Pre-Planning Your Novel and Getting an Agent

You won't believe it and I don't either. An agent -- a real agent with a good reputation and a nice roster of clients -- once contacted me after reading one of my short stories to find out if I had representation and, if not, did I have a novel he could see?

And this is even more unbelievable: I never wrote him back!

Oh, I always meant to. I composed many letters in my head, clever little things that usually involved my offer to sleep with him if he would hang around until I got around to starting and finishing my novel. I tried a few real letters, but none of them could overcome the fact that No, thanks for asking, but I do not have a novel.

My mother raised me better than this. At the very least, I could have written him back to say I have never been so flattered, overwhelmed and encouraged in my whole life and of course I'd be glad to sleep with him for that alone. Actually, that's not exactly what my mother would want me to say, but you get the idea. Common courtesy would have dictated that I write this genius, this most brilliant of all agents, back to say a mere "thank you" and "can I send you one if I ever write it?" But no.

For my excuse, I was having a bit of post-partum depression and he probably wouldn't have wanted to sleep with me anyway.

So why am I telling you all this? If you want to know how to blow-off an agent, ask me. If you want some encouragement on getting an agent, visit David McMahon's authorblog. Today's post (or maybe it's tomorrow's -- he's in Australia) touches on that question as well as a question I asked him a while ago about how he pre-plans his novels. I think you'll find it interesting reading. Penguin Books is putting out his next novel, which is due on Halloween.

Comments

[david mcmahon]

Don't worry about it. The time wasn't right then.

But look forward, not back. If you have the agent's details, get in touch and say you DO have a novel now.

If you don't have his details, check out one of my earlier posts about finding an agent - or mail me and I'll help.

It's all good. The right thing at the right time ....

[Misti]

[gasps]

Sorry, that was my immediate reaction when I heard that you never wrote the kind agent back, though I can understand why not. I'm sorry to hear you were depressed. Thank the Lord that you're better now!

(I'm actually working on a story with a main character who has PPD… I'm hoping I can pull it off so it's obvious to the reader without it being obvious to the narrator. It can be a pretty nasty condition, from what I understand, though I can't say that from experience.)

…About in-progress novels, I'm trying an experiment you might find interesting. To test readership waters (and to help worldbuild) for my in-progress urban fantasy, I'm actually setting up a blog to be written by a character in that world though she herself won't necessarily appear in the novel.

I could keep you posted on how that goes, if you're interested. If not, just tell me to shut up. ;-)

[Rebecca Laffar-Smith]

It's never too late, Anne. Perhaps dropping him a line now would reestablish the connection. If he really does like your work he'll probably forgive you for not responding to his earlier enquiry.

I was recently contacted by a GOD! I'd reviewed his book on The Writer's Round-About and he emailed me. I completely freaked out seeing an idol in my inbox. I think I hyperventilated for 24 hours straight. I was so overwhelmed by the concept, especially by his asking for my help with his current work in progress that I sought out advice from my nearest and dearest.

Thankfully I DID respond to his email promptly and now have my greedy hands and eyes and heart devouring his WIP's first half.

These connections are important to foster but there really is a great deal of timing involved. Obviously it wasn't right earlier for you to establish a relationship with this agent but his interest would have done wonders to cement some confidence and inspiration to produce something substantial. Without that contact you probably wouldn't be writing this current WIP. Perhaps it would be worth contacting the agent, touch base, apologise for not responding to his former enquiry. He might still be interested and at worse will wish you well on your progress.