Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Soul Mates

Many, many moons ago, I met my husband. I was fresh out of high school and he had just returned from a mission for our church in California. He wore plaid shorts and weird t-shirts. I thought he was a geek and he thought I was a...well actually I won't say. Two years later we started dating and fell in love.

I know that was the shortest love story ever.

Over my teenage and YA years, I had a certain ideal of what kind of guy I'd like to marry. My husband is nothing like that fantasy and thank heavens. He loves me just the way I am.

When we dream about being getting an agent, we have a certain idea in our heads, sometimes even certain names. I have a whole spreadsheet of agent names, some are familiar to most of us, some not so much. I used to think that I needed to get my ideal agent, which made me nervous to query, because what if my ideal agent didn't like my book, what then, but then I read Elana Johnson's post and my thinking completely changed.

The ideal agent, is the one who loves your book.

It's simple, but so true.

So maybe don't think about an agent you would love to have, think about an agent who would love to have you.

20 comments:

Jessica Nelson said...

Patti, I've been thinking about this lately too and I have to agree. There are definitely agents I love just because I feel like I know them somewhat through their blogs, but the best one is the one who can get 100% behind our stories.
Cute love story between you and Hubby.

Wendy Paine Miller said...

Wow, great thought and I agree, I want an agent who is passionate about my book and my career as as writer.

~ Wendy

Candyland said...

This is painfully true. I thought I'd found my "dream" agent...until she rejected me. So, my agent soul mate must still be out there...somewhere.

lotusgirl said...

I loved that post by Elana. It's so important to keep that in mind as we search for agents.

Laura Pauling said...

I know, but it's so hard not to have a few that we'd love to represent us!

Tamika: said...

I agree Patti! I have a handful of names that would be my first pick, but when I have ever known what's best for me.

I want the agent that would love to have me too!

Susan R. Mills said...

This is so true! I think the only way an agent/writer relationship will work is if the agent loves the book and will stand behind it.

Carolyn V. said...

Patti, that is so true! I'd be happy with any agent that would love my book (I mean love it)!

Unknown said...

AMEN. Loved that Elana posted that--just brilliant.

And the thing is--we don't often know of all agents. There's a relative few number of agents out there who blog and have an online presence. There's a whole lot more that are just a listing at Publishing Weekly. But just like we shouldn't choose a husband based on the ones on online dating profiles, we shouldn't judge an agent based on online presence.

Jody Hedlund said...

What a wonderful post, Patti! Makes so much sense! And hopefully if the agent loves our books, they'll work hard for us!

Terri Tiffany said...

You just made me feel TONS better! I had a perfect agent in mind but never turned it around that way:) I want my future agent to love what I wrote.

Charity Bradford said...

Hi Patti! Nice to meet you. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Isn't Elana just the best. I love all her posts, they always come right when I need them.

Anonymous said...

That's how I feel about the agent thing too. I just want the right person who gets my book. And I'm willing to be selective and careful about that.

kah said...

So true, so true. Also, some may love US but just don't love the story enough. That's okay too. Don't say you want to rep me just because you like me, say yes because you will passionately fight for my book.

patti said...

LOVE how you intertwined your agent idea and your romance!!

Great writing.

Have to check out Elana's post.

Patti

Kristen Torres-Toro said...

I love how you turned that around. Thanks for the change in perspective!

Lola Sharp said...

I agree! I want the agent that loves my books and wants me for the long haul, to build my career.

Great post.
I'm here from Hilary's blog.

~Lola

Unknown said...

Hi Patti! Great post. If finding an agent is anything like meeting my soulmate, it will be nothing like I expected. And it'll be awesome!

I followed you over from Hilary Wagner's blog. It's great to meet you and I look forward to reading more :)

Elana Johnson said...

Yes! This is so true. It reminds me of that movie, The Singles Ward, where that girls is always saying, "My husband will be like..."

And we do that to ourselves. And what a disappointment when it doesn't come true. Or when we get what we thought we wanted, and it turns out it isn't so great.

And I have no doubt you'll find the agent that's right for you!

Heidi Willis said...

Oh so true!!