The Complete Guide to Getting Published (Excerpt)

3.6 The Agent Submission Process

So you’ve written your query letter, you’ve done your research, you’ve got your list, and you’ve broken it down into three categories. Is it finally time to start querying agents?

Yes!

It is!

So let’s get to it already!

Over my several years of querying agents, I came up with a handy and highly effective system for managing the submission process and giving a book the best chance of finding representation. I call it my Magic Query Maximizer (or the MQM). I’m going to share with you this top secret recipe for success in a moment, but first, let’s review the agent submission process as a whole.

For any agent you query, this is generally the way the process will work:

1.      You submit a query letter to an agent, either via email or hard copy (depending on the agency’s submission guidelines), although most agents do accept and prefer email queries these days.

2.      You wait. Sometimes months. Sometimes weeks. Sometimes a day. Some agents may even get back to you instantly. As in a matter of minutes. This has happened to me a handful of times.

3.      You’ll start receiving responses. You’ll either receive a rejection. “Not for us,” “Thanks but no thanks,” “Pass,” etc. Or you’ll receive a request for more information. There are a few things an agent will most likely request at this time:

a.       The full manuscript (also referred to in the industry as simply “a full.”) Remember when I said you better have that manuscript written before you query. Well, this is why.

b.      A partial manuscript (also referred to as simply “a partial”.) which is usually 30 pages or three chapters. Sometimes more, sometimes less depending on the agent.

c.       A full synopsis of your book.

d.      A synopsis or outline of future books if your book is the first in a series.

If the agent has requested a full, partial, synopsis, or some combination of these items, he will usually take some time to read them. This time frame can range from a few days to a few weeks to a few months. It all depends on the agent, their schedule, how much they’ve requested, and if they need to ask for other opinions within the agency.

After reviewing your material, an agent will usually either pass or offer you representation.

Of course there are more variations of each of these steps which we’ll go into in more detail but this is the basic outline of the submission process. 

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THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO GETTING PUBLISHED (an author-to-author guide to selling your novel to a major publisher) is on sale NOW at all eBook retailers. 

If you dream of selling your novel to a major publisher, then this is the book for you! 

Jessica Brody—international bestselling author of more than ten novels—shares her secrets of success in this comprehensive step-by-step guide to writing, pitching, and selling your novel. 

In this one-of-a-kind book you will learn: 

• The four key methods of effectively “pitching” your novel 
• How to write a query letter that will have agents begging to read your manuscript 
• The six tools for finding the perfect agent to represent your work 
• The Magic Query Maximizer—Jessica’s unique proven method for maximizing responses from agents 
• And everything you need to know about selling your novel! 

But this informative author-to-author guide doesn’t stop when you land a book deal. Jessica will also walk you through: 

• Navigating your first book contract 
• The journey from signature to publication 
• The complex and exciting world of foreign and film rights 
• Understanding advances, royalties, and other book-related income 
• Marketing your novel like a pro 
• And so much more! 

With ten book contracts to date, eight film options, and over thirty-five foreign rights deals in more than twenty countries, Jessica Brody packs over eleven years of publishing industry experience into one easy-to-follow handbook that is a must-have for every author.

Learn more at: http://www.jessicabrody.com/2014/10/the-complete-guide-to-getting-published/