Brian asked Kimberly McCreight:

I'm an aspiring writer and while I've almost completed my first novel, I'm about to go into foreign territory with trying to find a literary agent and querying. My question to you is how long did it take you before an agent signed you and were you constantly sending out queries? Thank you so much and I absolutely loved Reconstructing Amelia!

Kimberly McCreight Hi Brian! Thanks for reading and for your question. There were several (still unpublished) novels that preceded Reconstructing Amelia, and two hardworking agents before the wonderful agent I have now. So I was well into the agent querying process for years before RA was sold to a publisher. I would cast a wide net and keep querying. But do take the feedback you get from agents--whether that be in the form of no one asking to see pages (which means your query letter isn't good enough probably) or comments on pages requested. That doesn't mean you have to do everything an agent who has rejected your work tells you to do (opinions do vary) but it is a great gift when an agent or publisher offers feedback and it can really be invaluable when your unpublished. And try not to get discouraged many agent you contact may be taking on few clients or none at all or none that represent your kind of book or they may already have 5 of your kind of book. There is a piece of it that is a numbers game. Keep at it and try to grow a thick skin (not easy for us writers). You'll find it will come in handy later once your book is published. Best of luck Brian! (P.s. Make sure you have a writers group or terrific readers reviewing your work before you submit.)

flag