OK its official.  Today I poked my toe into the waters of being a “traditionally published” author. and submitted my first query letter, synopsis and some pages from my novel.  

The lucky recipient to tell me if I have any talent is..da tah da dahhhh…the Donald Maass Literary Agency.  Let’s give them a hand ladies and gentlemen! 

This agency has the distinct honor, privilege of reading my masterpiece…lol  I know, I know it’s a lil much but bear with me.  

They also have the distinct honor of being the first professionally to speak that the manuscript needs work.  But I need that.  I need it because I’ve done all I can do.  I’ve edited as much as I can edit.  I’ve sat and waited.  For those that follow me, I finished this novel on July 4th 2012.  This is February, so I’ve let it sit for a while now.  I sent it out to some beta readers.  some were more helpful than others.  Some–heck are you still alive?  

I’m financially restricted at the moment due to my employment situation so I can’t do more on the writers conference, professional editing, and blah blah blah.  So I’ve done all I know to do:  after getting as much input from those that I solicited were willing to give me.  

I said its time to just put it out there.  Stick a toe in the water, see what happens.  The worst is that I’ll be in the exact same position I am in at the moment.  So why not.

Now for the record let me point out that hitting that ENTER key on the keyboard was one of the scariest things I’ve done.  “Why?” you ask?  

Well they might not like it!  I could stink!  No seriously, after all this time to surrender my writing to someone else, is like giving your child up for adoption.  Well maybe not quite like that but by golly it feels like it!

In any event, I felt I needed to take the jump.  I’ve written a book after all.  What’s the point of writing if no ones going to read it?  

These agents and publishers are the gate keepers of contemporary literature.  The guardians of what’s marketable.  Will someone believe enough in the story I created that they will say, “Yes I like it…i think this will sell in the market.”

Can I possibly have a voice?  Who knows.  But it will be fun to see.  I’m looking forward to seeing.  Ok 99 agents/publishers to go before I self publish!

I figure hey, even if they reject me, I might acquire some good feedback on the road of becoming a published author.  So well see.

Wish me luck!