Sick Children and Agents
Yesterday my daughter had the glassy-eyed stare. I went ahead and booked an appointment, just to play it safe. But this morning I had the old dilemma of–”Do I send my son to daycare or not?” He didn’t technically have a fever, but he looked pretty tired. I debated and ultimately decided to give him one more day. Besides, this is exam week and it’s much easier to take time off. More writing time for me! 
I finished one book proposal (mailed it yesterday!) and I’m now focusing on fixing the synopsis of another book I have finished. I’d like to mail that out by the end of the month. The proposal is fairly solid, but the ending of the book needs revamping. I think if I added a few more chapters to clarify, it would work. It brings me to a few issues, though. I can’t send it to Mills & Boon until they’ve made a decision on His Chosen Bride. That means the only avenues for it are single title houses.
One thing I learned from last year’s conference is that the single title houses really won’t buy from new authors unless it’s a book concept that will sell itself. One good example–Carpe Demon (a soccer mom is secretly a demon slayer). Now see, from the concept alone, I’m intrigued. I’d buy the book simply because it sounds fun, not because of the author. If you’re a new author, particularly one who writes historicals, you have to have a concept that is groundbreaking, new, and vivid. Plus, the fabulous writing on top of that. Herein lies the problem. You can only take it so far with historicals. There aren’t really new plots, so you have to find new and intriguing characters.
The other problem I face is that most single title houses won’t look at unagented writers. I’ve been really wavering on this one because I have a better chance of getting a fabulous agent if I have a book contract in hand. I then have the leverage to e-mail my top pick agents and get a serious look. I don’t know whether to pursue it now, considering the historical market is so tight. Mills & Boon doesn’t require an agent, and that’s why I haven’t been actively going for it. Sure there are young, wet-behind-the-ears agents out there, but they make me nervous. This is my career. I want someone who loves number-crunching and the financial bottom line because truthfully, I don’t want to think about subrights and contract clauses.
Anyone have thoughts on the whole agent dilemma? 
Michelle posted in Writing @ 11:05 am | Viewed 1342 times
Rene Says:
I’m doing the agent thing, mainly because I’m pretty sure I was slushed with two editors. Although they requested my partial, I suspect they were read by underlings. I think with an agent, I’ll have a better chance of getting an editor to read it. Of course trying to get an agent is a total pain. I’ve only queried about 30 and I guess that is on the low side. The wait time is a pain. Right now my full is with two different agents, hopefully I’ll here something soon.
Hope your kids start feeling better. If you took your son to daycare they probably would have called you later in the day to pick him up, so you saved yourself a trip. That’s what happened to me all the time.
Mary Says:
I would send it out to agents and even to publishing houses that don’t look at unagented work. You never know they might just read a few pages and get hooked.
Melissa Says:
I’m going the agent route, too. It’s a frustrating process, though - the waiting is just horrendous.
kacey Says:
tough call. I’d send it to agents, definately. What’s the worse? They reject it, and you still could ask them to look at something if you get a ST offer that you submitted yourself?
Hope the kiddo feels better soon!
Missie Says:
Hope the kidlets are better soon and you and hub don’t come down with anything!
missie franticly doing the “germs get away from me” dance
Missie Says:
Can I be even more of a dork and spell something wrong on the blog of a TEACHER, FOR CRYIN IN THE MUD!!!
frantically, frantically, frantically
I will write it ten times on the blackboard:duh:
Kelly Says:
I’d send it to agents if for no other reason than to have someone do the schlep work for you. They’ll have a better idea of who to hit and who’s looking for what. As far as new authors breaking thru on the historical single title market, I see debut authors fairly consistently with Avon and a few others, so I would just keep plugging away. They say persistence is half the battle.
Peggy Says:
What I suggest (and am going to be doing myself) is wait until you hear back from His Chosen Bride. (I don’t think it’s a much longer wait now.) If it’s a no, at least you know it’s publishing worthy because it got so far up the chain. Submit your new proposal to M&B, and start agenting His Chosen Bride.
And if you do sell His Chosen Bride to M&B, then like you said, you have publishing credit to your benefit when searching for an agent.
I think at this point, it’s a waiting and patience game. Good luck!
Stacy Says:
Good luck on the proposal out and the one you are doing!
Agents confuse me too. It’s such a hit or miss, should I or shouldn’t I type thing. Good luck.:sword:
Bonnie Ferguson Says:
When my wip is ready to go I’ll be going the agent route too.:confused2:
MaryF Says:
I have one of the newer agents, and I love how enthusiastic she is. I think you definitely need to be submitting to agents, too, though I’ve been listening to the spotlights and really the only ones who won’t look at unagented queries are Pocket.
Hugs to the sick babies!