You’ve spent the past months and possibly even years laboring of your work and now you have a finished, edited version of a book. Congratulations! But now what? It can be overwhelming to find a literary agent that wants to take on your project, especially when rejection letters start arriving. Many authors give up at this point. Don’t be one of them!
First, spend some time searching for an agent that is looking for your project. There are many free resources available online. The MS Wishlist hosts a wealth of information for any author looking for the agent who will work to publish their blood, sweat and tears into a novel.
MS Wishlist provides authors with tips on what agents are looking for, common mistakes that lead to rejection, a forum for asking agents questions, and also links authors to an associated Twitter feed where agents can request specific topics, genres, and subjects that they are currently wanting to take on as projects. This provides a way for authors to connect with agents and publishers in their specific genre and provides a way to turn a cold query into a hot lead.
For authors wanting a more hands on approach, many agents provide opportunities for authors to submit segments of their writing for agent review and critique. MS Wishlist acts as a directory for agents seeking submissions and additionally, links authors to personal critique services for a fee.
LA locals can take part in an in-person critique session with literary manager Hannah Ozer on Monday, August 26th at Broadway Second Stage where she will live read 2 winning scripts from a recent screenwriting contest. After the live read, feedback will be provided by Hannah along with script coach Tim Schildberger. Bring your burning questions, as they will be hosting a Q&A following the live read event. For more information or to purchase an event ticket, please visit the event page at: LiveRead/LA.