WWTBAM Bored

An agent who had had my full manuscript since August just got back in touch, to set up a call for next week. That sure beats the rejection letters I've collected.

Any words of wisdom on what to expect, what to beware, etc., would be greatly appreciated. I'm happy, but figure this is just another step in the long adventure. Thanks!

No advice, but cheering you on from H-town! Go Mike!

The working title is Nerder One and it starts of course with my Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest detective category winning sentence:

Mike Hardware is the kind of private eye who doesn't know the meaning of the word "fear", a man who can laugh in the face of danger and spit in the eye of death - in short, a moron with suicidal tendencies.

It's a cozy-ish mystery with a bit of romance and humor. The agent wrote that he found it a "unique twist on the usual detective mystery genre".

Congratulations! This (almost) always leads to an offer of representation, based on my own personal experience (three ex-agents) and that of many other authors I've known online for years.

I'm using a she pronoun because most agents are not male.

Mainly, the agent wants to verify that you are a rational human being and not a homicidal maniac. She'll possibly want to know about your day job and how it influences your writing (are you an ex-cop security guard writing a police procedural, or an ex-Navy commander with a submarine thriller?) and what your other interests are (often this is just to help you feel more relaxed). She may ask about your writing history (small press publications, or have you written only one manuscript in ten years, constantly changing it, or have you tried and failed repeatedly, or somewhere in between). There are no wrong answers. She will definitely ask about your writing future and what else you plan on writing (like, is this a series?) Let her know that you are a serious writer and not a one-book wonder.

Remember that agents read and talk for a living, so let her control the conversation. She obviously loved the manuscript or she wouldn't have set up the call. If an offer of representation comes along, go ahead and get excited about it. It's a great feeling.

Eventually, it will become your turn to ask questions. Some to consider:

What do you like and dislike about the manuscript (this may have been covered already)?
What type of changes do you foresee for this manuscript?
When do you foresee this manuscript going out on submission to editors?
Has she gotten similar books published? (this is not hard to look up - ask me later if you really want to know)

Good luck with your agent convo and congratulations on getting this far. Most writers don't.

Here's an agent's view of what to expect:
https://rachellegardner.com/getting-the-call/

Here is a post about my failed agent call from 2008. I still don't know why they bothered!
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8468&p=90983&hilit=call#p90983

mikehardware wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 14, 2021 11:56 am

The working title is Nerder One and it starts of course with my Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest detective category winning sentence:

Mike Hardware is the kind of private eye who doesn't know the meaning of the word "fear", a man who can laugh in the face of danger and spit in the eye of death - in short, a moron with suicidal tendencies.

It's a cozy-ish mystery with a bit of romance and humor. The agent wrote that he found it a "unique twist on the usual detective mystery genre".

Good luck. Break whatever part of the body writers are supposed to break.

Much appreciation for the good wishes and excellent information on what to expect! I''m looking forward to Tuesday morning, feeling optimistic but cautious.

Good luck to another bored book guru!

Would you mind sharing the agent's name with me? You can PM me if you like.

I understand if you'd rather not.

WOOOO HOOOOO!

So happy to read this.

Nice! Congrats!