Picking a published author, editor or agent’s brain at writing conferences is a delicate pursuit. You want to sincerely ask questions without being intrusive. If you lead off with, “Who’s your agent?” or worse, “Will you recommend me to your agent?” you’ll seem nosy and self-serving. I had the privilege of sitting across from eager writers at a one day conference over the weekend. I tried not to feel put off by the “agent” question, and steered the conversation (one of those shout conversations since it was a crowded lunch room) more toward writing craft. The first thing every eager-to-be-published writer must do is to write something good. While that sounds glib, it’s true. Learn your craft. Be willing to take lots of rejection. Perservere. Your chances of finding that agent and/or getting published will increase exponentially. Practice!
Writing Tip for Today: Have you ever thought, “If only Author X would recommend me to their agent, I’d be a successful writer?” Or maybe, “Author X was an overnight success. Why should I have to work so hard?” It’s natural to feel jealousy, but remember, Author X has very likely paid the same dues you must pay. Your writing apprenticeship will go by much faster if you keep working on your skills, be willing to throw yourself upon the editorial rejection pyre and never give up.