Imagine this…
Your best friend (that you’d trust with your life) calls you on your cell phone. He invites you to meet him at a coffee shop to share some big news. You agree to meet. When you arrive, your friend gives you a huge hug and pulls out a chair for you at your favorite table in the corner. He’s already ordered a blueberry scone for you… and one of those fancy coffees you like (with whipped cream and cinnamon on top). Your friend is so excited that he can hardly contain himself, so you ask him what’s going on.
That’s when he tells you the big news…
You’ve been chosen to enter a contest sponsored by a new TV show. The prize is incredible—and the odds are decent. No, scratch that. The odds are EXCELLENT when you consider the potential outcome.
Your friend tells you that, if you participate, you could win a cash prize of at least $5,000. However, you might get more. You might win $10,000, $25,000, $100,000… or even $1,000,000 (although the odds of winning the bigger prizes are smaller, of course). Another perk of the contest is that you’ll make the world a better place in the process (the TV network will match any prize that you win and give the same amount to your favorite charity).
Here’s what you have to do to participate…
You simply have to go to one of those cookie-cutter housing developments. You know, the type with hundreds of homes that all look the same (or almost the same). They’re nice homes, in a nice neighborhood, worth about a million dollars each… so you don’t have to worry about your safety. And there won’t be any TV cameras, so you don’t have to worry about that, either. The TV network simply wants to do a “trial run” of the contest (to work out the logistics) before shooting the pilot episode. But they’re willing to give you a chance at the prize for your trouble.
Your friend continues explaining the rules.
When you get to the housing development, all you have to do is walk up to each house and knock on the front door. It will probably take you a day or two to cover all of them. But you can do it all at once, or divide it up. Your friend is even willing to go with you, so you don’t have to do it alone. And… the people living in the community are friendly (for the most part), plus they’ve all agreed to be part of the contest. That means you don’t have to worry about anyone slamming the door in your face or siccing their dog on you.
At this point you’re curious but skeptical… so you ask your friend why you were chosen for the contest. Your friend says that he just got a good job at the TV network sponsoring the contest. And his first assignment was to choose someone for the contest. He couldn’t do it because he’s an employee. But he thought you might be interested.
Would you do it?
Of course you would…
that’s not the real question.
The million-dollar question is: How many doors
would you knock on before giving up?
It might not seem like a big deal to knock on a few hundred doors, especially with a huge potential payoff. But I assure you, it’s harder than it sounds. When I was 16, I went door-to-door trying to sell special insulation for attics. It was made from a reflective material that the creators said was like the insulation used in the NASA space shuttle.
After 50 houses and no sales, I was tired.
My confidence was sagging.
And my feet hurt.
But I believed in myself. I believed in the product. And I kept going. Eventually, I got my first sale. Then another. That’s when I started thinking about how close I’d come to quitting at 50. I also wondered how many other salespeople had tried to make a sale and quit before getting lucky.
But it wasn’t luck…
It was painstaking persistence.
So let me ask you again,
this time with a twist.
What’s the number of literary agent doors you’re willing to knock on… before giving up on yourself, your book and/or your publishing career?
50, 250, 500, 800?
There are only 800 potential agents, maximum,
in any given genre… so that’s the most
you COULD send out.
Unless you said 800, I want to beg you to increase your number. Some of the BEST success stories with authors involve a high number. In fact, two seconds ago, in the middle of writing this article, I got a text from one of my coaching clients. She asked to get on the phone because she got her SECOND offer for representation from an agent. Now she needs my help to decide who to sign with.
How many queries did she have to send out
before she got the first offer?
205.
She almost gave up, too.
Several times…
But I begged HER to keep sending out queries.
She listened.
Not everyone does, of course.
I hope YOU will,
– Mark
* * *
* * *
MARK MALATESTA is a former literary agent turned author coach. Mark now helps authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children's books) get top literary agents, publishers, and book deals through his company 
MARK MALATESTA is a former literary agent turned author coach. Mark now helps authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children's books) get top literary agents, publishers, and book deals through his company 
Ahh, persistence… with a little bit of encouragement from the master. Hoping that combination will make winners of all of us!
🙂
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Very good, practical analogy, Mark, and good advice. You’re like a winning football coach!
🙂
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
It would help if agents were truthful about whether they are interested in representing new clients or not.
Hi Lee, not sure what you mean. If they say they’re open to submissions, then they are… just that they get so many… they can only accept a tiny fraction.
As long as you keep going, you have a chance,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
This is wonderfully written and inspiring! Thank you!
Thank you Jenny!
Have a great day,
and weekend…
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Wayne Dyer sent out 100 manuscripts to publishers the day he completed writing his first book, Your Erroneous Zones, in the 70s…In one week he got 99 rejections and 1 yes. That book was #1 for it’s decade…..He bought out the first 2 printings himself. Then he filled his trunk and drove to stores, libraries, etc and gave copies to sell on consignment…..
🙂
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I’m not sure that the fellow had to sell once the door opened. As I told you, for my Enchanting the Swan I queried and also pitched at least a 100 agents, even sent in the MS on request to two, 50 first pages to a few others, etc. but I had exhausted the list of agents in “love stories” in the Chuck Sambuchino agent guide. Then I got fed up and selfpublished with Koehler books. Meager results in terms of sales despite all social media efforts. I am afraid it depends on the product you sell.
Hi John, as long as an author is hopeful and keeps sending things out… there’s still hope.
Hang in there,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I will agree. I’m around the 500 number and the thoughts of giving up are there. but I push on. I believe in my books and that they are a good read. So back to it.
Hi Craig, never say die… one I author I know got a top agent after 600. No one wants to hear that it might take that long… but late is better than never!
Stick with it, and have a great weekend!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Mark, this was great advice. I have a friend who has given up (again) after an agent asked for the first five chapters and rejected her MS. I am not a quitter but I know when to ask for help.
I’m currently at roughly 35,000 words into by thriller/ police procedural. Is there a “best time” schedule a call. Or, put another way, when is it so late in the game that it’s not going to be as valuable?
Thank you Alex, and I’m glad to hear you found it helpful. Regarding your question, for fiction authors I’d say the ideal time would be once you’re almost ready to start pitching agents… since the best use of me on a call like that for novelists is help with the pitch materials, platform, choosing the best agents, etc.
If you want help with anything else, you can post questions for me online here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/ask/. And, if/when you’re ready, you can register for an introductory coaching call with me here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/coaching/intro-call/. Either way, I’m looking forward to learning more about you and your work.
Have a great day, and weekend!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I am interested in having a consultation.
Hi Kandra, here’s the link to sign up for an intro call with me: https://literary-agents.com/book-marketing/book-marketing-coach/. You can also use the private email form here on my contact page if you have a question about ithttps://literary-agents.com/contact/. I’m happy to help and looking forward to learning more about you and your book(s). Mark
I’d like to meet an agent who’ll be willing to take a chance. MIRA, MISTRESS OF DESTINY was made to spotlight the supernatural power of women.
Hi Skeeze, create a killer query and research your agents carefully… and (assuming you’ve written a good book) they’ll pay attention. Let me know how I can help, a lot of resources here on my site. And have a great weekend. Mark
I need motivation more than I need food or water. Thank you.
Hi Skeeze, well… I hope you listen to the interview I just sent out with the Random House author then, here: https://literary-agents.com/literary-agents-lakshmi-subramani-lights-out/. It will get you fired up. Mark
MARK: You are absolutely correct about query letters. Their intent is to reach someone from somewhere who perceives the potential of our products. Queries take effort to sort and send and tolerantly read those rejections. The word query means uncertainty and doesn’t that just say it all?
Hi Janet, I love it… believe it or not I never gave a thought to the meaning of the word query. 😉 Here’s to moving through the uncertainty to success. Mark
Sorry mistype, had meant to say ‘extended synopsis’ -the agency’s term: have sent between 1, and 2 pages (single space),for a novel, seemed quite detailed., what do you think?
Hi Ruth, got it… and no problem. I have an answer to that question here: https://literary-agents.com/get-a-literary-agent/synopsis-for-literary-agents/. 😉 Mark
Fabulous post and encouraging indeed! (I never received this but logged on now and found it, and I’m so glad that I did)! The numbers game, with any endeavor, can be so exhausting! (That’s why I never count my drinks, my calories, or weight for example). But the “right” project, path, and person to help push it along will emerge when intended, and thus the knocking on doors is not merely wasted, and just helps prepare one more for “showtime” or when it matters. Your columns are such a treat!!!
Hi Leah, here’s to never giving up. I hope you’re not missing my emails again though! Amazing lentil soup tonight. Yum. Hope you’re having a fabulous weekend. Always good seeing your sparkly words on my website. 😉 Mark
Thanks, Mark, for another great boost of inspiration! I’m working on my fourth rewrite and when finished, I am going to change my attitude towards finding an agent and keep all this in mind. I always appreciate your advice and encouragement!
Hi Ron, wanted to write that one for a long time… just knew people were going to feel it. Glad it was true. You never know. Prepare yourself to send out a lot of queries, and hopefully you won’t have to! Mark
Thanks for the encouragement Mark, it’s actually pretty quick and painless if they take email submission
Does that mean that the post only agents are less used, sensible to try a few?
You list a treasure , your coaching too, worth every penny, sorry cent, can’t thank you enough
Hi Ruth, absolutely about the post only agents. And thank you for the kind words about my websites and coaching. I love what I do, so that’s a big part of it. 😉 Have a great weekend. Mark
Mark can’t thank you enough for revealing to me that The Hidden Pearl a novel not a short story. Of course!!! AND it was all there in my head -yes already there but at the same time it’s like reading someone’s3else’s work as the words unscroll before my eyes. Poet icky New chapters rather than amplifying existing ones ( occasional extra words or lyric interludes -poeticky kind of style, flashbacks and dreams intershot with reality heaven with earth, didadida
Anyone else write like that?
Hi Ruth, happy to hear it. Almost impossible to get a novella published… so I see a novel in almost every novel. 😉 Mark
Most writers don’t seem to know that even without an agent or official monitoring of contract you can almost always negotiate to raise royalties ( a bit, don’t ask for the moon) , once I discovered it have always done so successfully, most recently persuaded leading UK publisher to pay decidedly higher rate after first 500 paperbacks sold ( always a good ploy, win-win), good luck, Ruth
That’s true… but an agent is better than no agent… and a great agent is better than just any agent. For anyone else reading this, check out this article outlining the benefits of working with an agent: https://literary-agents.com/guide-to-literary-agents/do-you-need-a-literary-agent/. Mark
must be SOMETHING right about your coached query letter (thank you Mark)) as reply by return from one asking for extended synopsis (have now sent actually got ackn and promise of contact within 10 weeks) ) and first three chapters. Have never heard of United Agencies UK), anyone know anything about them and their agents?
Way to go, Ruth. Let’s hope this is just the first of many. Keep us posted. Mark
Have now sent query to about 40 US agents, be maybe more thus week, steeled for no-replies -thought I might as well try some in UK too from the (drastically incomplete I guess) Wikipedia list and others.
How long before one has to assume no reaction means no?
Check this out: https://literary-agents.com/get-a-literary-agent/literary-agent-turnaround-times/ Mark