I’ve decided that it’s time to look for an agent again.
When I first looked for one back in 2012 (for Song of Simon) I got a few bites and requests for more. Mostly what I got was disappointment. Of course, SoS eventually got picked up by a publisher, so I thought that I didn’t need an agent anyway.
I was wrong. After immersion into the publishing industry, I realized that I had no idea what I’m doing. I rewrote and self published The Watchmage of Old New York after its long, popular stint at JukepopSerials. I’m proud of it. It’s a great story, and I plan on spending many years writing sequels (The second is in beta mode, and I’m plotting the 3rd right now).
The thing is: I can’t make a career out of self publishing. I’m not so prolific that I can write a book every three months (my planning, writing, and editing routine is purposefully long and arduous. A good book takes time). If I want to make this a real career, I need someone that knows what they’re doing, someone that knows the business. I was arrogant to believe that I can do this alone.
I have confidence that I can attract an agent for Watchmage, but I know that everyone says that. More to the point, I have confidence that this is what I need.
The downside is that I will probably have to take Watchmage off of the market if I get an agent, but it’s worth it in the long run.
casandersdotnet 
Self-publishing has become easy enough for circulation of content but it’s not the same feet as getting an actual agent, so I’m totally with you on the whole needing an agent thing. Goodluck with it!
Thank you. There’s a whole other reason why I self-published that has a lot to do with my fiance’s death, which I’ve talked about at length so I didn’t get into with this post. In short, I’m terrified that I will die before my books are done, and they will be lost forever. If I didn’t collect her stories, it’s what would’ve happened to hers (and she was a brilliant writer). I wonder how many great stories have been lost because their writers have died and no one cared enough to protect the work.
I’m so sorry to hear that, what you’re doing is truly the greatest thing you could do. And it’s funny because I’ve faced the same fears before, and similarly it took the passing of a close friend to realise just how fleeting this life is *hence why I’ve just starting my blog*
But we lose great stories which go by untold every day; whether they’re written in a diary or unwritten in the mind of an abandoned grandma in a care home. It’s tragic really, but I guess that just makes us better for trying to change that. Looking forward to seeing your great work, which WILL come to be.
“Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone” – Pablo Picasso
Wow, that Picasso quote is haunting. I might never stop working again 😉
Amen!