How long before you found an agent?

[sciri]

I apologize if this is a repetition, I could only find a 2004 poll with a similar title but no "time" options, whereas I am curious on average how long the process took... Months? Years? And also, what is the most successful way of finding an agent? Old fashioned query? Personal recommendation? Writing conference? How many novels had you written by the time you signed? Thanks!

[Jamesaritchie]

For me, it was the first agent I queried, and I can't remember exactly, but she responded in roughly a week. But that was pre-internet.

[YAwriter72]

5 days. :e2paperba

E-query and first 50 pages initially. Signed with 2nd full length book I ever wrote.

[RoseColoredSkies]

I sent out to 25 agents before I found my agent. I did the regular query process. I think from the time I sent the query to signing the contract was 27 days.

[waylander]

5 and a half years for my first novel.

[Libbie]

I haven't signed with an agent yet, but I've got one who's shown significant interest in my book and it looks pretty hopeful to me. She's supposed to be getting back to me soon after reviewing the latest edits. (yay!)

From the time I queried her to today, it's been about two months.

[Amarie]

For my first manuscript I queried, rewrote, queried some more, rewrote, etc. for years.
Finally, I decided to move on to write something else, and it took about two months to sign with an agent.

[sciri]

wow... so evidently, ~50 queries later and 4 partials requested and later rejected, I am obviously doing something wrong.... (have been in the querying limbo for about 3 months....)

[cwfgal]

I answered 0-6 months because that's how long it took me to get my first agent. But it took 6-12 months to get agent #2 and close to 2 years to find agent #3.

Beth

[sciri]

I answered 0-6 months because that's how long it took me to get my first agent. But it took 6-12 months to get agent #2 and close to 2 years to find agent #3.

Beth

Wow, that's shocking... Is that because you changed genre? I hear once you get an agent usually you are expected to pitch all the following work with them... Can I ask you what happened in your case?

[Wayne K]

It took me over a year, but that was because I had one of the biggest agents in the business interested for 6 months, and another for 8. When they showed interest I stopped querying.

[cwfgal]

Wow, that's shocking... Is that because you changed genre? I hear once you get an agent usually you are expected to pitch all the following work with them... Can I ask you what happened in your case?

Have you got an hour?

Just kidding, sorta. Here's my sordid tale:

Back in the mid-nineties, my first agent sold three of my novels to HarperCollins as paperback originals but while we were negotiating the fourth, HC did a whole bunch of shuffling, eliminated their paperback division and either dropped those authors or moved them into hardcover. Then they bought up Avon and used that as their paperback division. I was one of the authors who got dropped and since this happened a few months before my third book came out, it ended up an orphan.

After a bunch of back and forth with some other publishers, it became clear I was going to have to write the next novel before any other publishers would talk money (whereas I was selling on just a proposal before the dust-up). During that time my agent decided to retire, leaving me with no agent or publisher. I finished the book, didn't like it, started a freelance business that took off like crazy, and started another, different type of novel (the first three were suspense, this one was a humorous mystery).

When this new novel was done I started looking for another agent. Found one, but he was not able to sell that novel and after 2.5 years together, we parted ways at my suggestion. I had written another novel during that time so I started hunting for an agent again. Oh, and I decided to self-publish the novel the second agent hadn't been able to sell as kind of an experiment.

The self-publishing experiment went about how I expected (dismally) although I did get a nice nod from POD-dy Mouth and was a finalist in the EPIC awards. I eventually pulled the book off the market and started querying with it again. I also queried with the newer novel I'd just finished, which was more in line with my first three books.

It took me much longer this time but by then I'd given up the freelance work and had a regular job again and I wasn't as ambitious with the querying as I'd been with the earlier two. I found my current agent after a little over a year and a half of querying with both books (though only one at a time, targeted at different agents). She sold the humorous mystery (the self-pubbed one) as the first in a series within a matter of weeks, getting me a three-book deal with Kensington. We've shopped the other ms around but haven't found any takers.

So there you have it. Found my dream, lost it, and found it again. That's often the way of this biz.

Beth

[blacbird]

The poll lacks a "Never" option, so I can't answer.

caw

[Maxinquaye]

I haven't even started looking for an agent.

I don't even have a clue as to how difficult it would be here in the UK.

The business is smaller, agents are fewer, yet there's 120k books published each year so I guess it would be harder than in the US. And most of the agencies I've looked at doesn't seem to accept email queries, so that will probably slow things down as well.

[alveraz]

I'm a screenwriter. It took me six years of rejections to finally land at ICM. It's all about how bad you want it and how long you're willing to suffer through the heart break. Good luck guys.

[jodiodi]

The poll lacks a "Never" option, so I can't answer.

caw

Neither can I.

[auntybug]

wow... so evidently, ~50 queries later and 4 partials requested and later rejected, I am obviously doing something wrong.... (have been in the querying limbo for about 3 months....)

No you're not. Wait & see. The first few posts were shocking to me that it happened so fast. I was at 80+ queries & maybe 8 mo. before I about ran out of agents & went to publishers directly before I got a bite. So, sorry, I can't answer the poll but I just wanted to pass a hug. You are not doing it wrong - especially if you got requests for partials. :) I know there are a lot of high numbers and long waits here.

[sciri]

No you're not. Wait & see. The first few posts were shocking to me that it happened so fast. I was at 80+ queries & maybe 8 mo. before I about ran out of agents & went to publishers directly before I got a bite. So, sorry, I can't answer the poll but I just wanted to pass a hug. You are not doing it wrong - especially if you got requests for partials. :) I know there are a lot of high numbers and long waits here.

thanks for the hug, HUGELY appreciated!! and congratulations on finding a publisher.

[erinbee]

I was lucky enough to snag agent interest on my second query (24 hours after my first query to another agent was submitted and swiftly rejected, and then my agent responded within 24 hours, so...48 hours?). When I sent him my proposal, however, it got lost in the mail, so there was a two-month delay before he actually signed me on. After another three months of revisions and a long round of submissions, almost-acceptances, and still more revisions, I entered a three-year dormant period before my book sold to HarperCollins this May. Wild ride, and worth every second of the wait.

[jodiodi]

I'm not querying any longer, so the Never answer will always be mine.

[JeanneTGC]

Took at least three years, probably more (I'm still trying to block all that searching and the related rejections out of my mind). However, when I'd finally written the right book to land an agent, that took pretty much 2 months from first meeting to completion of the MS/submission to signing.

Some land their agent quickly, some land their agent slowly. The trick is to keep on writing and keep on submitting if you fall into the "slowly" category.

[batgirl]

Queries submitted to agents: 33
Form rejections: 19
Rejection by no response: 7
Requests for partial: 3
Request for full mss: 1
Offer to represent: 1

Timeline
Jan 31 - first e-queries sent
repeat process each Sunday
May 10 - last e-queries sent.
May 12 - partial requested.
May 13 - full requested on 2-week exclusive.
May 27 - phone call scheduled.
Jun 1 - phone call and offer.

Most of the rejections came pretty quickly - this was all by email - but I did receive a rejection Sept 16 for an Apr 19 query, which would be the longest.

-Barbara

[ChaosTitan]

Since the poll question didn't specify "for the book you signed with" or "since you started querying period," I picked one and selected my answer from the latter.

I started querying in...dang...2005? Early 2006? So my answer went into the 2+ column, because it took three+ years and three different novels before I signed with an agent.

With the book that eventually signed me with an agent (see avatar), it took less than three months from query to full request to referral to contract.

[Cliff Face]

I'm also a never been signed person.

Of course, I've only sent out one query, which was rejected after being taken to meeting. It was an instant-partial, because when I rang them asking if I could send them something, they asked for 3 chapters and a synopsis, so partial.

But it was a rejection, and since then I've been working on other projects as I don't feel that first book really has what it takes.

I'll get back to you in a few months as to how long it will take me (if all goes well) because I'm going to finish editing my new book in January, so help me, and then query go round with the 5 Australian agents who accept unsolicited submissions.

If I can't get anywhere with them, then I'll go straight to publishers.

First rejection took I think 6 weeks... But next time I'll be sending to all 5 agents at once, cos I'm not very patient. :D

[blacbird]

I'm not querying any longer, so the Never answer will always be mine.

Quoted for agreement.

Which means:

1. I've queried enough to have it confirmed that I got nuthin' worth querying.

2. I've submitted enough short stuff with total rejection result to have it confirmed that I got nuthin' worth submitting.

3. Nuthin' "in progress" has any promise of a better result.

4. Approaching year-end here, it's all dead in the water. And stinking like it.

5. I don't have clue one what to do in the new year.

caw

[Libbie]

5. I don't have clue one what to do in the new year.

caw

How about resolving to make your writing better?

[Jamesaritchie]

wow... so evidently, ~50 queries later and 4 partials requested and later rejected, I am obviously doing something wrong.... (have been in the querying limbo for about 3 months....)

Are you sending the first three to five pages of your manuscript with the query? It was NOT my sparkling query letter that landed the agent. Looking back on that query, it really said nothing other than "Would you like to see the complete novel?"

But the agent really liked the first pages, and knew an agent who needed a book like mine to fill a slot. She knew the editor's taste, as any good agent should, and figured that if she liked the pages, so would the editor.

[Phaeal]

Almost five months and counting. I'm thinking about giving the agents a break through December. But in January, I come out swinging again. (See signature for terrifyingly awesome swinging action.)

[sciri]

Are you sending the first three to five pages of your manuscript with the query?

Two of the agents that requested material wanted the sample pages and two wanted the query only. I'm waiting to hear back on a full and in the meantime, in order not to go crazy, I'm moving on to novel #2: sent out ~20 email queries, got ~5 rejections so far and one request for partial. Ball rolling again....

[DeadlyAccurate]

wow... so evidently, ~50 queries later and 4 partials requested and later rejected, I am obviously doing something wrong.... (have been in the querying limbo for about 3 months....)

1st book, 40 rejections
2nd book, 23 rejections
3rd book, 22 rejections
4th book, 68 rejections, 2 offers.

Over the course of...seven years? Eight? I'm not really sure. I finished my first book two years after I graduated college, so I'm estimating 1999. I didn't start tracking the dates I sent queries until 2004, and I landed an agent in 2006.

[Madison]

I started querying in September, got an agent in late October/early November. But I was really lazy about sending out queries (I blame school...) and really only sent out two main batches, one in September and one in mid-October. The mid-October one got me an offer of representation pretty quickly, but the agent I actually signed with found me through a blog/query contest around the same time.

[scarletpeaches]

How about resolving to make your writing better?But then he wouldn't be able to make depressing posts about how awful his writing is!

[gothicangel]

Seven years in counting!

Over the next year I'm expecting a lot rewriting, critiquing, criticisms and chocolate ice cream!

I want to be in a position to resub the manuscript early 2011.

[Chris P]

It has been a long time for me, but then again I did a lot of things wrong at first (like only querying one agent at a time) and juggling two jobs, family and community commitments doesn't give me much time (yeah, I know, wah wah, it's so hard to be me! :) ).

Since getting involved here, I'm much more confident and efficient, although I don't yet have any results to share.

[sciri]

But basically, a few of you were contacted by an agent, and then the rest of you queried, queried, and queried... did anybody land an agent through a writers' conference? Every time I get depressed and moan my husband tells me I should sign up for one of these things and start approaching agents personally. But between airfare and registration and hotel, these things are so darn expensive.... Anyone that thinks they are worth the while? Thanks, this poll is so interesting!

[JeanneTGC]

But basically, a few of you were contacted by an agent, and then the rest of you queried, queried, and queried... did anybody land an agent through a writers' conference? Every time I get depressed and moan my husband tells me I should sign up for one of these things and start approaching agents personally. But between airfare and registration and hotel, these things are so darn expensive.... Anyone that thinks they are worth the while? Thanks, this poll is so interesting!
I met my agent at a writing conference and I know our getting to spend time together helped (writing a good book helped more, mind you). It was the best investment in my career -- writing conferences -- because I got to meet successful published authors, agents, and editors, both before I met my agent and after.

The thing is, you need to research agents BEFORE you go and before you sign up. Choose a conference that has as many agents that carry what you write as possible. Regional conferences are fine -- I met my NY agent at a writer's conference in Tucson.

Use the Bewares and Background Checks forum here and Agent Query to identify who's looking for what you write. Make a list of the top 20-30 agents you'd like to approach, and then figure out what conferences they're attending. Select appropriately. Cost doesn't necessarily equal best, btw.

[ramarks]

I got an agent when I won a writing contest. Part of my "prize" was the opportunity to submit my novel to an agent for possible representation. After reviewing it for a couple weeks, he offered to represent me. Before that, I queried one other agent who turned me down.

[ramarks]

Sciri, your hubby is right. I attended the San Francisco Writers Conference this year and they had Speed Dating with Agents. It was a fun, no pressure opportunity to meet agents. Every conference I attend has plenty of opportunities to meet agents. Go!


But basically, a few of you were contacted by an agent, and then the rest of you queried, queried, and queried... did anybody land an agent through a writers' conference? Every time I get depressed and moan my husband tells me I should sign up for one of these things and start approaching agents personally. But between airfare and registration and hotel, these things are so darn expensive.... Anyone that thinks they are worth the while? Thanks, this poll is so interesting!

[sciri]

Thanks! I've already researched a few and plan on entering their contests... This is great advise, thank you all!

[fov]

Took me exactly a year. I started in August 2007 and signed in August 2008. Queried about 40 people during that time.

[jodiodi]

Well, then.

I've met agents at conferences, submitted partials, queried for years and I still haven't found one.

I guess that tells me something.

[sciri]

Well, then.

I've met agents at conferences, submitted partials, queried for years and I still haven't found one.

I guess that tells me something.

I'll pass on a grain of wisdom from a friend of mine (I found it helpful): "Agents will only pick something up if they think it is marketable, NOT if they think it's well-written." I have been slamming my head against the wall thinking, how can I make my writing better? It was the wrong question.

[Juliette Wade]

I think the poll is phrased oddly. I answered for "on this book" from the time I first approached my agency to the time I signed, which was 6 months.

I started trying to find an agent in 2001 for a totally different book. Went through years and years of not having that work. Finally wrote another book and tried to hook an agent for the first time in 2007; got all rejections. Went back and completely rewrote the book, which took three times as long as writing the book. Then I went back to trying to find an agent. Approached my current agency for the first time in April of this year and got a full manuscript request. It took me until September to get the manuscript ready for them... Then I signed with them on the day before Halloween. So I was slow, they were quick, and I've been working to get an agent for years, but this was the book - and the revision of it - that got the quick attention.

Funny how this stuff happens.

[K.L. Townsend]

Since I've only worked with small press markets so far, I haven't started querying agents yet. I plan to after I get my ms finished (and edited and edited and edited). I would think that knowing the right agents to submit to would also help in the speed of landing one, if everything else is in line.

[blacbird]

I'll pass on a grain of wisdom from a friend of mine (I found it helpful): "Agents will only pick something up if they think it is marketable, NOT if they think it's well-written."

I just got vilified with a suggestion that I should resolve to make my writing "better". Like I haven't been trying for years to do that, or resolving every Dec. 31 to do that. It may be in the writer's control (at least for some writers) to make writing "better". It seems utterly outside of any writer's control to make it "marketable". That judgment resides solely in the hands of agents and editors.

Unless, of course, you define "better" writing on the basis of "marketable", which quickly becomes circular reasoning (you can only determine "marketable" by actual sales, which, of course, instantly defines "better"). I ain't got a clue how to do that. And plenty of experience with not being able to.

So, whatcha gonna do, practically, with that "grain of wisdom from a friend"?

caw

[sciri]

Blacbird, that's exactly my point (and BTW, I feel your struggle, because it is my struggle too, and I would NEVER judge somebody else's writing based on their "statistics" with agents): I have been ranting with my closest friends, bugging them to read my stuff and tell me how I could improve my writing, and when this friend of mine replied about needing to be marketable, not well-written, I had an epiphany. And maybe you're right, maybe there's nothing "practical" I can do about it, but hey, it made me feel a lot better about myself! So that's why I passed it on, as an encouragement, and also, most importantly, as a reason not to stop believing in your writing...

[John61480]

I'll pass on a grain of wisdom from a friend of mine (I found it helpful): "Agents will only pick something up if they think it is marketable, NOT if they think it's well-written." I have been slamming my head against the wall thinking, how can I make my writing better? It was the wrong question.

No way!!! What about all that talk about if your writing is "good writing" and all that, didn't Uncle Jim and maybe other agents talk about and say that's what they were looking out for. Not a cool idea and marketable story. If this is so true, then this sucks. Then it goes back to my old theory that trying to get published is indeed luck and lottery because I'd be playing a second guessing game with an agent all the time trying to figure out what'll sell great. I feel conned.

Ever since I've started writing seriously in 2006 when I first joined AW, I've always strived to improve my writing. I still study and examine published authors and practice on stories to see if I can get it just right. But after reading this explanation, it cheapens the whole idea of what writing a book is. I might as well go back to what I was doing when I wrote 4500-9000 words a day to finish a first draft, but this time I wouldn't bother editing and then I should just send them all out like hotcakes hoping one will catch. Is that what it's being reduced to? Salability? Ugh, maybe I'm blowing this out of proportion, but if you can understand where I'm coming from after putting so much effort and hours per day on improving, I don't enjoy the idea of having the tables turned and saying writing good never mattered at all if I wanted to get published. I have yet to submit anything to an agent for my first time because I don't feel ready yet, but when I do, I'll be putting in my best effort and taking my time.

[sciri]

I didn't mean to say that good writing doesn't count. What I meant to say is that there's a lot of great writing out there that will never get published. As well as bad writing that did get published. That's a fact.

[Maxinquaye]

No way!!! What about all that talk about if your writing is "good writing" and all that, didn't Uncle Jim and maybe other agents talk about and say that's what they were looking out for. Not a cool idea and marketable story. If this is so true, then this sucks. Then it goes back to my old theory that trying to get published is indeed luck and lottery because I'd be playing a second guessing game with an agent all the time trying to figure out what'll sell great. I feel conned.

Getting a response WILL be a matter of luck, to a certain degree. You're going to have to hope that the agent won't have had a big fight at the office, or has a headache, or wants to quit the biz, and hasn't just had an encounter with a truly lousy writer.

Agents are only human.

You diminish the impact of luck by querying many agents. One of them is bound to be happy that day, and will look at your work favourably.

:)

[John61480]

I didn't mean to say that good writing doesn't count. What I meant to say is that there's a lot of great writing out there that will never get published. As well as bad writing that did get published. That's a fact.

I believe that. I'd remember hearing about how some of those good writers would keep submitting their manuscript for a while before one agent out of a pile of rejections finally accepted them. And the novel got published. But that meant a lot of agents didn't care about the writing either.

I did read that publishers didn't immediately snap up J.K. Rowling in a heartbeat, they kind of toyed with the idea of publishing her by the way it sounded and eventually did it. By the way that sounds, they weren't obviously bowled over by her writing so much that they wanted to get it out there so soon and make money.

But I do know after examining many published authors works, I do notice they all have one thing in common, they look damn good on paper. I'm talking Thriller, Mainstream, Horror, you name it. Even those smaller authors that write Star Wars books by the millions do really fine writing. I just looked at a few of the latest ones on Amazon. So I know I'm not deluding myself when I see this and compare other unpublished work that has been posted all over the internet, which of course, I look over and analyze as much as I do with published work. I have a stack of papers both published and unpublished authors that I use to work off of.

I know I'm not seeing things. Good writing is very real. Even Dan Brown's Da Vinci code, which might not look good in plenty of writer's eyes, it certainly has more "voice,looks,style or whatever you can call it" that other unpublished writers don't seem to get yet. It looks carefully crafted is what I'm saying.

Maybe all the writing has driven me crazy. Must be. But I will say I do keep myself at a distance too, so I'm not always looking at everything with a microscope. Marketability does have some play in it, probably. But just whip out those published books first pages, compare with other unpublished work and it should begin to draw a big sign that says "Big difference!" I see it, but I don't know grammar, so what do I know? I just use my eyes and Look. (But know the difference between fancy words being used too much!) Reading will take over and you'll notice even more stuff if you keep it up. There's a whole lot going on.

[sciri]

Mhm... I don't know, I've picked up MANY books at Barnes and Nobles, flipped to the first page, read the first paragraph, and thought, "HUH"?? Quite honestly, the books that leave me in AWE are way less than the ones that make me think, "A high-school kid could have written that." There is, however, a slight chance that I may be delusional.... he he he.....

[Diana Hignutt]

This business sucks. It is not for the faint-hearted or impatient. I've come close with some biggies: One told me that I was super-talented and that he loved my work, but that the time was not right for me. Another, loved my work, and they really considered repping me, but they only repped non-fiction. But, mostly, I remain ignored my agents. I never even get replies to queries anymore. The last time, a was refered to an agent and one of the lackies rejected me without letting the person who I was refered to read it. And, so I took my marbles and went home, started my own pubbing company, and am in the seemingly endless process of getting my first novel repubbed in a quality manner. Hopefully, by late spring.

Best of Luck.

[Jamesaritchie]

Two of the agents that requested material wanted the sample pages and two wanted the query only. I'm waiting to hear back on a full and in the meantime, in order not to go crazy, I'm moving on to novel #2: sent out ~20 email queries, got ~5 rejections so far and one request for partial. Ball rolling again....

Even if the agent doesn't ask for sample pages, I still think sending them is a good idea. Miss Snark always said sending the first five pages was an unwritten rule.

I don't think the first three to five pages will anger any sane agent or editor.

A bad query can kill a good novel, but good sample pages can save a rotten query.

[Jamesaritchie]

I believe that. I'd remember hearing about how some of those good writers would keep submitting their manuscript for a while before one agent out of a pile of rejections finally accepted them. And the novel got published. But that meant a lot of agents didn't care about the writing either.

I did read that publishers didn't immediately snap up J.K. Rowling in a heartbeat, they kind of toyed with the idea of publishing her by the way it sounded and eventually did it. By the way that sounds, they weren't obviously bowled over by her writing so much that they wanted to get it out there so soon and make money.

But I do know after examining many published authors works, I do notice they all have one thing in common, they look damn good on paper. I'm talking Thriller, Mainstream, Horror, you name it. Even those smaller authors that write Star Wars books by the millions do really fine writing. I just looked at a few of the latest ones on Amazon. So I know I'm not deluding myself when I see this and compare other unpublished work that has been posted all over the internet, which of course, I look over and analyze as much as I do with published work. I have a stack of papers both published and unpublished authors that I use to work off of.

I know I'm not seeing things. Good writing is very real. Even Dan Brown's Da Vinci code, which might not look good in plenty of writer's eyes, it certainly has more "voice,looks,style or whatever you can call it" that other unpublished writers don't seem to get yet. It looks carefully crafted is what I'm saying.

Maybe all the writing has driven me crazy. Must be. But I will say I do keep myself at a distance too, so I'm not always looking at everything with a microscope. Marketability does have some play in it, probably. But just whip out those published books first pages, compare with other unpublished work and it should begin to draw a big sign that says "Big difference!" I see it, but I don't know grammar, so what do I know? I just use my eyes and Look. (But know the difference between fancy words being used too much!) Reading will take over and you'll notice even more stuff if you keep it up. There's a whole lot going on.

Well, if I remember right, the first Harry Potter book only went thorugh eight publishers, and Rowling changed the book considerably between submissions. So you could say someone bought it as soon as she got it right.

But I don't think you write something that sells by trying to find a salable idea, or through luck.

Pretty much any idea or any plot will sell just fine, if you tell the story well enough, and if the characters are ones readers have empathy for.

The writing can't be lousy, but it doesn't have to be very good, either. As long as there's some sense of flow and pace, that's usually good enough.

Soem writers do fail because the writing really is horrible, but a lot more fail because they just can't tell a good story, and/or can't fill that story with characters that readers care about.

From my experience, selling anovel isn't about a marketable idea or a salable plot, it's all about execution, about telling a story really well-told, and lead characters that are empathtic.

Many good novels get rejected not because something is wrong, but simply because not every novel fits everywhere, no matter how well told it is.

[Maxinquaye]

JK Rowling and the publishers had no idea that Harry Potter would become a phenomena. I think they were pretty much caught off guard. It's like the anecdote about Astrid Lindgren who was rejected by a number of publishers when she submitted Pippi Longstocking. Or the record company that rejected The Beatles.

[Barber]

It took 2 years TO THE DAY from when I started writing my first book for me to land an agent.

Okay, but it was my 7th book that did it. Before I got serious about writing, I was very deluded and naive about the process. I thought you wrote a book and sent it to a publisher, then it got published. Feel free to laugh!!!

So, here's the breakdown of the queries I sent for each book. Be it no responses, partials, or query rejections, they were all rejected one way or another:

Book 1: 268 (like I said, I was really naive; I queried EVERYONE!!!)
Book 2: 56
Book 3: 74
Book 4: 26
Book 5: 48
Book 6: 18
Book 7: 15 (1 offer for representation)

So I had over 500 rejections by the end of it, probably more since I'm sure I missed a few in my spreadsheets.

That probably seems like a lot of books for 2 years, but there are many other AWers who write WAY more than that :)

[John61480]

This business sucks. It is not for the faint-hearted or impatient. I've come close with some biggies: One told me that I was super-talented and that he loved my work, but that the time was not right for me. Another, loved my work, and they really considered repping me, but they only repped non-fiction. But, mostly, I remain ignored my agents. I never even get replies to queries anymore. The last time, a was refered to an agent and one of the lackies rejected me without letting the person who I was refered to read it. And, so I took my marbles and went home, started my own pubbing company, and am in the seemingly endless process of getting my first novel repubbed in a quality manner. Hopefully, by late spring.

Best of Luck.

You know, since I've already made a tentative plan that for every manuscript I finish and send to agents, which then get rejected completely, I would simply self-publish them and get them on Amazon. After which I would forget about them and the money because I'll let some rare individual take a chance on purchasing it and hopefully get a kick out of the self pubbed book. The money wouldn't even be a factor to me, so I'd just kiss royalties goodbye. It's the thought that counts. I'm crazy though.

But I do hope to wrestle with the query process in a few years after I finish something. Maybe my current fantasy story? I'll keep my fingers crossed for myself.

As for the rest of everyone in this thread that answered the original posters question: You guys are extremely fortunate and no matter how much you suffered through the agony of submission or other agent related messes, you're still living the dream. Or at least so close you can kiss it. I'm envious.