Now that I?ve been navigating the waters in my quest to land an agent, I?m starting to pick up on some nuance.
One of the keys to finding the right agent is to try and narrow the field a bit. I?m all for the throw-as much-as-you-can-at-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks approach, but I?m realizing that I need to throw at the right wall.
When I first started out, I saw Finders Keepers as more of an offbeat, humorous adventure, and approached agents who listed in one place or another that sucNow that I?ve been navigating the waters in my quest to land an agent, I?m starting to pick up on some nuance.
One of the keys to finding the right agent is to try and narrow the field a bit. I?m all for the throw-as much-as-you-can-at-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks approach, but I?m realizing that I need to throw at the right wall.
When I first started out, I saw Finders Keepers as more of an offbeat, humorous adventure, and approached agents who listed in one place or another that such types of books are what interested them, at least to some degree. Thing is, I?m starting to realize more and more that a lot of these agents who say they want offbeat and humorous mean that they want offbeat and humorous just so long as it?s [i]mainstream[/i] offbeat and humorous, which means don?t be [i]too[/i] offbeat and humorous, just enough that I can sell it to a mass audience I think wants something predictable.
So, yeah … there?s been a little of a learning curve for me. But that?s okay, that’s how we learn. Having reality contradict what we?re told.
I?ve since starting targeting agents who specifically look for science fiction and fantasy novels. Now, Finders Keepers falls into light sci-fi, meaning, there are no robots and spaceships and intergalactic wars. It brushes across sci-fi just peripherally. Quantum leap comes to mind. Yes, it?s sci-fi … ish, but really it?s fantasy and fun and you like the show because you like the characters.
Same thing with Finders Keepers. It?s Quantum Leap science fiction, not Blade Runner.
Since this shift I?ve had one agent ask me to send her pages, which I?ve done, and a few others who at least perked up a bit at the concept. So I think I?m more along the right track.
Anyway, I?m sure I?ve got loads and loads more to learn about this process, but hey … every day I?m making more progress, getting me one step closer to where I want to be … signed by an agent who really gets what I write, and a juicy book deal to boot.
The journey continues …
