Plans Change


Earlier this year I was completely overwhelmed by my work on a secret project. Finally, it was finished. I was in love with it and embarked on The Great Agent Hunt.

The agents I’ve contacted have been nice, even offering constructive criticism (which I’ve used), but none have shouted “I’ve been waiting for your book for my whole life!”

Since I haven’t turned into an agent’s book-fairy godmother, I’ve been thinking about my options. All the advice and wisdom is that you have to give agent hunting a year or so. At a minimum, six months. But…I’m impatient. Self-publishing has taught me that publishing can be FAST.

And so we come to temptation. It has been dropped into my path. I’m looking at another option to waiting on an agent, and then, waiting and hoping that an agent can place the book with a publisher.

The thought of being able to talk about the secret project and to share it soon is really appealing. In fact, it’s so appealing that I’ve pretty much talked myself into abandoning the agent hunt — for now — and taking this other seductive publishing path.

When I do, you’ll hear about it. I’m hoping you’ll come on this journey with me. I’ll need a lot of support, but I’ll share what I learn. And at the end, you’ll have a great book to read. The secret project is genuinely intriguing.


7 responses to “Plans Change”

  1. There are so many options these days, Jenny. I say go with your gut instinct. The agent/trad pub route always seems to take so long, however there is always the option of working on the next thing while you want that little bit longer.
    It’s your plan. There is no wrong ๐Ÿ™‚

    Good luck!

    • Working on the next thing and trusting my gut sounds good. I tend to talk myself out of doing what I want to do, and instead, do what conventional wisdom says. This time, I’m going to risk things!

      Thanks for the pep talk, Shelley ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. Trust your instincts, Jenn, and go with your gut. No one knows and loves your stories the way you do. They’re your book babies, after all! And, you’re right. An agent should be just as excited as the author they’re representing. If not, they’ll never give your baby the attention it deserves. Nothing says teamwork better than a positively, thrilled agent. As for me, consider my bags backed and ticket bought. Yes! I’m coming on this journey with you. Count me in. I’m happy to endorse anything you write and do because I’ve read several of your books and loved each one. I BELIEVE IN YOU!!

    Wishing you the absolute best!

  3. You’ve got me intrigued.

    I have so changed my mind about agents. Not that they can’t be useful, but they don’t seem to offer as much as I’d like.

    You can always approach publishers directly, (so many are open to the unagented now).

    • Maria, Carina’s start up five years feels dinosaur ages ago. So much has changed. I was chatting with a friend who has really made self-publishing work after being traditionally published, and hearing that she’s thinking of parting ways with her agent has made *me* think!

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