Secret Agent Man

I've been reading a lot on whether or not a writer really needs an agent. Some say yes, some say no. I must admit to being dreadfully afraid of the "slushpile". I lived in a winter climate for many years. It wasn't the cold I minded. It was the snow I had to shovel. It was the god damn slush that I hated. When it got to the consistency of bad truck driver stop diner mashed potato goo. When it began to look like it had been peppered and then doused in gravy. I couldn't stand it. I'd sit at my window lamenting I had to go out in that mess.

Who knew I'd one day be willing to be considered slush myself?

I've decided to make a go of it without an agent. Why? For one a very well-connected agent told me it's not necessary. You won't get the same full on attention your MS would get if it were given to an editor by an agent, fine. They'll grab you from the slush and read you as if scanning a resume when there aren't any positions open anyway. So, in light of this, I think a good enough writer has to stand a chance. I hope I'm good enough to get my chance. To get my 60 seconds under an editor's eye. Maybe that will be enough.

Since I haven't finished a single novel yet, it's not actually that important. In other words, I have nothing to actually show an agent. So, first it's try to do it the slushie way. Once I've finished the novel then I'll give myself six months to a year. After that, I'll hopefully have something.

In the meantime I'm going to study a bit, use some books. I want to see my weaknesses. I want to join writing groups. I plan to join about three and work a set number of hours every day. Just writing about crap. Writing about the things I hear, the things I see, the things I do. Keep on writing I say.

Let's see how this goes for now, eh?