Querying

I queried a fair number of agents for Raising Alexander. Apologies. I queried a fair number of agents for my 97,000-word historical novel Raising Alexander. Funny how after slaving over a 400-page story, you can turn people off to reading it by failing to italicize the title. I learned this lesson after contacting about 80% of the people on my query list. I received 98% rejections/no responses and 2% requests for the manuscript from that cohort. I’m told that is a successful ratio. It does not feel like one, particularly since none of those requests attracted representation. Italicizing the title for the remaining 20% of agents resulted in no requests. So much for form.

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” That quote is attributed to Albert Einstein. Apparently, it’s misattributed, although it’s fun to think he would say something like that. Still, whoever said it likely was not a writer. We don’t know if it’s our querying method or our stories or both that prevent an agent from responding. So “doing the same thing” either means querying or writing stories in the same style. The former is a lot easier to address than the latter.

Writing classes never appealed to me. I’m one of those just do it types. I read a lot. I write a lot. I think I have a knack for concocting a good story and telling it well. The idea of listening to a modestly successful writer (why would they be teaching a writing seminar if they were really successful writers?) struck me as something only people who have no chance of ever completing a novel would do. You either have the ability and discipline to finish a manuscript or you don’t. I thought a class would not help me.

My just do it sentiment has not completely died. I do think writing ability is largely innate and developed over the years through reading good material and then just writing your own. Good, cogent writing is a skill like any other. Talent only goes so far. You have to hone the craft by seeing the great work of others, and then trying to create some yourself.

Part and parcel with development, I finally concluded a little guidance wouldn’t hurt. I applied for a four-day writing seminar in September after I had edited the hell out of Raising Alexander, which I considered (and still consider) quite good. An author friend told me the seminar was worth it. She did not lie.

Good storytelling has basic necessary structural elements. As an instinctive writer, you might have them in your manuscript…accidentally. Those elements have to be purposeful or they will not be developed fully. That’s what separates the pros from the amateur wannabes. The writing seminar taught me that.

So with my new book, Raising the Sun, I set out to address those structural elements from the outline stage. I believe I succeeded. At the very least, I will pinpoint them in my query letters. I’m also narrowing my agent search and specifying exactly why I’m querying an agent in question. The book will have to stand on its own from there. But at least I’m not “doing the same thing” and expecting a different result.

The jury is out on whether I’m insane though.