marzipan77

With two original novels written, and the third and fourth started, it's time to attend to the business of being an author. It's time to query agents and see if I can get representation which is the MOST stressful, confusing, daunting challenge I've faced during my writing career. So. Since there are so many naysayers out there, eager to tell new writers that "you have no chance" "Just self-publish" "you'll never get representation" and, best of all, "If you don't have this giant list of things already no one will even listen to you", I was thrilled to come across some great resources that are different. Encouraging, even!

These are the psyche-saving sites I've found:

How to Write a Query Letter - via the 'Mad-Libs' method. If you've been reading EVERYTHING on the Internet about how it must be perfect and unique - but not too unique - and follow all the rules except for when it doesn't and blah blah blah, then this site is for you!

blog.nathanbransford.com/how-to-write-a-query-letter

List of Agents Searchable by Genre - you still have to research, see who's open to queries and if you like the agency's website, etc, but you don't even have to join or sign up for anything to use this site!

aaronline.org/Find

Last but not least - Writer Beware. This blog warns of dishonest/disreputable "publishing" companies, pay-to-play companies, and agents who have reputations for not giving the writer her due. I'm checking every Agent I find on the previous site against the Beware List. It's so helpful.

www.sfwa.org/other-resources/for-authors/writer-beware/agents/

Let's try to build each other up instead of repeating all the negative rhetoric we hear about the "impossibility" of traditional publishing. Even JK Rowling started somewhere.

snowflake-challenge.dreamwidth.org/48222.html