In September of 2023, I placed a sticky note on my desk at school that read, ‘Find an Agent.’
When I cleared off my desk in June of 2024, preparing for the summer vacation, I peeled off the same sticky note.
Were the words crossed off as if I had even attempted to complete the task? Was there a check mark next to it?
Absolutely not.
Instead, the note stayed taped onto my desk for an entire school year, a daily reminder of a dream that was sitting on hold. A dream that was in my mind each and every day.
Here I am, the majority of the 2024 summer behind me, with only a few weeks left before I need to return to my classroom.
I promised myself I’d take those first steps and send out a few Query letters.
I’m not sure where it’s going to take me, but it’s a start.
Hesitancy to Begin
It is not laziness that has made me push off the task of searching for a literary agent. It is not the challenge of the agent search or the arduous task of creating a strong, well-written query letter.
It’s the uneasiness that comes with taking that first step with a dream that is so big, so huge, that any progress with it, whether positive or negative, is going to feel life changing.
I’m a coward, is what I am. I’m more worried about a response from an agent saying, “Ok. Let’s talk” then I am with a flat out rejection email.
It’s hard to explain.
Things are easier by simply putzing along, safely tucked away, writing in my cabin and dreaming about ‘someday.’
It is definitely scarier to actively begin to chase that dream.
I guess I’m at a spot where it’s, ‘Ready or not. Here I come.’
Creating My Query Letter
About a month or two ago, I drafted my query letter for Life at Loon Lake. I set it aside in my Google drive, pulling it out every now and then to do a revision.
I researched example query letters and watched YouTube videos from agents and authors giving their opinions on what makes a strong query letter to an agent.
Last weekend, I did my final draft, adding a small paragraph at the bottom that did say I have attempted to try and self-publish my books using Kindle Direct Publishing through Amazon. Supposedly, most agents will not even consider works that have already been self-published.
I polished everything up, checked my editing skills, and crossed my fingers that I had created a letter that would pique an agent’s interest regarding Life at Loon Lake, at least enough that they would read the attached pages.
Beginning the Search
After completing my query letter, I opened up Yahoo, flexed my fingers, and completed a search on ‘literary agents for children’s books.’
I was bombarded with websites, claiming to have the best updated lists of known agents for middle-grade literature.
My first order of business was to create a spreadsheet to collect agent names, website addresses, and a column for date sent so that I could keep myself organized.
Many of the names I found stated that they were not accepting query letters at this time. Other agent bios just didn’t seem like a good fit, so I bypassed all of those.
I found agents that wanted the first three chapters included with the query letter. There were others that wanted the first ten pages with the query and then a short author biography. There were even more that wanted specific forms used, bios, a synopsis, etc..
I weeded through the abundance of information and found six or seven possibilities. After adding their information to my spreadsheet, I began to personalize my first paragraph of my query letter to match each agent.
In about an hour or two, I had sent queries to all the agents on my short list. I have absolutely zero expectations for this first group of submissions, however it’s a start.
Gearing Up for Rejection
I’m looking at last week’s query submissions as practice – kind of like football camp before football season begins.
I fully expect my email inbox to contain form rejection responses such as, “Dear Ashley, we regret to inform you that your manuscript does not fit the type of work we are looking for at this time.” Blah, blah, blah.
It’s okay. I completely understand and I’m accepting of this, however I do believe Life at Loon Lake is worth a second look. While I’m gearing up for those rejection responses, I feel Life at Loon Lake can hold it’s own as a middle-grade chapter book written by a beginning author. (One of the reasons I feel this way is because my friend, and co-worker a the time, edited the book for me. While kind and empathetic, he would have found a way to let me know if the rhythm and plot of the storyline was off.)
Regardless of what I find in my inbox, I’m happy that I have finally begun to take those next steps in finding someone to represent my work.
Continuing to Chase My Dreams – What’s Next?
At the bottom of this post, you will see that I intend to send out at least five more query letters before the evening is over. My plan is to continue to send more out each and every week until I’ve sent out 30 or so.
I also had another thought as I was taking a shower this morning (some of my best thoughts come to me while showering – I don’t know why.) Anyway, I was thinking that while I’m a beginning author, there must be beginning literary agents out there.
Why not query them?
Of course New York is looked upon as the Publishing Capital of the World, however that doesn’t mean I need to find someone that has offices in New York with 10 best sellers under their belt.
I believe I may just refine my Yahoo search a little to include, ‘literary agents in Michigan, beginning literary agents.’ Maybe I’ll even use Google to help me with this research.
I need to find someone that is a little desperate in finding material to pitch to publishing companies.
Meanwhile, I’m going to continue to write, continue to blog, and continue to go to Author Table events in hopes of connecting with someone who can help me.
Someday, Life at Loon Lake will be in a bookstore near you.
Someday.
Goals for Today:
- Send Out Five More Letters – Add to Spreadsheet
- Spend More Time Researching Agents
- Continue to Write – What the Hell Do They Know? Someday I Will See My Books in Stores.