i am writing a book, i want to connect with an agent. where do i go for this type of info?

Question

it is a romance novel. very good one and is my very first attempt at it.

Answer 1

As an experienced writer and published fantasy author, I would suggest you save your money on books that list agents. For the most part, those listings are either out of date, vague, or totally useless because most agents these days won't even READ unsolicited manuscripts unless you have previously published something. The slush piles are in the thousands, so don't waste your time, postage or printing costs.

What you need is a good query letter. Pure and simple, no buts about it--you need a query letter that will get an agent's attention. Otherwise you're paddling upstream against a current that will eventually dishearten or break you. Agents know the game and they know what the publishing houses are looking for. If you will check my previous Yahoo answers, you'll find a great example of a query letter you can use.

That's my advice. Good luck with your book.

Jon F. Baxley (Author, Editor, Ghostwriter and Proofreader)

THE SCYTHIAN STONE (eBook only)
THE BLACKGLOOM BOUNTY (eBook and hard cover)
THE REGENTS OF RHUM (coming fall '07)

(For a FREE copy of The Scythian Stone or a full color, four chapter illustrated demo of The Blackgloom Bounty, email me at [e-mail]).

My author blog: http://the-blackgloom-bounty.blogspot.com/

Answer 2

Obtain a Writer's Market book from either your library or bookstore. Search for the right literary agent that suits the genre of your novel and follow all the submission guidelines, including the agent's website.

Purchase "Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript" by Cynthia Laufenberg and learn how to prepare a strong query letter and to format your manuscript.

But before you do all this, buy the small pocketbook titled, "The Elements of Style" by Strunk and White. The manner in which you expressed your question is indicative that you need to learn to write proficiently without glaring errors.

Answer 3

Mine were very good too--in the beginning. But I found that they still needed work.

About 10 years worth to be precise. I'm still ironing out the bugs on a couple, but they're pretty much done and complete.

But if you like, I'll critique a sample of it--from one writer to another.

For your question, check out a writer's guide for publishers and agents, and see if they do romance novels.

However--as a first-time writer--your chances of becoming published at the stage of writing you're at--is quite slim.

It's nothing personal about you or your writing. It's the industry perception and immediate needs. 99% of all writers get rejected every year.

Including myself.

Answer 4

Go to the library and ask if they'd show you any source books that have lists of publishers and agents. There's the "Literary Marketplace" and the "Writer's Market", or go on line, and print "literary agents" into any search engine.

Answer 5

there are plenty of books on this topic at Border's - how to get an agent, or published agents address book- check them out in the writing section