Happenings In The Outhouse 08-Mar-2013 / Could I be one of the 8%

Literary agent Wendy Lawton wrote an interesting blog post a few days ago, giving statistical analysis of how writers find agents.  42% of her clients she met at a writers conference.  What about the good ol' query?

8%

WHAT?!?

Yes, my friends, 8% of her clients she found through querying.  That statistic hit me hard, and I am thankful for Wendy to have posted it.  Keep in mind, this is just her statistics, as she pointed out to me in her reply to my comment.  Other agents may have higher stastistics on the query, although as I scan my brain to recall how many of the authors I've either met or listen to or read have landed an agent, the vast majority say they met them at a conference.

Last week, I said that I was giving myself 90 days (or at least until June 1st) to find an agent or else I'm going to self-publish.  With this analysis, I've made a decision: I will query the ones I have listed as potential agents, and if those don't pan out I will self-publish Beholder's Eye.  Which means, it may be far less than the 90 days.

I'm making slow progress on my alternative military history novel, mainly due to other projects getting in the way that I need to complete: a short story that I am tweaking before submitting it to the Writers Of The Future contest, compiling the final list of agents, brainstorming my next moves, and even adding more to my "Through The Outhouse Window Video Blog."  I also had a brief medical episode very early Thursday morning which wiped me out for the entire day (I'm feeling better, but as of Friday morning now I'm still a bit light-headed).

Through The Outhouse Window Video Blog - Episode #7

Let's talk about agents.  Literary agents, that is.

In this 7th episode of the video blog called Through The Outhouse Window, I discuss just that, as well as my quest to researching my own agent.

Enjoy!

Through The Outhouse Window Video Blog - Episode #6

Welcome to the 6th episode of my video blog: Through The Outhouse Window.

In this episode, I speak to the spouses and/or the significant others of the artist.  What makes them tick?  How can you handle them?

I even given an example from Stephen King's life.

Through The Outhouse Window Video Blog - Episode #5

This is episode #5 of my video blog "Through The Outhouse Window"

Here I talk about the three elements of business--R&D, Manufacturing, and Sales--and how they relate to your writing business.  This one is inspired by Earl Nightingale.

Enjoy!

Through The Outhouse Window Video Blog - Episode #4

Welcome to the 4th episode of my video blog: "Through The Outhouse Window."

I talk about the "Perpetual Bell Curve of Publishing" I had previously published on my blog and I give it a more visual feel.

Enjoy!

Where do you get stuck on in this process?

Through The Outhouse Window Video Blog - Episode #3

Welcome to episode #3 of my video blog - Through The Outhouse Window.
"Should I Play It Safe?"

Enjoy!

Through The Outhouse Window Video Blog - Episode #2

This is episode #2 of my video blog, where I talk about marketing and writers.

Through The Outhouse Window Video Blog - Episode #1

Premiere episode of the "Through The Outhouse Window" Video Blog - Enjoy!