The only phrases that are zipping in and out of my mind lately are “query letter” and “find an agent.” When this manuscript was simply a mess of words, the effort was pushing towards finishing, creating a story line, and weaving characters that were not only believable, but personal. Then, it became editing and rewrites, and involving others in the process - taking in the compliments and the criticism, and starting the process all over again. And again and again. As I’ve hit milestone after milestone, nothing has prepared me for the step where the manuscript moves beyond the circle in which it’s traveled and gets offered up for commercial consumption.
I’ve written before about how odd it is to sell yourself, but more than that, what I’m finding now is that I barely even know where to start selling myself. How do you narrow down that incredibly long list of agents? How do you find the right person, do it the right way, and present yourself as the right candidate? I have the goal, and know some of the steps to reach it - but the big step one, the “how,” is missing. I suppose the details don’t create the bigger picture when the process is usually the other way around.
I know I’m closer than I’ve ever been, though. (Of course, that doesn’t mean I have miles to go, I know.) The six plus readers I’ve had have given me incredibly good feedback - way, way more positive than I could have imagined - and as I spend more time with each page, I’m gaining the confidence I need. Now to figure out what to do with it.
M
