How to Be An Author–Part Two

In my last blog I went over the six steps to becoming an author implementing the longest established method. Step one is to write an inspirational novel. Steps two and three are finding an agent and using said agent to find a publisher. Step four is to work with the editor at the publisher to produce content that will fly off the shelf. Promoting the book is the fifth step. The final step is to repeat steps one, four and five. In other words, unless you end up with an agent you can’t work with that part of the process is complete.

So where am I in this process you ask? I am happy to report I still have an inspirational novel (an excerpt of which can be read in the BOOKS section of this website.) I have also written a number, twenty-five to be precise, of query letters. Thirteen were written between August 10 and the end of November, 2018. The rest were written last month. In response I’ve received ten rejections–usually quite encouraging saying that while she or he isn’t interested there probably is somebody that is. They all point out the process is subjective. I like their optimism and remain optimistic myself. I also realize 25 is a small number of solicitations in a world filled with hundreds of reputable agents, and of course at least that many slime balls willing to take you on at a price. If you’re searching for an agent and she or he wants money from you, don’t give them a nickel and keep searching.

My goal right now is to increase my query production to five to ten a week. I also intend to increase my blog production to one to two a week. Please come back and hold me accountable.