A cry for help, I need connected people Options

[Sessy]

So I have written a book.

The first book in a trilogy. 2 years of work. about 3 hours of work a day. 7 months of writing. 4 months of editing. 513 pages.

100% of my soul.

Now the problem arises -- No one wants it D:

I would really love to get my series published and start my career, but getting a literary agent is SO HARD. I've submitted some queries, but it doesn't look like it's happening... perhaps because I don't have a recommendation or any credentials.

So I need help. If anyone out there knows any literary agents who are looking to represent new writers (fantasy for young adults my genre) can you please let me know?

I'm willing to work as hard as I can to get published.

If they are interested in hearing a synopsis, here's my most recent one:

The Angel of Elydria – Synopsis

I have written a 221,573-word fantasy novel intended for young adult readers which is the first in a series of three books. It is entitled The Angel of Elydria, and I hope you might consider it.
The Angel of Elydria is a story of Penelope Fairfax, a young college student, who is swept off alongside her Literature professor to a bewitching world where she will uncover the secrets of a shattered angel, a clandestine plot woven by the deity who rules the world of Elydria, and her most haunting memory.

When Penny Fairfax names one rainy day in October as the strangest day of her life because she awoke from a terrifyingly vivid dream, caught sight of her Literature professor secretly performing a magical spell, and was approached by a stage illusionist who mysteriously knew her name, she had no idea how much more bizarre it was about to get.
After retreating home while attempting to cast the confusing events from the day out of her mind, she encounters a disturbing monster that attempts to tear her to pieces. When it seems all hope is lost, she is rescued by her professor. As her professor tries to magically transport them to safety, he mistakenly pulls them into another world.

Penny and her professor are then forced to brave the ferocious danger of the world of Elydria in hopes of finding a way home. Along the way they are reunited with the stage illusionist, who approaches them with the task of finding a witch called Della, a mission sent by an angel from earth who claims to know Penny. Along the way, the three of them meet a popular celebrity with a heart-breaking past and a terrifying power, and a world-weary crafter of magical tools. All the while Penny struggles with an ever-increasing stream of eerie nightmares and her own crippling cowardice. By the end she overcomes her fear, finds Della and listens the witch’s shocking answers to so many of questions that plague her, and thwarts an attempt to steal the names and souls of hundreds of innocent citizens that was set into motion by Elydria’s creator and his wicked accomplices.

The Dawn Mirror trilogy could be called a modern day retelling of the myth of Osiris, Isis and Horus with a dark fantasy twist.

If you have any critiques for or have noticed an error in this synopsis, please don't hesitate to tell me! I need all the help I can get D:

[Oscar]

Can I just say that it sounds very interesting! Heck, I was dissapointed the synopsis ended so soon. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lalaexdee.gif) I don't know much about the publishing world, but you should look up some tips.

Best of luck to you! :)

[Totoro Spirit]

Ah, this sounds so much like what's happening to me. I finished a book last year after working on it for almost 3 years. I'm still getting the rejection letters. I wish I had some good advice for you. Your synopsis reads well, I don't see a way you could improve on it off-hand. I have heard it's harder to get series picked up then it is to get a single book. Maybe you could rewrite the ending to make it work so it could be stand alone book as well as a possible series...? Please don't kill me for saying that. I know how hard rewrites are. :\ I personally love the way your story sounds, and that's the only possible suggestion I can think of. Main thing's to just keep trying it seems. Okay. I'll go away and quit being unhelpful now.

[Sessy]

Thanks for the encouragement guys! :>

I suppose I'll self-publish if I still keep getting rejected D: I've been looking into that more and more... it doesn't seem like such a bad idea-- just SOOO expensive!

I have heard it's harder to get series picked up then it is to get a single book. Maybe you could rewrite the ending to make it work so it could be stand alone book as well as a possible series...? Please don't kill me for saying that. I know how hard rewrites are

Ahhh, if only! I have heard how difficult it is to sell a series, but this is a full-length series type book. It was death to try and trim the first one down to 500-ish pages! Plus I've already planned out the entirety of the second and third books in very exact detail (the second will be called Eden Undone and the third will be Nelvirna Sleeps) and first ends with SO much unsaid it would be impossible to try and sum everything up. They are each gonna be big, fat books as it is hehe

If you guys are interested in seeing some more stuff from my book, here's some artwork I've done:

Cover art

Character set #1

Penny and Hector (the Lit. professor)

Annette (the celebrity) and her cousin Gavin, both central characters


Art by others:

Colored chibis by Paper sting

Penny chibi by Sisterbelldandy


Thanks again for the kind words <3

[ZBoy]

This would be a book I would buy. Reading that little introduction just gets me excited and it sounds really good. I also give you a thumbs up for finishing a book! I can't tell you how many ideas I have for a story, yet I'm so lazy to put all of them on paper. Good luck with getting it published! ;)

[Mizuko]

Now the problem arises -- No one wants it D:

What do you mean no one wants it. That's just horrible and it sounds so cool. This is what mizuko does to those who do not want it!(IMG:http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt127/shroomiesan/ByeByeKawashimaAmiTakasuRyuuji.gif) XP

[Twilight Wandere...]

Well, I've been writing a book too. :3 (Go book writers!), but while I'm writing it (Slow process. D:), I've been helping nee-chan up there find a publisher. So the most RECENT one I found was a self publisher. My teacher was talking about it in class, saying that they let you design your own cover, and it's pretty cheap for publishing. So I assume that's the best bet. :]

On the note of the synopsis, it's absolutely amazing! I found myself wanting to read more! I think that some people just don't know a good read when they've found one. ;[

[Harvest Sprite]

What publishing companies have you tried so far?

Also, I am not saying your art is BAD or anything, but its just the true fact, you are not a professional so its not going to look professional. Chances are if you do get a deal with a company, look into commissioning someone to do the cover art, if you can. It will give it a very polished look. Your art is GREAT! But if you hired someone to do it, it would be awesome...er.

:D

[Mizuko]

To HS.(IMG:http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt127/shroomiesan/ByeByeKawashimaAmiTakasuRyuuji.gif) joking. Mizuko thinks your art is great because it's your very own special style. XP

[IdlersDream]

Your story sounds very interesting, something I would buy if I found it in a store and had some extra money to spend.

I think what your major problem is that it's about a fantasy world. I know that may sound stupid but just think about it - these companies are probably getting hundreds of stories every single day now about magic, dragons and vampires. Everyone wants to right fantasy now because of Harry Potter and effing Twilight.
That's probably a huge reason why you're having trouble, they're probably thinking 'if it's not going to be an enormous hit like those books, then why waste money?'

Sorry that sounds slightly harsh but it's true. Fantasy seems a dime a dozen nowadays because all the kids that grew up with Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Narnia are grown up now and want to become writers.

Which is exactly what's happened to me lol, I hope to one day write a book.. But we'll see. :P

Good luck, I really do hope you eventually get that hard work published and start making some cash!!

[Mizuko]

Can mizuko buy it for $4.65 It's all mizuko has. XP Joking!

[Saffy]

I'd love to read your book. You've definitely earned my respect that you could dedicate yourself to writing for three years at such a constant pace. I can't imagine how hard it must have been to keep the flow going, especially when dealing with writer's block or even just having enough details to last 500 pages. But the fact you went over? That you have plans for two other novels? I am amazed by your accomplishment. Kudos.

Would you have any tips for would-be writers? I love writing and have always wanted to write stories.

As for your question, off hand I don't have any connections. My suggestion would be to contact any professors you might have had for English or Writing courses. My gaming connections won't be of much help to you.

[Marie]

Oh, awesome. ^^ I've been working (off and on) on a historical fiction manuscript for about four years. I'm around... Oh, 75% done, I think. (I'm the kind of person who revises and revises and revises and who researches eternally, so... Dunno if I'll EVER get done. XD )

A girl I knew in college had problems getting her book of poetry published, but she FINALLY found someone who would:

http://www.publishamerica.com/

Have you given them a try? They say that they "accept more new and unpublished authors than any other traditional book publisher in the nation." (I'm gonna try publishing through them first IF I ever finish my novel.)

[Sessy]

Wow, many people responded hehe

What publishing companies have you tried so far?

Also, I am not saying your art is BAD or anything, but its just the true fact, you are not a professional so its not going to look professional. Chances are if you do get a deal with a company, look into commissioning someone to do the cover art, if you can. It will give it a very polished look. Your art is GREAT! But if you hired someone to do it, it would be awesome...er.

:D

I haven't tried any publishing companies because most of them don't take unsolicited manuscripts (Manuscripts sent by the author, not by an agent)

Also, I never was going to use the art for the actual book lol I just put it up to show people a little more about the characters, etc. I know I'm no professional artist, just for lols :>

I'd love to read your book. You've definitely earned my respect that you could dedicate yourself to writing for three years at such a constant pace. I can't imagine how hard it must have been to keep the flow going, especially when dealing with writer's block or even just having enough details to last 500 pages. But the fact you went over? That you have plans for two other novels? I am amazed by your accomplishment. Kudos.

Would you have any tips for would-be writers? I love writing and have always wanted to write stories.

As for your question, off hand I don't have any connections. My suggestion would be to contact any professors you might have had for English or Writing courses. My gaming connections won't be of much help to you.

Awww thank you Saffy :>

My tip for people starting to write is PLAN PLAN PLAN PLAN PLAN. Do not begin writing until you've got things sufficiently planned out. First start with your 'idea' and then try to put down and skeleton scheme of where you want to go with this. Make sure there are in the very least two sets of meaningful conflicts: One internal and one external. People love to see character change and growth in a book. Planning out things all the way and tweaking them until they are perfect is the way to finish what you started, and it'll let you see a 'thumbnail' of the finished product. This way you can change story things without having to rewrite pages and pages.

I could go on but I don't want to bore you lol

Oh, awesome. ^^ I've been working (off and on) on a historical fiction manuscript for about four years. I'm around... Oh, 75% done, I think. (I'm the kind of person who revises and revises and revises and who researches eternally, so... Dunno if I'll EVER get done. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lalaexdee.gif) )

A girl I knew in college had problems getting her book of poetry published, but she FINALLY found someone who would:

http://www.publishamerica.com/

Have you given them a try? They say that they "accept more new and unpublished authors than any other traditional book publisher in the nation." (I'm gonna try publishing through them first IF I ever finish my novel.)

Wow, this sounds promising actually! I'm definitely going to look into this, thank you so much for linking me here! :)

Thanks again for all your kind words, everyone! I'm so glad you all like the sound of it :> (That synopsis really doesn't do the story justice D:)

I'll let you know how things are going if the status changes on agents/publishers or anything else.

:3

[Saffy]

I meant to ask. Did you get your work copyrighted? I believe you can go to the Writer's Guild and pay a fee for about $35. Or possibly the Library of Congress. You might want to be careful before sending out too many copies of your work.

Please do give me more details. I really appreciate any knowledge you can pass on.

[Lindstrom]

they're probably thinking 'if it's not going to be an enormous hit like those books, then why waste money?'

Pretty much sums it up. Most publishers are not artists in their own right, in the same way that most executives are just businessmen, not designers. They are working under a strategy of caution, which in business is (unbeknown to them) very detrimental. Now, I don't know much about the book industry, but I'd wager one of the best things you can do is study the business actions of successful authors like Stephen King. The truth is, being a good writer is one thing, but you need to have business knowledge to be a good author. Don't bother taking any kind of business courses cuz they'll just be a waste of time and money and they'll send you in the wrong direction.

[Chase What Matte...]

To be honest I REALLY liked it!
Keep up the GREAT work!
Sadly I don't have any connections or else I would help you...