have been optioned for films only to be dumped. These are brilliant pieces of works that have the capacity to become classics. When I see the dregs coming out of Hollywood, I moan. So, yes, I understand your angst and sympathize. On the other hand, a lot of great work is also getting pubbed, so, believe it or not, there is a balance.
Something like this tends to really demean the publishing industry.
I don’t believe this. Publishers have found topics that sell. We’re in the business to make money, so we’re going to gravitate toward works we think will sell. I’m not saying that there aren’t those who push the envelope, like the OJ drivel, but that’s really the way of Man – to push the envelope before someone stops and says, “enough!” For the most part, publishers reflect on what readers want. They’ll put out new types of works to test the waters and evaluate the response. If it sells, you’ll be apt to see those types of genres flooding the market the very next season. Alas, the birth of chick lit and teen lit.
I can’t seem to get published, writing what I believe to be enjoyable novels that send a strong, realistic, message to society on topics most would prefer to not read about.
I don’t know what to tell you, not having read the work. I don’t know how many agents and editors you’ve submitted to, but if it’s hundreds, it’s possible you need some outside help to give you an honest critique.
And don’t worry; you’re allowed to feel like meatloaf every now and then. Writing is a tough business and the ego isn’t surrounded by one of those really cool Star Trek shields. So, set your phaser to stun, have a margarita, and begin writing a new book.
What would I do without you? My day of feeling like a leftover 3-day old meatloaf has passed…I love someone like you to “tell it like it is” and throw me back into reality. Tell me to quit my whining, bitching, and move forward!! You are right 100%. I apologize for the waste of space. As for the publishers, I only had passed through 7 and, although rejected, they had many positive things to say. I jumped into the sea of dispair due to circumstances of the day beyond my control.
What is the ultimate humorous ending to this week? Other than falling on my face in front of a restaurant full with people (I wasn’t even drinking) I opened my mail this afternoon and had an offer for rep from an agent…I actually felt myself laugh away 5 weeks of stress. I’m being careful this time around and not jumping into a contract, giving myself time to think about the offer in full.
Regardless, a weight has been lifted…many margaritas are being consumed in Ohio this weekend. One of which is being “cheered” to Lynn in Cali…Thanks for everything, lady!