| These days it's common knowledge that it's hard | | | | as little as $30 or $40 and last about three hours |
| to meet an agent or an editor through an | | | | so you have some time to find out if the |
| unsolicited mailing. They are more likely to pay | | | | instructor can help you or point you in the |
| attention to a submission coming from someone | | | | direction of someone who can. |
| they have met in person. To that end, writers | | | | Remember the agent or editor probably has |
| flock to conferences so they can get some face | | | | aspiring authors handing them manuscripts all the |
| time with real live agents and editors. And that's | | | | time, so make sure you stand out from the pack. |
| great. I believe writers should get out and | | | | Have a killer query letter and synopsis (if your |
| network. But those conferences can be pricey. | | | | book is a novel) or book proposal (for non-fiction |
| It's best to combine attending conferences with a | | | | works) at the ready. You'll make a great |
| few other strategies that are easier on your | | | | impression simply because you're not making |
| wallet. Here are 3 you may find useful. | | | | them lug a 500-page behemoth home in their |
| 1.) Attend Author Readings | | | | briefcase! |
| Make a point of keeping track of writers who do | | | | 3.) Look for Agents and Editors Who Have Their |
| work similar to yours. When they're in the vicinity | | | | Own Personal Websites |
| go hear them read. Sometimes--not all the | | | | When you come across the name of an agent or |
| time--but sometimes the author's agent and | | | | editor who may be appropriate for you, Google |
| editor will be in the audience. If they aren't, see if | | | | them to see if they have their own websites with |
| you can steal a few moments with the writer and | | | | email addresses that may be different from their |
| ask with whom he or she works and whether | | | | corporate mailboxes. Some are authors |
| they have been pleased with the experience. You | | | | themselves (like literary agent Donald Maass, |
| can either ask for an introduction or contact the | | | | author of Writing the Breakout Novel) and have |
| people on your own. If you're going to do the | | | | books of their own to promote. Email them and, |
| former, first develop a rapport with the writer | | | | again, try to develop a rapport and get a sense |
| and stay in touch. They may not feel comfortable | | | | of what they're working on and what they're |
| referring you to their agent or editor right off the | | | | looking for. It's best to know as specifically as |
| bat, but in time as they get to know you and | | | | possible before going through the trouble of |
| your work, an introduction may be a possibility. | | | | making a submission. I recently heard about a |
| 2.) Attend Classes Offered by Continuing | | | | writer who submitted to an agent looking for |
| Education Groups Such As The Learning Annex | | | | African American authors, but in fact the agent |
| Agents and editors are in the business of looking | | | | was looking for African American authors who |
| for the next hot writer and making a name for | | | | wrote urban romance--which was not the writer's |
| themselves in the publishing world. That's why | | | | genre at all. |
| you'll often find agents and editors teaching | | | | One Last Note: These ideas should get you |
| classes related to their work at places such as | | | | started and I hope they'll inspire you to try other |
| The Learning Annex, which has locations in New | | | | creative routes. It does get easier because you |
| York City, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, | | | | will find that as you go to more events and tell |
| Minneapolis, Chicago, Atlanta and Boston ( Recent | | | | more people what you're doing, the more likely |
| instructors include literary agent Katharine Sands, | | | | you will be to find the connector that will build the |
| editor Marcela Landres (formerly of Simon & | | | | path between you and your future agent or |
| Schuster) and Vickie M. Stringer, founder and CEO | | | | editor. |
| of Triple Crown Publications. The courses can cost | | | | |