Archive of Marilee's
advice for writers

Keeping the Faith

Do You Need an Agent?

For writers, the word rejection has the power to bring us to our knees. If you're like me, your book is your baby and you really really love your baby. You spend months laboring over your little beauty, writing, re-writing and polishing until it springs to life, shiny and new and ready to impress the publishing industry. After sending out queries by the dozens, rejection letters begin to appear in your mailbox followed by--oh joy--three requests for a partial. Much throwing of confetti! Happy dance around the living room, taking care not to stomp on the dog's tail. The months drag by and you wait. Two rejections arrive one after the other. Fingers crossed, you wait for the third. In an effort to temper hope with reality, you tell yourself the maker of your fate is an editorial assistant half your age. The envelope arrives. You rip it open and the words, "Unfortunately your submission does not meet our needs at the present time," jump off the page and stab you in the heart.

Most websites for writers insist it's a huge mistake to take rejection personally. Oh really? We're human. We have emotions and we've just been told our baby is ugly. How can you not take it personally? I say go ahead and kick the chair. Scream. Sob into your pillow. Tell your significant other the publishing industry sucks and they wouldn't recognize a best seller if it bit them in the butt. Then... get over it. What you don't do is quit. Look at it this way: every writer who quits makes room for another who pursues his/her dream with dogged determination. Rejection doesn't keep us from publication. Quitting does.

There was a time when the mere sight of a self-addressed envelope made me sick to my stomach. Then I received a rejection that changed the course of my writing life. I'd met Hillary Sares, a Kensington editor, at a conference and she'd requested the book that would become The Rock and Roll Queen of Bedlam. Six months later, I received a rejection letter, but this one was different. Hillary took the time to write a personal message. In part, it said, "You have a natural voice for Young Adult fiction. Give it a try." Her encouragement sent me down a new path, one I'd never before considered. It resulted in Moonstone, the first in the Unbidden Magic series and a five-book contract with Bell Bridge.

The mindset of many unpublished writers is this: First, I'll get an agent. Then, I'll get published. Since many agents now accept queries only by email, you send dozens or even hundreds of queries into cyber space. Approximately half will get no response. Of the remaining batch, some will trigger an instant form rejection. "Sorry, not for us." With a little luck, you may be asked to send a partial. Your heart leaps with joy. You make sure your first three chapters and synopsis shine like the queen's jewels and send them off. You wait. And wait. Months go by. Finally, you get the news. "You write well, but I don't think I can sell it in today's market." Sound familiar?

Unfortunately, many excellent writers become discouraged at this point and simply give up. If there's a bigger downer than constant, unrelenting rejection, I can't think of one. Self doubt sets in. "Gee, if I can't get a literary agent, maybe my book's not good enough to be published." This is a crucial moment in your life, the moment that separates the wannabee from the real deal.

What if I told you I didn't sell a book until I fired my agent? It's true. Granted, I made the mistake of signing with an unknown agent who did absolutely nothing to further my career. The statement, "A bad agent is worse than none at all," was one hundred percent true in my case. It's also true that most of the big publishing houses will not accept unagented submissions. So, if that is your dream, go for it. But, guess what? There are a multitude of wonderful small presses who are eager to look at your submissions. And, with the burgeoning e-book industry, e-publishers are absolutely devouring new material. As always, it requires due diligence. There are dozens of online websites like www.absolutewrite.com with forums that discuss the pros and cons of small pubs in great detail. Check them out. Consider it your homework. Then, make an informed decision.

Would I like to get a good agent? Absolutely. Would a good agent help me crack one of the big markets? Possibly. But, since no one is knocking at my door, begging to represent me, I'll continue writing my books and keeping 100 percent of my advances and royalty checks. That's a choice I can live with!

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