What happens when...

Being that I hope to query soon, I wanted to talk about what happens after you sign with an agent. Now, I don't have an agent...yet. :) I'm working hard towards that. So when I read this post, my heart sank. Most of us may think that once we get our awesome agent, our problems are over, birds will sing, the flowers will seem a little more vibrant, and we may feel like we are walking on air. I have thought this and for the most part this does happen. You see the celebrations on blogs, giveaways, etc. It happens and I get all excited (and a little jealous) of those folks. It's great to see dreams come true. But what happens after the party settles?

Now, I know a few folks who have been through this. Once you get your agent that is super awesome and you can go to him/her for anything, you may even hang out together (this is kind of my dream, people). The typical progression may be-- your agent sends you revisions (sometimes lots of them) to ready your baby for submission. Once your agent is satisfied, then submission to publishers it is. This process can be long or short depending on your journey. Once you land that book deal, more revisions may occur, then it's onto getting a real book. I'm sure I'm missing some steps, and this is probably the smoothest publishing story ever (it's a dream), so leave anything you would like to add in the comments on that. Like I said, I'm no where near this stage, I'm just giving a brief overview of the process.

But what happens when the agent deal isn't what you expected? What if you don't click with that agent after you sign the contract? What if that agent never really seems interested? What if they never submit your work?

I read this post from Candace Ganger and it got me thinking. This isn't the first time I've read something like this and I wonder how you can avoid it. How can someone really know if the agent is right for them? Sure research, but what if that's not enough? Trust your gut, yes, but is there any other way this heart break can be avoided?

I'm looking to see what your thoughts are. I know there are some sites that may help Query tracker, Guide to Literary Agents, Agent query, etc. I know I'm missing some. But what if these don't give you enough info?
Where do you go?

Let me know what you think.

I also extended the date for my Lipstick Laws Contest. Ends June 23rd. So you have a few more days to enter.

Thanks and have a great weekend!

Research the agent.

I think mother nature is playing a cruel April Fools joke on us today. It's snowing. Funny, mother nature, jokes over, right? I'm also not feeling my best. It seems whatever my kids had this week has now hit me. So I will keep this short.

I hit 15 K yesterday and I'm thrilled. I really hope to finish the first draft by May. This story is just rolling along. I will have some things to change around and revisions, okay, a lot of revisions, but that's the whole process. I'm finally at the point that I'm comfortable with the way I write. Out of order. To this point, I've been writing it in order, but today I must write the end. It keeps bugging me and I know it might change, but it may help the middle.

I've been thinking about the whole query process, and yeah, it scares me. Part of me is excited, the other half, shaking like crazy. I may be premature in thinking about it, but it will come one day. As with anything, I will have to do research to see what agent is good for me, and everything that goes along with it. Of course, I have to be 100% that my manuscript is to the best of my ability, along with the query letter. Yikes. But research takes time, so in the down time, or when I'm stuck, I start to look at this stuff.

Of course, you have to research what each agent is looking for--don't just send your baby to anyone. Make sure they are interested in your genre. Also, submissions guidelines. Make sure you follow these or you're not going to get an answer. Don't forget, never give any money up front. Agents are working for you, so if someone asks for it, let's just say, decline. Would you pay someone to take away your child or pet? Don't answer that unless it's the same answer as me. No. I wouldn't get rid of them, but I hope you see my point. That may be a weird analogy.

Anyway, I think we get so caught up in the writing process we tend to forget that we should know the business too. This will help you understand what goes on, and not leave you in the dark. Plus, don't you want to know what happens to your baby. It is like another child (At least to me. Okay, don't look at me like that). It should be in the best care as possible.

I've been guided to some sites. QueryTracker.net, Association of Author's Representatives, Absolute Write, and AgentQuery.

Do you have any others to add?

Any advice when I start my research?

I know my comments have been limited, and, well, they still will be limited. Sorry. I'm writing, folks. I also need to do a big awards post. Thanks to all of you who have given me an award. You're so sweet.

Have a great weekend!

Are you kidding me?

Well, I did it. I managed not to blog for one day.  I didn't get a whole lot done but I did do something. I managed to finish a critique and I figured out something new for my WiP. That's right something new. Before I signed off on Wednesday, I read an article about what agents and editors are looking for--what might catch their eye. Roni at Fiction Groupie posted what she found out at a recent conference.  It was interesting. 


Being that I've just started my revisions this type of information is helpful and it's forcing me to look at my WiP and find ways to make it different but I must keep in mind to stay true to the story I originally wanted to write. So the key is to find the balance between what it takes to get the novel noticed vs. what you believe in. Oh, how I love revisions. Sounds easy, right? Because anyone can do it.

This leads me to the second half of my post. Many non writers (I sometimes like to call spectators) think that writing a YA (any form) novel is easy.  I guess they think that since we are writing to a teenage audience that we stoop to a lower level in our writing abilities. I would like to share an odd experience I had at a bookstore. I may have embellished this alittle --I am a writer.

So I was looking in the YA paranormal romance section at a local bookstore drooling over what I should buy next and a lady strolls up next to me. She was about my age and dressed to the nines. I think she thought I worked there for a second but then realized that I was holding my son -- hello, obvious. The dialogue may not be exact but it went something like this.

"Are you looking for something for your daughter?" she asked.

"No," I continued to browse.  I don't like being interrupted when I'm in the zone.

"Oh, because I am.  I can't believe the books my daughter wants to read," She was a little to chatty for me.

I just stood there quietly.

"These books are written so poorly and contain such mindless entertainment," she waived her finger around.

So I picked up a book and threw it at her --this is the embellished part. To be quite honest when she made this statement, I felt like throwing a book at her but I was polite. I didn't want to give YA writers a bad name. So I asked her,"Have you read any of them?"

She sort of gave me a shocked look. "Well no, I don't like books in this genre."

"Well then, how do you know that they are mindless entertainment and are written poorly?"

She actually squinted a little, turned and left. I guess I embarrassed her, hehe. My son even giggled. I don't usually speak out and I don't think I was rude but seriously what kind of statement is that. It amazes me that people think this way.

So what would your reaction be if someone said this to you?

Has this ever happened to you?

Here is a question from the first half of my post--What do you concentrate on when writing your novel, what the editors want or what you want to write?

I received some more awards while I was away. You are too kind. There are way too many awards out there.  Thanks guys--I will have one heck of an award post next week.  I missed everyone yesterday and will be commenting like crazy today.  Have a great weekend!