Agent search begins

On my way home from a work/pleasure trip to the Pacific Northwest earlier this week, I finished revising my mystery novel. My critique group gave me feedback on it a few weeks ago. As I digested their diverse comments, I read the whole novel and noted things I wanted to tighten, tweak, and add. It's now ready, I think, to send out.

So I sent it the other night to an agent who'd requested the whole thing.

A few weeks ago I started researching and querying agents. I think querying is kind of fun. It's kind of like job hunting, which I also think is fun (at least it's fun when I already have a job and there's no pressure). I've used Publisher's Marketplace, Agent Query, and agents' own websites to learn more about agents and see if my book would be a good fit. Fit is hard to judge, though, just like in job situations. So much of this business is subjective.

Based on my research, I've made a list of agents who appear to be a good fit for my book. I'm querying a few at a time, beginning with agents who accept email or online submissions.

Yes, I confess that I am currently discriminating against agents who accept only snail mail submissions because email/online is easier for me. Of my handful of interactions with agents so far, this method of communication can be quick, which is good.

And to continue my whole laziness theme, I started with agents who request a simple query letter or a query letter plus sample pages. Agents who want a synopsis got temporarily bumped down my list because writing a synopsis is painful. But I did finally write one because it was a required part of SCBWI's work-in-progress grant application.

Some of my writer friends have asked why I'm starting with a search for an agent instead of an editor. I think this particular novel straddles a line between commercial/genre fiction and literary fiction that I think would appeal to an agent. It could stand alone, but it could also be the first in a mystery/detective series. An agent could help with this. Also, I think it's a little easier to find info on individual agents' tastes than it is on editors, which leads back to fit. A knowledgeable agent will know better than I which editors would be interested in this work.