On many agent blogs I read that, unlike other forms of non-fiction, you generally need a completed manuscript before you can query agents for representation for a memoir. So I diligently set about completing my manuscript.
Once I was close to finishing the manuscript I shared my synopsis and my first three chapters with my beta readers. One of them is a published author who thought the synopsis was fantastic and asked whether I had considered starting to query agents. I explained why I was waiting. She wasn’t convinced and offered to ask her agent for advice.
Her agent’s advice was that because the subject matter of my memoir (i.e. Afghanistan) is so newsworthy at the moment, I should query as soon as possible. She wanted to see my first three chapters. I decided that if I was going to send the chapters to her I would also take a risk and query the five agents who were at the top of my wish list.
So I queried six agents. Two of them were agents to whom I had personal referrals from their clients (including the one who encouraged me to query early). Three were agents with whom I had no connection. The sixth agent had approached me after she read my blog, which she loved, and saw that I was working on a memoir.
I had my first response, a request for a full manuscript, the next morning. I had to explain that I didn’t have a complete manuscript. She still wanted to see whatever I had written. I took another risk. I sent her ten more chapters despite the fact that they had not been through the purifying fire of my beta readers’ insightful critiques. She eventually passed on the manuscript.
The first agent also asked to see more. I sent her the additional chapters. She came back saying that it was a fascinating and well-written story but that the market at the moment demanded more grit in its war stories. She would be interested in seeing another draft.
I got two more requests for full manuscripts. I was beginning to doubt the wisdom of querying early but I decided to give the draft chapters two last outings before I regrouped.
I’ll never forget the day I woke to my first offer of representation. I was stunned. It was such a surprise after the first two rejections that I almost accepted the offer on the spot.
Instead I asked for a little time and wrote to the one remaining agent who had my partial manuscript. She wrote back almost immediately, also offering me representation. Now I was spinning. Two New York literary agents wanted to represent my book!
I set up phone interviews with both of the agents. I got in touch with all the published authors I knew and asked them for advice. I prepared my questions. Each of the agents did a fantastic job of answering them. Both gave me referrals to clients who gave them rave reviews. I knew that I couldn’t go wrong with either of them.
In the end the deciding factor was that when Laura (Laura Nolan of The Creative Culture) talked about my manuscript it was as though she had been inside my head as I wrote it. She got to the heart not only what I had written but also of what I was trying to write but hadn’t quite pulled off.
I broke one of the cardinal rules of querying, which is: ‘Never query until your manuscript is complete, beautifully polished and the best that it can possibly be.’In this instance, it paid off. I was very fortunate to find two agents who were willing to work with me on a promising manuscript that needed work. Not all agents do that. Not all writers need that. Maybe it worked for me because of the timeliness of my subject matter. Maybe it was because I found the right champions for my project. In either case, I’m grateful.
so very well deserved, baby xo
Posted by: Susannah | February 26, 2010 at 07:11 AM
I'm so pleased for you! As in any worthwhile endeavour, persistence is key. And your talent and stories deserve a good agent to guide you to the right publisher. xo
Posted by: Tara Bradford | February 26, 2010 at 07:15 AM
Thanks so much for sharing the information. I have been following your blog for a while now,you really share so much inspiration. Wishing you tons of success on your book.
Posted by: Farida | February 26, 2010 at 07:22 AM
just awesome, friend. thrilled to follow you each step of the way and can't wait to hold that book in my hands. xx
Posted by: doorways traveler | February 26, 2010 at 07:44 AM
Great story that will help others hoping to query. I think it's worth noting that even though your ms wasn't complete, it was *nearly* complete when you queried. You weren't at the beginning of your thought process... You had an awesome synopsis, etc. Can't wait to hear what comes next! Love following along on your journey.
Posted by: Alexis Grant | February 26, 2010 at 07:44 AM
I have followed your blog for awhile now and just wanted to congratulate you and wish you luck on your new endeavors.
Peace :)
Posted by: Erin | February 26, 2010 at 08:04 AM
thanks for sharing your experience. I am impatient to read your book. Hope it will be published soon. I am a UN LO. I have learned a lot about myself and how I see the world since I started working for this organization...
Posted by: Karine | February 26, 2010 at 09:08 AM
Wonderful. It is so interesting hearing how things came into place... almost as if it were meant to be. I'm really looking forward to reading your book.
Posted by: sassy | February 26, 2010 at 09:55 AM
Thanks for your transparency about the process. Onward ho! Hope we'll get to meet at this year's European SUmmit. Do you have a publisher? If so, when's the book out?
Posted by: Rebecca in Switzerland | February 26, 2010 at 10:52 AM
Thanks everyone!
I don't have a publisher yet. Laura and I will work together to edit and polish the manuscript to perfection and then she'll get busy selling it to publishers. The great things about having an agent is that as soon as the mss is ready for sale I can forget about that book and get started on my next! Well, until it's time to start promoting this one, once it comes out.
If all goes really well I hope the book will be published in 2011. It's a long, slow process. Lucky I'm a Taurus, huh?
Posted by: Marianne @ Zen Peacekeeping | February 26, 2010 at 03:53 PM
so awesome! and so very much deserved!!
Posted by: tiny noises | February 27, 2010 at 07:38 AM
I love this story! Congrats!
Posted by: Michelle O'Neil | February 27, 2010 at 04:00 PM
This is so very inspiring. Honestly, it is a lucky agent who has the privilege of representing you and your incredible writing. I cannot wait to read your words in print.
Posted by: Bea | February 28, 2010 at 12:46 PM
so very thrilled for you! thank you for sharing your story. xo
Posted by: stacy | March 01, 2010 at 03:13 PM
Inspiring post. Thanks for sharing how you got your agent. I'm debating too how complete to have my memoir manuscript before I query.
Posted by: Writer Abroad | March 03, 2010 at 09:26 AM
Congratulations! Looking forward to hearing more about your process and reading your story.
Posted by: Mridu Khullar | March 25, 2010 at 10:05 PM