Now that the 6th draft is in a decent place, it’s time to reignite the query process for The Ridge Runner. I dusted off the version of the query letter that got the most positive responses, updating it to reflect the changes in the project ( i.e. no more 1st person – book is longer too ). Then I researched which agents best fit the project based on what they are looking for these days.

Couple of things I’ve learned:
1) The literary representation business resembles musical chairs; agents jump from agency to agency. Some agents I queried just a short time ago are at different agencies now, or have disappeared from the radar screen. Which may explain the 43 percent of the queries sent out that still await a response.
2) What agents look for seems to change along with the marketplace and their web sites and on line industry profiles reflect that. A year ago one agent might be after nonfiction, now they may be all about literary fiction and mommy lit. Perhaps in a few more months some will target art history professors in search of the next Da Vinci Code.

Below is the up to the minute query to agent response ratio for The Ridge Runner thus far.

Rejections : 42.50%
Requested Chapters : 14.50% – then rejected.
Never Responded: : 43.00% – more than 6 months no reply.

Perhaps I should follow up on the never responded hmm?

It’s been awhile since visiting the subject of writing in this blog. This is ironic since I’ve been writing a lot instead of writing about writing. Confused? Yeah, me too.

Anyway, the sixth draft of The Ridge Runner is looking good. The beginning 120 pages are tight and the last 100 pages even tighter. Alas, the quest to fine tune an engaging middle continues. Middles are the hardest part for me, because every page must respect the conflict from the page before, stoke the flames of the larger conflict and set up the next situation.

Perhaps some day this will all be second nature. At least I hope it will.

This blog really straddles two categories, Writing and the Wife, but it’s more about the former than the latter.

So, I’m knee deep in the sixth draft of the Ridge Runner and last night the wife asked to read the first 20 pages. Which is odd, because she’s been supportive throughout this process but typically very hands off. When I finish something, I’ll set aside a a draft for her to read when she has a chance. Afterwards she’ll give me some comments.

Last night when she read the 20 pages what did she say?

The Wife: You got 50 pages like this?
sam: Yes.
The Wife: Then send it out.
sam: Really?
The Wife: This time you’re getting an agent.

There you go. For the first time in 2 years of trying, the Wife digs something I wrote. Hot dog!