Into The Void

 

Terry here, answering the burning question that plagues new writers: How does a writer find an agent? 

     First, you need to decide if you need an agent. The answer is generally yes, if you can get one. But if you are publishing independently, then you probably don’t need an agent. (Discuss). If that's the case, read only through #3 below, because that's for everyone, even if you don't think you need an agent. 

     I’ve been writing for a long time, and I remember when getting an agent was easy. The hard part was for the agent to get a deal for you. That’s because publishers had acquiring editors who did all the hard work of vetting the manuscript. The agent’s job was to find something that sounded interesting and then turn it over to an editor who thought he or she could whip it into shape.

    When I got my first few agents, they didn’t offer any suggestions for changing my manuscript—they just started sending it out. Really all you had to do in those days was send them a decent manuscript and they’d snap it up. But as I said, getting a publisher was the hard part. And it took years before I found an agent who could do that. 

     Gradually things changed. Now agents are the first line of defense in vetting a manuscript. They won’t send the manuscript out to editors at publishing houses unless they’re pretty sure it will be accepted. And that means they read the manuscript with a critical eye and send notes, just like editors do. 

    So, that being the case, in order to interest an agent, you have to 

1) Have a fresh book, something that doesn’t sound like tired old tropes with protagonists we’ve read too many times. A book with a fresh voice and a fresh point of view.

2) Have it read by beta readers/critique groups to make sure it’s well-written. 

3) Make sure it’s free of typos and grammatical errors 

4) Be sure the agent you send it to represents the kind of book you’ve written. 

5) Write a dynamite query letter. 

6) Be prepared to hear a lot of “nos” before you hear a yes. 

7) Get the "right" agent.

     To do all those things, you have to do your homework. Writing a fresh, new book sounds wonderful in theory, but in practice it’s hard. Read widely in your sub-genre to learn what has already been done.

 This doesn’t mean you can’t use an old plot—there are only so many plots to go around. But it does mean you need to have a new slant on it. 

     Then, you need to find astute readers either to give you advice while the book is in progress or to give a critical review after you’ve polished it. You have to decide whether you’ll benefit most from a good writer’s group, beta readers, and/or professional editors. It’s also helpful to attend workshops, join a writer’s organization like Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, and take advantage of the programs they offer. There are people willing to exchange manuscripts for critiques, who are willing to mentor new writers, and to be beta reads. Remember, “good enough” is not good enough. It has to be absolutely the best manuscript you can write.

    Once you think it’s as good as it can be, you’ll be ready to tackle #3, finding an agent who represents what you’ve written. Here are some ways to find them: 

1) If you’ve joined MWA or SINC, you can get advice from fellow-members. 

2) Consult Publishers’ Marketplace https://literary-agents.com/directory-literary-agents/publishers-marketplace/. It’s a comprehensive reference for literary agents. 

3) Look at the “Acknowledgements” from authors whose books you think are like yours. Authors frequently thank their agents by name. 

4) Talk to other authors. The mystery writing community is very generous! Writers are happy to share their war stories, about agents they think might work for you and those to steer clear of. 

    As for #4 under how to interest an agent by writing a good query, everyone knows writing a good query letter is almost as hard as writing the book!

I won’t go into the details here, because there are plenty of references, but my one piece of advice is to try to let your voice shine through in the query letter. A stiff, formal letter isn’t a deal-breaker, but a friendly voice gives you a leg up. 

    And one last thing, take note of what the agent you are querying asks an author to send with the letter. Some want only a query; others want a chapter, a synopsis, or both. Don’t fudge. Do as they ask. You are asking for their interest, and it’s best to play by their rules. Oh, yeah, and be sure you don’t send out an email blast! Make the letters individual. I know it’s tedious, but agents are people, too, and they won’t be excited to read: Dear Agent, I’ve got a great book…. 

     When you finally start sending out your queries, be prepared for a long, tedious process. I’ve heard people complain when they have sent out ten queries and didn’t get a yes. At ten, you’re just scratching the surface. Some agents take a long time to reply. Be aware that some agents will never reply. It’s a sad situation, but it’s reality. And of those who do reply, you'll hear a lot of nos.

 Good agents get hundreds of query letters, and they are swamped. It’s okay to write a “reminder” after a few months, but if there has been no interest shown, it’s probably a waste of time. But if an agent asks for chapters or the whole manuscript, it’s legitimate to inquire after a reasonable time. 

     When I wrote my first Samuel Craddock book, it took me 75 queries, and almost a year, before I found an agent. And then three agents replied all at the same time. Go figure! 

    And last, but certainly not least, if you get an offer of representation, be sure the agent is a good fit for you. Ask questions (Who else do you represent? How long have you been in the business? How do you communicate with your authors—by phone? By email?) There are lots of questions. These are only a sample. Don’t be afraid to ask those questions. It pegs you as a serious author. 

Good luck!