Today I just thought id give three little *hints* on how to get your book ready to send to an editor/agent.
1. Print a hardcopy and scribble all over that baby. Right before I sent to my agent, I felt as if my novel was 98% where I wanted it, but no matter what I did, I couldn’t get it to %100. So I printed a hard copy {three, actually} and read and edited every little line. It was tedious work, but so worth it.
2. DON’T GIVE UP! When I was sending out Reaper to editors, I got numerous rejections. {most of which were extremely encouraging, but still, they hurt. And I cried often.} I kept emailing my agent asking what had I done wrong? What needed to be changed? And he kept reminding me “Don’t give up, the book is where it needs to be.” And so I didn’t. And someone found the novel and loved it as much as my agent did.
3. If someone turns you down, it doesn’t mean they hate your work. Sometimes it really isn’t “the right time.”
I sent my first novel to more than one agent. Steve was one of them. He told me the book had promise, but that it just wasn’t the right time, and to keep working.
It took me a year and a half, but eventually I got there.
I don’t know if this helps or not. But thought I would share that for the day!