Finding an agent - any tips...?

[babylily]

I have a novel (well it's about a third of one at the moment!), it's literary fiction I suppose (it evolved from work on my MA creative writing dissy so I guess I can call it that!) and I have had three rejections from agents so far... one wasn't accepting submissions admittedly but it was a rejection all the same. I've done my research, I'm targetting agencies who represent similar writers, but I'm just dreading the eventual day when I've exhausted the list and still have no-one.
Does anyone have a positive story to spur me on again? I have a great synopsis, a really moving and enticing opening chapter, I've had really enthusiastic feedback from all who have read it, but how on earth do I get past the slush pile and find someone willing to represent me!!!!

It sounds like you're doing all the right things. It's a bit soon to feel despondant - you've really had two rejections not three. Why not just keep sending it out and in the meantime keep working on your book so that, if someone wants to represent you, you'll be closer to finishing.

Maybe you could try smaller agencies if you've only been targetting the biggies like curtis brown etc.

sorry can't offer more help!

Did you find an agent babylily? I rang about fifty to begin with, to find one who would accept my manuscript cold. I sent to about 15, got 11 replies and took it from there. I actually got an agent through a rejection - an agent sent a lovely email explaining what he thought of the book and the reasons he could not accept it. I rang him to thank him and to ask him to explain a couple of points, he gave me the name of an agent that he thought might work out and it did.

The only piece of advice that I feel remotely qualified to give is to follow up rejections if they are not just cursory one liners.

The rejection that I followed up - you could see that he had read the chapters (I sent five)and that he had thought about the writing and the story line and potential publication interest.

How did you find an agent fionagib?

Good luck.

Hello all am new to this section hope you don't mind me joining in. Mum to two boys, age 3 and 17 months. While pregnant with number 2 submitted work to 4 agents, reveived 3 standard issue rejections and lo and behold one bolt out of the blue email from an uber agent asking for more chapters. Having climbed back on the chair I duly banged out another 3 chapters only to later receive a 'no'.

Bizarrely I find this tale positive as I guess a small bite means she thinks I can write,right ?!

I am planning to submit new masterpiece to the same agent soonish, cast aside my English reserve and hassle ! I will let you know and best of luck.

ggglimpopo, I'm looking for things to take my mind off the ds situation at night and have been working on my books again. Have received rejection from agent who isn't taking on new clients, but I'm interested to know what you said when you phoned up your 50 agents. Did you just ask if they were accepting new authors, and did they ask for details about your book?

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