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Scaling the Wall by Wenda Reed

You’ve written a book!

Congratulations. You’re way ahead of most of us.

Now comes the daunting part: getting it published. How do you find a chink in the seemingly impenetrable wall that separates the first-time author from the big-time publishing world? Lobbing your manuscript over the wall and hoping it might hit a target — an editor in an established publishing house — will almost never work. What you need is someone to walk through the gate with your precious book and deliver it into the right hands.

In most cases, what you need is an agent.

We talked with Pam Binder, a published author of historical romances and president of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association, about finding an agent or editor.

Binder met her agent when she volunteered at the Pacific Northwest Writers Conference in 1998. As she was being driven around, the agent asked if she might read Binder’s manuscript, which she took with her on the plane back to New York. She called Binder the next day, agreed to take her as a client, and sold her manuscript to Pocket Books, a division of Simon & Schuster. Three other novels followed, as well as a novella published in an anthology. Binder teaches popular fiction through the University of Washington Extension and, as PNWA president, helps others become published authors.

“It’s a fun time now to be an author,” says Binder, who is optimistic about a writer’s chance of being published, “as long as she is prepared and professional in her approach.”

Seattle Woman: Do you need to finish your book, or can you query an editor or agent before it is finished?

Pam Binder: Unless it’s nonfiction, normally an agent will take on a new writer only if she has a completed manuscript.

SW: Do you always need an agent, or are there times when you can go directly to an editor?

PB: The best thing to do is to find an agent. It’s not as important in nonfiction, but it helps.
The agent is your advocate with the publishers and will help you find the right editor for your manuscript. But you also have to do your homework. Learn all you can about both large and small publishing houses, what they publish, and what authors they represent.

Agents don’t take money up front; they get paid a percentage after the book is under contract.
Small presses may take a manuscript if you query them directly, especially if it’s a local press. Many will say on their Web site whether or not they accept un-agented manuscripts — always follow their directions.

SW: How do you find an agent?

PB: Attend a writers conference. You can meet agents in person during the pitch session and conference mixers. (A pitch is a three- to five-sentence summary of your project.) You’ll find that agents are not scary; they’re nice people.

At conferences, you learn the craft of writing, including plotting, editing, point of view and character development, as well as how to pitch to an editor or agent, how to market your book after it is sold and many other tips on becoming a successful author.

You can also research agents online; they all have Web sites. The Writer’s Market is a good source. Another idea is to find books like the one you’ve written, and look on the “acknowledgment page.” An author often acknowledges her agent or editor for her help.

SW: How should you prepare before you even approach an agent or editor?

PB: You want to make sure that your manuscript is polished before you send it to an agent. If you are in a critique group, ask one of your critique partners to read your manuscript. You should never send a first draft to an agent.

An exercise we do in my class is to break down the key elements of your story. Try to visualize your story as though it were being advertised on a movie poster.

Approach presenting your manuscript as you would a job interview. Research the markets. Visit a bookstore or library. Where would you find your book — in Nonfiction, Self-Help, Mystery, Romance, Fantasy, Science Fiction or Literary Fiction? What other books are like your book? You need to know the answers to these questions before you talk to an agent or editor.

SW: Do you have some words of encouragement for new writers?

PB: Agents and editors are still looking for that book that makes them turn the pages. They’re trying to find the next John Grisham or J.K. Rowling.

Published authors tell us that the one thing that keeps a writer from being published is giving up.

Wenda Reed is a Seattle-area writer and frequent contributor to Seattle Woman.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST WRITERS CONFERENCE

Authors can connect with agents and editors and with each other at the 54th annual Pacific Northwest Writers Conference July 30–Aug. 2 at the Seattle Airport Hilton & Conference Center, 17620 Pacific Highway S.

As of press time, 19 agents and six editors are scheduled to attend, and more are expected to sign up. New this year are one-on-one editor appointments. Fantasy writer Terry Brooks will deliver the keynote address on Thursday evening. Sessions include “Pitching to Agents and Editors without Being Pushy,” “Agent Dos and Don’ts,” “Book Publicity on a Budget,” “How is a Writer to Know When He or She is Ready to Seek Publication?” and “Speed Pitching,” as well as agent and editor forums, workshops on the craft and business of writing and sessions aimed at a variety of genres.

Registration is $495 for PNWA members and $595 for nonmembers. For more information or to register, call 425-673-2665 or visit www.pnwa.org.

RESOURCES

Pacific Northwest Writer’s Association: The Web site includes information on association events, the conference and a literary contest, as well as Author online magazine; 425-673-2665; www.pnwa.org.

Writer’s Market: This annual compendium of book, magazine, online, screenwriting and other markets, editors and agents is available in printed form (2010 Writer’s Market, by Robert Lee Brewer, Writer’s Digest Books, released June 29, 2009) or by subscription at www.writersmarket.com ($39.99 for 12 months). Writer’s Digest magazine is $19.96 for eight issues. Receive a free newsletter through the Web site.

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, by Stephen King (Pocket Books, 2002).

Save the Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need, by Blake Snyder (Michael Wiese Productions, 2005). Binder says the techniques apply to all kinds of fiction writing.

The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers, by Christopher Vogler (Michael Wiese Productions, 2007).

©2009 Caliope Publishing Company