Thread: How do you submit your work to an agent?

To take a break from writing my chick lit story, I was just browsing on the net how to submit work and to who. I saw one thing over and over again, that you have to first find an agent and that you should submit the first three chapters. (Am really new to this, didn't even know that much!) What else though? Do you have to write a summary of the book? Or is it enough to just write a cover letter plus your first three chapters?

Also are there any easy routes to finding an agent that is interested in new unpublished authors and also in chick lit? Lastly, I saw so many agents are in NY, USA. I am in Europe (grew up in London and live in Switzerland) Does it make
sense to try and find an agent in England (Switzerland I don't think so as it is small and not English speaking) or is it universal - you can apply to wherever in the world you want? I hesitated also about an agent in the states as my novel is set in London and there are a lot of references to 'the tube' and different places in London etc..

Many thanks for any advice!

This is what I would do (of course, you’re not me, so this possibly doesn’t apply, although I have learned from a lifetime of experience that no one should rush anything):

Forget completely about agents and sample chapters and whether or not Americans know what the Tube is, and concentrate wholly and solely on your writing. If you are to have any chance at all of attracting an agent’s attention, then your writing needs to be of the same standard as the writing of published authors, and frankly my dear I don’t care much for what I have seen of your writing so far. You’re putting the cart before the horse. Forget agents for the next few years and get your writing up to scratch.

Sorry for the reality check, but that's the only way it'll work.

Ox - You don't care for my writing as in it is completely unusable and that I am really truly bad at it, or that it just needs a lot more work?

I believe what OX is saying is that you haven't finished the novel yet. It's a little early to be worrying about submitting to an agent when the work in question isn't complete. Is this your first novel? If so, it's improbable (but not impossible) to believe it will be of publishable quality without major editing. As with any endeavour in life, it takes time and practice to hone your skills. You wouldn't enter a dance contest after three weeks' practice, would you? Conversely, you wouldn't submit the first thing you wrote to a magazine/publishing company in the hopes of it being accepted. There are some naturally gifted people who can write a bestseller on their first go; for the rest of us, it takes dedication and practice to reach that level.

To answer your question: You submit three chapters, a query letter, and a synopsis.

It needs a lot more work. There is possibly no such thing as completely unusable writing.

Just worry about writing your novel. I have made 4 attempts at writing a novel over the past 10 years but have yet to submit anything to an agent or publisher.

Thank you. Can I ask a further question? Is writing quality a lot to do with experience, or do you mostly have to have the talent at first. For example, personally I think somebody that cannot draw very well at all could have lessons for a few years but still struggle to be a good drawer after that time and that to be a good drawer (or painter) you have to possess talent beforehand. Whereas take something like yoga. You could have the most unfit un co-ordinated person who has never practiced yoga in their life, and with two years of frequent lessons they would become good at yoga because it is something that can be taught competely and you do not so much have to have a talent for it beforehand. Curious (I hope that made sense!)

Natural talent is good, Gisele. Hard work is also good. Luck (which is rarely mentionioned) is the goodest of all.

You're interested in the process of publication. So do some research. Asking questions on this forum is a good start. Now, go to the library. Here in the US we have a number of resources which detail the agents and publishing houses by genre. Jeff Herman puts out the best, I believe. I'm sure that there's an equivalent over on your side of the big water. The first third of the tome is reserved for folks like you: Neophytes who just want to know how the system works. Wonderful and detailed explainations are provided. You can read these, place the book back on the shelf (no money out of pocket), and then go back to writing, while letting your newfound information stew.

The advice you are receiving from these forum members is sound. Spend your time learning and perfecting your craft. Understand that nothing is more important than writing well. (Using the information from Jeff Herman can help you hone your writing style, by the way.) One day you will wake up and realize you are writing well. Then it will be time to work on your other ambitions. And to start praying to the luck gods!

Don't forget to have fun!

Writing conferences are a great place to meet agents if you can afford it. They have workshops on pitching and submitting your work there too when you are ready.

Originally Posted by Gisele9

Thank you. Can I ask a further question? Is writing quality a lot to do with experience, or do you mostly have to have the talent at first. For example, personally I think somebody that cannot draw very well at all could have lessons for a few years but still struggle to be a good drawer after that time and that to be a good drawer (or painter) you have to possess talent beforehand. Whereas take something like yoga. You could have the most unfit un co-ordinated person who has never practiced yoga in their life, and with two years of frequent lessons they would become good at yoga because it is something that can be taught competely and you do not so much have to have a talent for it beforehand. Curious (I hope that made sense!)

I suppose some people have a natural talent with words. But for most of us it will be a case of practising (a lot). Also reading can help too, read some old and modern classics. If you are completely new to writing novels then get a self help guide for story telling. Learn about the craft of writing. A good book I used was called Write a Novel (How to guide), it explains in basic what the typical elements of a story are etc.