I hate busy work. I’m trying to work on my current manuscript as well as future manuscripts, plus scripts, plus all kinds of other stuff. I’ve now read so much about “how the publishing world works” that my eyes are bleeding, and I have no more confidence now than when I started. Why? Because all the experts say different things. Do this, one says. No, do that, says another. This is what’s most important, says the first. No, that’s what’s most important. It’s like they have no clue, and I find that disturbing, especially since they get 20%. A big old “What for?” would seem to apply. Of course I just read the article in this month’s Writer’s Digest, and it’s frustrating.
A big problem is that agents are one shots – you have one shot to hook them. Miss and you have to move on. While that makes common sense, it starts to make less sense when you’re supposed to tell the agent WHY you are contacting them specifically. “You were number 492 on my list of the 500 top agents?” Hmm, not a good idea.
But what to do? I’ve read the information, I know what I need to do, I know what to expect, and I’m willing to learn anything I don’t already know.
Maybe I’m just getting a case of nerves prior to pulling the trigger. Hmm…could be.