But wait, there's less!
I finished the first draft of my heroic fantasy, THE MOONLIGHT WAR, back around December sometime, and the final edits about mid march. (I’m sure it was mid march, because that’s right around the time I stopped banging my head and started biting my nails.)
I struggled with the decision as to whether to go the traditional publishing route, or to self publish. (I also struggled with the decision to buy a Mac or a PC, but that’s another story.) I had friends whose opinions I respect—many of them professionals in the business—try to convince me of one or the other. (Um, the publishing thing, not the computer dilemma.)
In the end I decided to try the traditional route, but under the condition that I’d give myself until after World Fantasy Con to at least find an agent. (I guess I should specify that I meant find an agent to represent me, as anyone who knows me is aware that I would have absolute no problem finding agent, and I have the restraining orders to prove it. Besides, it’s not like they’re Waldo.) If at the end of that time I was unsuccessful, then self-publish it would be. (I also gave myself until Oct 9th to win the lottery, until Nov 1 to lose 20 lbs, and Dec 5 to be taller. Maybe I should set more realistic goals. I mean seriously, what are the odds I’m going to lose 20 lbs?)
World Fantasy is this weekend, and still no luck.
I queried 51 agents. To some of you that may not sound like a lot, but there are only so many agents looking to represent fantasy authors, and even fewer looking to represent heroic fantasy. It also seems that there just aren’t as many agents—period. I’m certain there were more when I was querying about Darkside. To make matters worse, a lot of those agents who do rep fantasy have grouped themselves together and formed agencies. It’s your best guess as to which agent at a given agency is a fit for your work, and of course you can only query one of them. If you’re wrong, you’re screwed. (Notwithstanding the fact that maybe none of them would be interested, of course.)
Of the 51 agents I queried:
26 didn’t bother to reply;
20 replied with a form letter rejection
3 asked for sample chapters
2 requested the full manuscript.
1 agent sent me naked pictures of herself. (I’m starting to suspect that Screwem, Goode, and Hard is not a legitimate literary agency.)
To those agents who replied with a form letter rejection, thank you for your professionalism. To those who couldn’t be bothered to reply at all? IMHO, I abhor that practice, and find it insulting.
Of the agents that requested chapters or the manuscript, the reason for rejection was invariably “it just isn’t a fit for me,” which is agent speak for…well, who knows. I’m not going to play rejectomancy. (I’m perfectly willing to play Twister, Hungry Hungry Hippos, and Rock’em Sock’em Robots, fwiw.)
Anyway, the deadline approaches. I did submit THE MOONLIGHT WAR to the Harper Voyager Publisher thingy, but they have that same policy of only replying if they’re interested, so who knows how that will go. In the meantime I have DARKSIDE 3 to finish, Naejin toedit rewrite, and the second book in THE MOONLIGHT WAR to begin. (I also have to pick up milk and eggs on the way home.)
I struggled with the decision as to whether to go the traditional publishing route, or to self publish. (I also struggled with the decision to buy a Mac or a PC, but that’s another story.) I had friends whose opinions I respect—many of them professionals in the business—try to convince me of one or the other. (Um, the publishing thing, not the computer dilemma.)
In the end I decided to try the traditional route, but under the condition that I’d give myself until after World Fantasy Con to at least find an agent. (I guess I should specify that I meant find an agent to represent me, as anyone who knows me is aware that I would have absolute no problem finding agent, and I have the restraining orders to prove it. Besides, it’s not like they’re Waldo.) If at the end of that time I was unsuccessful, then self-publish it would be. (I also gave myself until Oct 9th to win the lottery, until Nov 1 to lose 20 lbs, and Dec 5 to be taller. Maybe I should set more realistic goals. I mean seriously, what are the odds I’m going to lose 20 lbs?)
World Fantasy is this weekend, and still no luck.
I queried 51 agents. To some of you that may not sound like a lot, but there are only so many agents looking to represent fantasy authors, and even fewer looking to represent heroic fantasy. It also seems that there just aren’t as many agents—period. I’m certain there were more when I was querying about Darkside. To make matters worse, a lot of those agents who do rep fantasy have grouped themselves together and formed agencies. It’s your best guess as to which agent at a given agency is a fit for your work, and of course you can only query one of them. If you’re wrong, you’re screwed. (Notwithstanding the fact that maybe none of them would be interested, of course.)
Of the 51 agents I queried:
26 didn’t bother to reply;
20 replied with a form letter rejection
3 asked for sample chapters
2 requested the full manuscript.
1 agent sent me naked pictures of herself. (I’m starting to suspect that Screwem, Goode, and Hard is not a legitimate literary agency.)
To those agents who replied with a form letter rejection, thank you for your professionalism. To those who couldn’t be bothered to reply at all? IMHO, I abhor that practice, and find it insulting.
Of the agents that requested chapters or the manuscript, the reason for rejection was invariably “it just isn’t a fit for me,” which is agent speak for…well, who knows. I’m not going to play rejectomancy. (I’m perfectly willing to play Twister, Hungry Hungry Hippos, and Rock’em Sock’em Robots, fwiw.)
Anyway, the deadline approaches. I did submit THE MOONLIGHT WAR to the Harper Voyager Publisher thingy, but they have that same policy of only replying if they’re interested, so who knows how that will go. In the meantime I have DARKSIDE 3 to finish, Naejin to
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