Writers Who Recently Got Agents - Writers Forum

corcutt · 06-26-2007, 10:58 AM

Recently, after 161 queries, I got an agent. I'm starting this thread so that writers who made it can share their advice.

I've written a piece on my blog describing my quest, and I'm offering a free e-book with guidelines and tips on writing the query and getting an agent.

This is not a sales pitch. Now that I finally broke through, I want to help other writers do the same.

Thanks,

Chris Orcutt

P.S.: If I created a thread that already exists, I apologize. I searched for ones on this topic and couldn't find any.

Mike C · 06-26-2007, 11:14 AM

Does this serve any real purpose other than to farm people's email addresses/make them join your fan club, which is a condition of receiving the PDF?

No thanks.

corcutt · 06-26-2007, 11:28 AM

Mike C raises the concern that I'm out to "farm" email addresses. This is not the case.

After going through the hellish process of getting an agent, I wanted to write something that would help writers get agents of their own. During the process, I came up with a number of techniques that worked for me, and I've documented them in an e-book.

I'm not charging $$$ for it, but I would like to build my contact list for when my novel is finally published. I don't think that's too much to ask.

And if you disagree with this, fine. But let me ask you this: instead of wasting your time shooting down others' attempts to self-promote and help other writers, why don't you focus on getting an agent yourself and sharing your knowledge?

lin · 06-26-2007, 11:46 AM

And not only self-promote, but share something as well. I don't see what the problem is with this.

But no viagara ads from Nigeria, understand?

corcutt · 06-26-2007, 12:23 PM

I don't have any Viagra ads from Nigeria, but I used to work for the Minister of Finance of Sierra Leone, and was recently sent into exile. I have in my possession certain account numbers, but alas I am unable to claim the funds...

JP Wagner · 06-26-2007, 01:51 PM

its really not much of him to ask Mike C, with all due respect.

He's offering a service free of charge, for nothing but a way to tell people when his writing comes out. That's really not unreasonable. I know you don't have any need to find an agent, and I know you know enough about the business where you wouldn't need such a service and it might seem like nothing to you, but for many people who haven't broken all the way through yet, it is at the very least a decent offer.

Congrats corcutt, 161 queries huh? heh, and I've only sent out 40 so far. (though my goal was 100) guess ill have to up my rate of sending. heh.

corcutt · 06-26-2007, 02:00 PM

JP:

Yeah, 161 queries. And that's not counting the 600 or so rejections I received when getting a dozen stories published.

One thing I learned through this process is that you have to be extremely realistic about how long it will take. When I started querying for this novel last April, I had done my research, targeted agents, etc., and I was convinced that this time it would be smoother. Not easy, just smoother.

Well, it was a damn nightmare, and it's the stuff I learned during that nightmare that I document in the ebook.

As for your querying efforts, two ideas come to mind (you probably already know these, but what the heck):

1. Persistence is everything. There IS an agent out there for you; you just have to keep looking.

2. When you get rejections/feedback from agents, don't dwell on their comments or take them too seriously--UNLESS 2 or more have the same comments. Most of the time, though, they contradict each other because they're all looking for different things.

Anyway, thanks for your support.

Sincerely,

Chris Orcutt

Truth-Teller · 06-26-2007, 10:21 PM

If it took you seven years to find a good agent, I don't even want to try the tactics you used.

mammamaia · 06-26-2007, 11:00 PM

what book did you hook that agent with and which agent was it?... has s/he sold it to a publisher yet?

CaptainFreedom · 06-27-2007, 03:44 PM

I thought the pdf was pretty good. I don't know about the envelope thing, but the part with the fat guys on Mt. Everest was pretty funny.

CF

lin · 06-27-2007, 03:51 PM

How long would you say it should take, Truth Teller?

Truth-Teller · 06-27-2007, 07:59 PM

2 - 3 years, maybe less.

It should be less.

Mike C · 06-28-2007, 04:49 AM

It often is less. I know a few who snagged an agent within 6 months. More in the 6 months - 2 years band. Some longer.

I guess it depends primarily on the book, and secondly on the tenacity of the author. After 2 years most will give up and write a different book.

Reputable agents are uber-choosy. They won't represent a book because they think it's quite nice. They'll represent a book because they love it and believe in it. It's hard to sell something you don't believe in. Half the trick of finding an agent (besides having a great book and a killer query letter) is matching your book to an agent's requirements. Simple research should cut the time spent querying (and all the associated postage costs) by 75%. Finding out which agents represent authors producing work similar to your own is critical. One of the biggest complaints I've heard from agents is "My website clearly states I specialise in ABC, and this bozo just sent me XYZ." It happens, a lot.

Knowing a lot of writers who already have representation also helps.

PS Chris, I didn't mean to cause offense, but there's no such thing as a free lunch. If your original post had said "Join my mailing list and I'll give you an e-book" I wouldn't have commented.

Mike C · 06-28-2007, 05:51 AM

A little something to cheer everyone up...

http://www.ursulakleguin.com/Reject.html

This is on a par with the record companies that told the Beatles not to give up their day jobs.

corcutt · 06-28-2007, 08:59 AM

I want to thank all of the members who welcomed me to Writing Forums. I appreciate the encouragement, and as I mentioned elsewhere (I believe), as somebody who has just gone through the wringer of getting an agent, I'd be glad to answer any questions you might have about the process.

I'm not saying I'm an expert because I'm not. All I'm saying is that I recently went through it, so, as President Clinton once said, "I feel your pain."

To Mike C: Of course, no hard feelings. I understand; there are a lot of scammers out there trying to get something for nothing, and thinking about your point, I should have been more up front about the email address for PDF transaction.

Thanks again,

Chris Orcutt