How do I get my 1st novel published?

Question

I've completed my first novel, and am extremely pleased with it. But I've been unable to get a literary agent to even read a sample chapter! It's funny, quirky, "chick-lit", as they call it, but how do I get my foot in the door to a publisher?

Answer 1

I wish I knew.

I've been working on mine for a while, and this is the methodology I've picked up along the way:

First, has anyone seen your book? Even if it's brilliant, it could probably benefit from the opinions of people whose opinions you trust. Start with friends, or a writer's group, and let people give it a look. Don't take every bit of advice you get, but listen to as much as you can and figure out which is the best for what you're trying to do. If you've got a good group, then sometimes people will give you conflicting advice, which is when you get to really sharpen your instincts.

While you're working on that, start researching agents. Don't just send it to anyone; you want to know if the agents you send it to are going to be right for you. A Web site I like is www.agentquery.com. There are others, but that's the one I use. It has a search engine that you can use to find the best agent for your book. Check the category that best applies to your book, and check the box that says "Only search agents who are actively seeking new clients." That will probably give you a pretty long list, and you are going to want to go through that list one at a time and read the profiles to figure out which agents are best for you. Many of them will have links to their Web sites, and you can take a look and see if their approach matches up with what you want to do. Also see what books they've represented, and whether there's anything you recognize and like.

The AgentQuery Web site also has instructions on writing a good query letter. Read it and take it very seriously, Follow each agent's guidelines to the letter, but try to make it personal, too. It will probably be worth your while to write one main query letter, summing up your book and your history as clearly, succinctly, and positively as you can. Make it entertaining, too, but not too flashy. And leave space to personalize it for each agent--a paragraph or two on why that agent is the best for you, and why you think your book is a good one for them to represent. This will show that you care enough to do your homework, and it will raise the odds that they'll ask to see more. For a while I was even checking books out of the library so that I could read them and (hopefully) say "I liked this book that you represented," but that was too much work for too little return. The whole letter must be under 1 page, in 12-point font with 1-inch margins.

Send only what the agent's guidelines ask for. No more, no less. If the guidelines say send a first chapter, then only send the first chapter (or an equivalent number of pages, if your book has chapters of an odd length). If it says just send a query, then just send a query. If your manuscript is as good as you say, then you'll probably do better with the agents who ask to see a sample chapter or two with the first query.

This is a lot of work, I know, and it will slow down the rate at which you send your queries out, but it will increase the likelihood that each agent will respond positively. It will be hard work and take a lot of time, but if you go in expecting this, then you will be more likely to have the endurance to hang in until your manuscript gets to where it's going.

Answer 2

You need a literary agent to submit your manuscript to prospective publishers. If you have a writer friend with a literary agent, ask him or her, to refer you to his or her agent.

Buy "The Writer's Market," a book that lists names and addresses of agents and publishers.

When you submit to agents include a large envelope with sufficient postage for the manuscript to be returned to you. If not, your manuscript goes in the trash can, as do most manuscripts.

You can buy The Writer's Market at most large booksellers: Barnes&Noble, Amazon.com, Borders, etc.

Answer 3

I recommend a series of references which are collectively called "The Writer's Market". The series provides good leads for writers looking for publishers, and they are usually available at most book stores in the Reference section.

Answer 4

find publishers in the target market.

Answer 5

I would e-mail it to a whole bunch of friends and everyone will start talking about it but make shore your names on it and its only people you trust so know one will steel your idea.But that's just what I would do.GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

Ask JEEVES