Should I?

Hey guys,

I know i'm new and everything but I'd really like the support ><

I'm about to submit my novel to a really well know agent, you've all talked about him, and i'm very nervous about it! i dont' know if i should or not yet.....can anyone help me decide....i either need to be slaped in the face and be told 'are you an idiot?! your not ready yet' or get pushed over to talking to him like a school girl with a crush!

Please help ><

~Akurei Enzeru

Here's my 2c:

1. Read your MS rightaway, pretending he's reading it. That way, you can notice stuff you'll need to change.

2. Research the agent before you write - you've probably done this already - and remember to include proof that you've researched him in your query letter.

3. Write said query letter and wait

Since you've got 15 novels done-or on the way-I'd say go for it. You're creative and have put in a lot of effort obviously and anyone who has written 15 novels is ready to be published in my book. You've got to start somewhere!

If you need critiquing, ask Emily to add you into the Share your work forum, and put up your synopsis.

I'm with ReNu, mostly.

Please tell me that you're sending a query letter and not actually your whole manuscript .
But, go for it! Why shouldn't we send things to well known agents? And what have you got to lose? Go for it.

^^ thank you guys!!!

Daeonica - no way am i sending the whole thing >< haha, no i'm just sending the first five pages with my query letter ^^

ReNu - thanks, i think i will as Emily that!

Omg thank you guys, i was so nervous but now i fee a little more comfident ^^

~Akurei Enzeru

Watch out though - some agents want the whole first chapter, some ten pages, some 30 and so on. I know a lady who wants the first five chapters! So do your research on the agent first before sending five pages.

I did ^^ he asks for the first five pages only =]

Trust me, i'm so protective of my book that i'd do all the research in the world before i'd send it to someone!

~Akurei Enzeru

So what are you waiting for? Tell us what he said...

There's not going to be an instant response, ReNu. Akurei, does he have a long response time for queries, or is it pretty good compared to some agents?

I agree with what ReNu has said about reading it again and maybe sitting on it for a week or two, but i'm guessing you sent it already? I'm sure it will be brilliant!!

Oh also, i'll add you to the SYW thread, i got a request thingy but honest to god didn't know what it was about

I should just tell everyone i'm internet challenged and pm me

Sorry Emily i should have PM'eded you ^^

I already sent it, my friend -that is amazing XD- looked it over for my and edited it the best he could.

From my research, he doesn't have a long time between replying for a query, he tries to get it done within a few days, so I'll tell everyone what he said as soon as i get a reply!!!!!!

I hope you'll all read my novel if it gets published!

Thanks for all your help, it really got me ready for sending it!

~Akurei Enzeru

You're welcome

My general advice is:

If you feel relatively confident you've done everything within your means to get it ready. Such as: You've had it critiqued/read by more than one person, you've revised, revised, revised, you've line edited, you've let it sit, etc. You know the business, you have your submission tools ready (query, etc) and you've researched the agent and their submission requirements.

Then you've just got to let it go and see what happens. I also suggest querying in small batches 3-5 agents and seeing what kind of responses you get. If you get rejections across the board, work on your query, if you rework your query and get another round or two of rejections, you might want to consider larger issues. If you're getting partial and/or full requests, then you're getting somewhere.

Also, GOOD LUCK!!!!!

Thanks Lapillus I'll do that ^^

I thought i edited to the end of the world and back but now that i sent it to an agent I've gone edit crazed again XD

I just sent it to one person, just because i want to see if he likes it. this way i can edit it even more after i get his response if he doesn't like it. but if he does I'll still edit as much as i can until i send it to him ><

~Akurei Enzeru

P.S. ReNu i mean it thanks a million XD you too Dae and Emily!

Also, the best critiquers/readers are people who write and whose writing you've read and liked. If they have an agent or are published, all the better.

If it's someone who doesn't write or you've never read their writing, you have no idea what kind of quality input you're getting. Even if they are an avid reader, they won't have the same insight as someone who has constructed a story. This is one reason it's so good to network and make friends among other writers.

Hope the agent you queried likes your first five!

^^ your very right!

I think i need to fine a critic partner -cough cough hint hing- ^^

I hope he does to, omg i'm nervous again -runs to my book and starts to edit- XD

~Akurei Enzeru

Agree with Lap about the best critiquers.

mmmhmmm i agree also, but where oh where will i find such an awesome person -ponder ponder-

~Akurei Enzeru

Have you heard of 'Critters' or other online crit-groups?

Oh, and I've read some very good articles about crit partners, and finding the 'right' one - I'll see if I can dig them out.

^^ Dae has articales on everything XD

~Akurei Enzeru

I'm actually in the middle of setting something up for critiques, so if you wait a couple days, I'll get back to you and see if you're interested.

Sure, Lapillus!

I usally just have teachers [etc] read and critic my work, but a critic partner sounds fun ^^

~Akurei Enzeru

Akurei_Enzeru wrote:

^^ Dae has articales on everything XD

~Akurei Enzeru

Lol! I don't even follow that many agents blogs, either. Or author's blogs. I think it's just that I have a good memory for things I've read - the harder part is finding them!
I can't find the link I was going for.
I did, however, find this one, which gives a little insight into the kind of relationship you should be aiming for with a CP, or critique partner. http://www.deadlinedames.com/?p=1153


I don't have a critique partner. I don't think my story is ready for that yet, really. But I am beta reading a whole novel for someone. Previously, the only beta-reading I've done is for fanfiction, just doing 1 or 2-shots. I learnt a lot of things from that. One of the main ones was that it's not good to try and beta something when you hate the writing. A good way to save that problem is to make sure you know what you're getting into when you start.
I also learnt that people have different ideas of what a beta reader does. What I do as a beta reader is what I would offer to a critique partner, and what I'd expect to get from them. I check for spelling mistakes they might have missed. I also look out for grammar, which is one thing that really annoys me if I'm reading a novel and it seems to have been done badly. I also watch the characters, and the plot.

I think what I'm trying to say with all this is, people have different expectations from things. It can take a while to find someone who fits with you. When I started reading this novel to beta, I'd already read two other novel-length books about the same character that the author had put on deviantArt. Not only did I know I liked the style, but I loved the story. It is so much easier to critique/beta a story that you love.

~Gets a puppy dog face~ Daaaae wanna be my CP???? ^^

~Akurei Enzeru

ok so i sent out a few queries {about seven}

and got TWO replies {woooo two}

or not woo because they said no v.v

Nathan {an agent you all love ^^} said it was good but not what he's working on right now v.v

oh well

~Akurei Enzeru