I'm Telling You It's True! I Got Agent!!!

I almost didn't want to do this post, because I know how it feels to be the writer who checks in to the blog-o-sphere only to read yet another "I got an agent" story. To be so happy for them while at the same time battling the "why them and not me" thoughts. I know how many hours us writers slave over our words, making them just so, only to get the query door slammed in our face over and over and over again. Believe me, I know.

So, yes, I ALMOST didn't want to do this post.

But I say almost, because while I don't want to seem like I'm rubbing it in, I also want everyone out there trying so hard to get a foot in an agents door, to believe that it IS possible! And that when it does happen, you deserve to be happy about it!

I wasn't one of those queriers with a 50% request rate. I didn't even have 30%. I got rejection after rejection.

Still I kept on.

I would enter contests and get ripped to shreds, or be given a chance...but just barely. Still, I kept entering them...and I'm here to tell you that the "just barely" is sometimes all it takes.

Here is my story if you want to hear it...

Back at the beginning of the year I wrote my goals out for the whole blogger world to see. One being that I would query Ripple (then Ripple Effect) and get an agent this year.

Soon after that I was blog hopping and came across Cupids fabulous blog and her Blind Speed Dating Contest. To get into the contest you had to get past the bouncers first. During this round there were submissions getting multiple comments from bouncers telling them, "you're in!"

I got one bouncer comment.

And it wasn't a straight forward, "Yes! You're in!" My bouncer was torn, but let me through anyway. Gennifer Albin, I will be forever grateful for you taking that chance on me!

So. Holy crapola, I was in the door! It was like being the wannabe who got entrance into the high school party that only the cool kids go to:)

Finally, the day came around for agents (who were going by undercover names) to browse the entries. If they liked yours, they'd shoot and arrow at you (hence the whole cupid thing). The more arrows, the better. Again, there were entries getting multiple arrows. Agents were bantering back and forth at how much they wanted this one or that.

I got one arrow.

It was from the Ryan Gosling cupid and the words were music to my ears, "Hey Girl, I know people are saying dystopian is over but I think you have something special here. You've been struck with Honorary Cupid Ryan Gosling's arrow (partial request; 1 arrow)."

My cupid turned out to be Sarah Lapolla, the unbelievably amazing agent from Curtis Brown of all places! I sent her my 100 page partial. Then she requested a full (telling me, by the way, that my story was more sci-fi than dystopian). And the rest is history. I couldn't be more thrilled if I tried! All because two people gave me a chance.

I truly felt like the underdog, and now I feel on top of the world!

I hope that if your feeling beat up and pushed around; ready to quit writing, querying or whatever it is you may be trying to do, that you won't. Because I'm hear to tell you...five years after I started this writing journey, that you can do this! Cheesy, but true:)

I know I still have a long road ahead and that is just fine by me. I have a lot to learn. I'm hoping my journey into the sunset continues on and on and on.

What about you? I'd love to hear where you are and how you're feeling about your writing journey.  

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Speaking of getting an agent, don't forget about the second annual GUTGAA blogfest coming up in August. If you're ready to get Geared Up to Get an Agent or know of some agents, editors or authors wanting to pitch in and help, go HERE.