Monday 30 January 2012

The process of finding an agent

I know there are a ton of websites and blogs out there on this topic - I know this because I've pretty much read them all.  Wow!  Who'd have thought there could be so much information, and so much of it contradictory, on one subject?!

But here's a couple little things that I've personally found so far.  Now, granted I'm not "published"... yet.... but, none-the-less it's my 2 cents worth at this point for those interested.

1. Research Agencies and Agents, but believe it or not, Goggle is not the best way to find them.  Personally I use a free account with Author Advance: http://www.authoradvance.com.  It has an awesome search function and has close to 2000 agents listed within it from all over the world.  Whether or not it's an exhaustive list - who knows, probably not, but I do know that it'll take me some time to filter through all of them and hopefully I'll have representation before I get even half way through. (Got me fingers crossed!)

2. Once you have their website - use it!  Go to each agents' profile to find out what they are looking for and also find out what their submission guidelines are and again - use it!  You don't need to be super crazy strict about "following the rules" - but at the same time, not much point on sending a Query on a Fantasy novel to an Agent who only handles non-fiction memiors.... and even worse if you get their name or gender wrong! So do yourself a favour and do your research.

3. Which brings me to the point of getting things wrong..... I couldn't believe it when I started finding out just how many Query Letters get tossed out by an agents assistant or intern because of typos!  So again, do yourself a favour.... read, re-read and re-read again - then get your friends and family to read it too - to make sure you've got it right.

Sunday 29 January 2012

Testing mobile blogging

So since I always seem to be on the fly & getting better at typing on my BlackBerry... Thought maybe I'd try this out & see if perhaps I can stay a little more on top of regular blogging... Wish me luck! Lol
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

Saturday 28 January 2012

A terrific philosophy on life

"The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he is always doing both." James Michener