Page 34 - 2019 March Voices

FIELD NOTES

book. And once your book is written, another set like the real estate agents of the novel-writing

of steps lies between writing the last word and world. The process of finding an agent is a lot like
seeing it on a shelf at the bookstore. applying to jobs or college programs. You can
The first step is typically an editing process, start by googling agents who are accepting new
or several. When many of us hear “editing,” we submissions in whichever genre your book is,

picture our 5th-grade English teacher adding since different agents have different preferences
commas with a red pen, but novel editing of what type of books they work with. Once
involves more. Publishing houses have their you find a good fit, check out their submission
own editors, but getting accepted by a publisher guidelines. For instance, some might want the

is hard business, and working with an editor on full first chapter, while others just want a letter
your own can give your book the help it needs with a summary. Contact them accordingly, in
before you send it to publishers. You can also a process called querying.
have friends and/or a writers’ group edit for Once you land an agent, their job becomes to

you, and you can even do it yourself if you know sell your book to the publisher. Some publishers
what to look for. will take submissions without agents--generally
Developmental editing addresses big-picture these are the smaller companies. If you go
problems like plot holes, structural issues, flat this route, check the publisher’s submission

characters, and entire scenes that don’t work. guidelines the same way you would an agent’s,
Once those things aren’t an issue, line editing and go from there.
will fix the more micro problems, like dialogue If you’ve gotten this far, you’ve achieved a
or descriptions that could be better. Finally, copy lot. And if you can do this, you can do almost

editing takes care of any forgotten typos, but anything!
those should be rare at this stage. Mallory Searcy joined Storymasters in August
Once your book is edited, an agent’s job is to 2018. She delights her audiences with tales from her
sell your book to the publisher. Book agents are adventures in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Tell the readers a story! Because without a story,

you are merely using words to prove you can string

them together in logical sentences.

– Anne McCaffrey

34 ONE COMMUNITY