Most of you heard the new yesterday that I’m now agented! Yesterday I met Juliet Mushens from Peters Fraser & Dunlop at their offices in London and despite being a nervous wreck was coherent enough to feel her enthusiasm for my manuscript and my writing and to love her ideas for improving them. It still feels a bit surreal after two years of submitting to agents to have one but I’m excited for the journey ahead.
A few non-writers asked me yesterday exactly what having an agent actually means. I totally understand this as before I wrote a book and thought about trying to get it published, I didn’t have a clue either! I assumed I’d send it in to a top publisher and sign a million-pound book deal the next day. Uh… no, basically. Most of the main publishers don’t accept submissions from writers without agents – they look to agents to filter novels for them. So if you want to be traditionally published, you really need a literary agent. In the same way as actors have film agents to get them work.
An agent primarily works to bridge the gap between author and publisher and to get your book published but they really do a whole lot more – most will help you edit and improve your story before submitting it, they will support and champion your career and help you make decisions about what to write next. To get an agent, most writers submit their manuscript to them and end up in what’s called a slush-pile and hope that an agent will pick it out and fall in love with it. Others meet them at conferences and pitch the book to them there, or you might enter a writing competition and get noticed by them that way, or some may know an agent through a friend. I found mine through submitting directly – I emailed Juliet my first three chapters, she asked to read the full manuscript the same day and just under two weeks later said she wanted to represent me. She emailed me last Sunday to tell me after another agent had asked to read the full ms and one had rejected it – it was a crazy night!
I know when I was searching for a agent, I looked online at other writer’s stories to see how they did it, how many rejections they got etc. So, for those interested – I submitted my manuscript to 23 agents, I had 14 rejections, 3 non-responses, 3 asked to read the full manuscript and after I emailed everyone to say an agent had offered to represent me, I got another 3 full ms requests. I found Juliet through Twitter after I had been submitting my ms for nearly three months – I randomly started following Juliet and some of her clients and then looked at her website page. I’d never submitted to her agency before as I thought they didn’t want to see YA books but reading her bio and client list, I thought it was a worth a try. I’m very glad I did 
This manuscript is the third one that I’ve sent to agents and the fourth one that I’ve written since 2010. I’ve had a lot of rejections and moments when I wondered if I was crazy to be trying to do this. I got enough positive feedback on my last one to push me to really go for it. As most of you know, I decided this year to take a bit of a leap of faith and leave my job in HR and take a year out to write. I left my job the last day of March and I was getting nervous that I’d made a mistake in doing that but yesterday, I took a big step in the right direction. Of course there are no guarantees that my novel will sell but having someone believe in me and my writing means I have the best chance possible for it to.
Thank you to everyone who has supported and encouraged me – this blog has often been my lifeline. And to writers reading this who are trying to find their agent – don’t give up!
Victoria
xoxo
Kat Ellis
/ September 22, 2012Great story
Juliet seems like a wonderful agent, and I love reading her tweets (and yours, of course!) Congratulations to you both!
Victoria-writes
/ September 22, 2012Thanks Kat! I think Juliet is cooler than me
Juliette
/ September 22, 2012Fab wee story there!! Again, many congrats – I hope that one day I will be in the same position as you!
Victoria-writes
/ September 22, 2012Thanks Jules, I know you will!
Poetu'
/ September 22, 2012Congrats, Victoria! “You fail only if you stop writing” said the great Ray Bradbury, and he was damn right! I’m glad you didn’t and I promise you, I won’t quit either! Godspeed!
Victoria-writes
/ September 22, 2012I love that quote! Good luck!
Laura Lam
/ September 22, 2012Welcome, Vicky! What a wonderful post.
Victoria-writes
/ September 22, 2012Thanks Laura
mlfables
/ September 22, 2012Most of the main publishers don’t accept submissions from writers without agents – they look to agents to filter novels for them. So if you want to be traditionally published, you really need a literary agent.
I hadn’t realised this. I’d always read that writers should ‘send a publisher the first three chapters’ directly, when sending out manuscripts.
Great post, (I know next to nothing about the traditional publishing world, so I am reading up on whatever inside glimpses I can get about the industry).
Victoria-writes
/ September 22, 2012I had to do a lot of Google searching! Some smaller publishers accept submissions, or there’s self publishing – you just need to decide what route you want to go down. Good luck!
Lisa Wields Words
/ September 22, 2012That is SO EXCITING Victoria. I missed that news somehow yesterday, but I am practically in tears right now celebrating you. You are really doing it, and that is amazing. I’m in awe.
Victoria-writes
/ September 22, 2012Thank you Lisa! That means so much to me. Now it’s your turn
Lisa Wields Words
/ September 22, 2012That would require me to 1) finish a book and 2) stop being a chicken about submitting.
Victoria-writes
/ September 23, 2012Get on it!
The Other Watson
/ September 22, 2012Wow, congratulations on getting an agent!
I missed it yesterday (I’m a bit all over the shop at the moment), but that is awesome news, and you definitely deserve it after working so hard on it and placing so much faith in it yourself! Good luck with it all, and thank you for sharing this – it does pass on a bit of hope to so many other aspiring writers, to hear these kind of stories.
Victoria-writes
/ September 23, 2012Thank you. I hope it helps writers keep trying!
kford2007
/ September 22, 2012I am absolutely thrilled for you. Make sure you keep us posted with all the tidbits about your journey from agent to publication (I know they’ll sell your story soon!!!)
Victoria-writes
/ September 23, 2012Thanks Jenny – I will
Madison Woods
/ September 22, 2012Congratulations! I’m very excited for you
))
Victoria-writes
/ September 23, 2012Thanks!
suzicate
/ September 22, 2012Yay, Vic! This is AWESOME! YOU ARE AWESOME!!!!!
Victoria-writes
/ September 23, 2012Haha bless you
EArroyo
/ September 22, 2012Yay!!! Congrats I’m soooo happy for you!!
Victoria-writes
/ September 23, 2012Thanks Liz, you played a big part in it!
Angelia Sims
/ September 22, 2012I am really happy for you. Only good things can come of it. Exciting stuff! Go Victoria! Woo!
Victoria-writes
/ September 23, 2012Woo indeed! Thank you
Sarah J.
/ September 22, 2012Congrats! It is always inspiring to read about other writers who have landed an agent.
Victoria-writes
/ September 23, 2012Thanks Sarah!
Deborah the Closet Monster
/ September 22, 2012YEAH! Congratulations! I’m doing a happy dance for you. (I’m keeping it inside my head, though, for the sake of my fellow coffee shop patrons.)
Victoria-writes
/ September 23, 2012Haha I think you should get up on the table and do it
beckyday6
/ September 22, 2012Ohhh wow! Congratulations V!!! I’m so happy for you.
Victoria-writes
/ September 23, 2012Thanks Becky!
4amWriter
/ September 22, 2012This is amazing news. I actually got a little teary, and my heart leapt for you. I know how hard you’ve been working, hoping, and waiting. You are an inspiration to the rest of us writers who are still waiting for that big break.
Good luck on this leg of your journey, and I’m so looking forward to reading more about everything that happens for you and your book.
Victoria-writes
/ September 23, 2012Aw bless you, I feel teary reading these comments! You’ll get your break soon I know it
Kourtney Heintz
/ September 22, 2012Congrats!
Awesome story of how you found your agent too.
Victoria-writes
/ September 23, 2012Thank you!
Jess Witkins
/ September 23, 2012Oh Victoria, congrats, that’s wonderful! I’m very very delighted for you and wishing you and your agent a fabulous partnership and much success! Keep us posted!
Victoria-writes
/ September 23, 2012Thank you Jess! I will
countingducks
/ September 23, 2012I’m soooo pleased for you. I look forward to having a signed copy. Your determination and faith in your dream is showing many people the way. I love that. Make it happen
Victoria-writes
/ September 24, 2012Thank you Peter!
lovelylici1986
/ September 23, 2012Victoria, this is awesome! Congratulations! Definitely a big, important step. Super happy for you, and glad to be a part of your journey.
Victoria-writes
/ September 24, 2012Thanks Alicia, can’t wait to follow your journey too!
racheldeangelis
/ September 23, 2012Thank you so much for posting this very specific information! I’ve started to do a little research on what it takes to get published, and I think if I ever do try, I would rather go the traditional route like you did instead of self-publishing. I think it would be helpful to have an agent’s opinion on making the writing better, and I would have no idea how to “advertise” for my new book if I did self-publish. I hope this isn’t too personal, but can I ask you?…..Now that you have an agent, do you start paying her? Or does she simply get a commission from your book sales once a publisher accepts you?
Victoria-writes
/ September 24, 2012Ooh exciting, good luck! You should never pay an agent to read your work or pay anything in advance, an agent makes commission for selling your work.
GJ Scobie
/ September 24, 2012Just saw the digest come into my inbox. Many congratulations on this. Such great news for a wet Monday morning here
All the best with this and I look forward to reading when it comes out. Excellent post on summarising the journey to date and the amount of effort it takes. Again great news. I’m so excited for you 
Victoria-writes
/ September 24, 2012Thank you so much!
GJ Scobie
/ September 27, 2012You’re very welcome and remember you’ve worked hard for this so no self-doubts, you’re doing this!
Victoria-writes
/ September 27, 2012limebirdbeth
/ September 24, 2012So excited for you love! xx
Victoria-writes
/ September 24, 2012Cheers Beth, means a lot xx
mercuriahibernica
/ September 24, 2012Congratulations! That’s great news, and it must feel brilliant to have your leap of faith vindicated like that. And thanks for sharing how you made it happen as well – it’s helpful (if a little daunting!) to know that it takes perseverance and self-belief, but it’s worth it! Best of luck with the next step
Victoria-writes
/ September 25, 2012Thank you, it is exciting and a bit of a relief
leashieloo
/ September 24, 2012A MILLION CONGRATS! I am so happy for you! It’s been inspiring to follow along with you on your journey. Next thing you know, we’ll be congratulating you on the publication of your book!
Victoria-writes
/ September 25, 2012I really hope so
EmmaMc
/ September 24, 2012Many many huge congratulations. Made me smile and feel optimistic when I read this. Can’t wait to hear what happens next
Victoria-writes
/ September 25, 2012Thank you Emma. It will be you next!
faultlessfinish
/ September 24, 2012Congratulations!!! Persistence pays off
Victoria-writes
/ September 25, 2012Thanks! Yes
Elin @andserenitytoo
/ September 24, 2012Wow, congratulations Vicky!! I’m so happy for you
A huge step in the direction of becoming a published author!
Victoria-writes
/ September 25, 2012Thanks Elin, lovely to hear from you!
susielindau
/ September 25, 2012Congratulations to you! That is the holy grail of writers!
I received my journal in the mail today! I LOVE it! Thank you so much!
I will use it for poetry. I used to write it and it helped me with description of feelings and thinking outside of the proverbial box!
Thanks again!
Susie
Victoria-writes
/ September 25, 2012Thanks Susie! Glad it arrived safely, enjoy!
egills
/ September 25, 2012Fantastic news! Couldn’t have happened to a more deserving person!
Victoria-writes
/ September 26, 2012Thank you, so sweet!
Kristina Stanley
/ September 25, 2012Congratulations. Enjoy the feeling. Good luck in the next steps of the journey.
Victoria-writes
/ September 26, 2012Thanks Kristina!
thoughtsappear
/ September 25, 2012Congratulations on getting an agent!
Victoria-writes
/ September 26, 2012Cheers my dear!
Vicki Tremper
/ September 26, 2012Oh, I missed this news yesterday. Congrats, Victoria! Good luck on the next step of the journey!
Victoria-writes
/ September 27, 2012Thank you so much Vicki!
The Hook
/ October 8, 2012Good luck, Victoria!
Personally, I’m ready to throw in the towel, but it makes me smile to know you’re on the right path…