When I finally completed my first novel, the formerly mentioned Blood Ties, I began to research how on earth I go from having a manuscript to having a published novel. Well, it's not easy. There are multiple options to explore. If the only goal is to see my work in print, then I could self publish. This path would entail a great deal of work. I would have to design my own cover art, hire an artist to draw it. Once I finally got the book in print, the marketing would be all up to me. I would have to find every individual store that might be willing to let me have some shelf space, most likely for a cut of the profits. All advertising would be up to me from radio spots to billboards to television commercials to arranging for interviews and book signings. And the money to pay for all of this would come out of my own personal finances.
The other option is to find myself a literary agent. An agent, if he/she agrees to represent your work, will handle all of the necessary promotions. An agent will negotiate your contract with the publishing house, and they haggle hard for you since the more money you make, the more money they make. You see, your agent will take a percentage of your profits. Probably around 10% or so. But since they will likely increase your profit by at least that much, they are worth the money they take. Not to mention the fact that an agent stands a much better chance of actually convincing a publishing house to print your book. They have all the necessary connections. They have spent years building relationships and establishing a track record of success. They know which house to petition, and which agent in that house would be most interested in your book.
Guess which option I chose. Slightly more that three weeks ago, I composed my first query letter and submitted it along with the first ten pages of my manuscript. Now comes the most difficult part. The waiting. An average response time from an agent is around two months. Some agents can take as long as six months to a year to respond. The waiting can be maddening. Now, knowing how long it can take to get a response, I decided to send out a query to a different agent at the rate of one every two weeks. I won't submit to a second agent in the same agency until I get a response from the agent I already submitted to. This Thursday will make two weeks since I sent out my second query. It really is awful to sit around in limbo wondering if the agent has even bothered to read your query yet, much less send a response. I will send out my third query in three more days.
People ask me if I am going to self publish. I tell them that I will if I can't find an agent to represent my work. But I believe in my work and I honestly think that if an agent were to read my full manuscript, then they would be interested in representing me.
What are your thoughts on this subject? Did you self publish or go with an agent and how did it work out for you?
0 Response to "The Query Quandary"
Post a Comment