Sounds like an American cop drama. Anyway, the catch I am caught in is this - (my grammar is appalling tonight, better not try to write anything), I have identified two agents who are at the top of my list. These are the two who I would ideally send off my manuscript to and a few months later be showered in awards.
But. As far as I can tell, rejections do a writer make. Advice and honesty doth sharpen the pen. So do I send off the work to other agents ('sacrificial agents' as it were)? And thereby prepare it to be submitted, in a blaze of glory, to ... whoops! Nearly let the cat out of the bag.
Any thoughts?
I have a huge list of agents that I have to send mine out to. What I am doing is taking it slow making sure that I send out my manuscript to a few at a time and then doing what I can with the reply's I recieve. I always plan to the last detail before sending my stuff out. I also agree with Victoria.'My Baby' has to be in the right hands too :)
If I thought for a moment that Bloomsbury would turn my novel into the next Harry Potter, then I'd be over the moon to have a few tips. Chances are they're not. I struggle with the concept of unsolicited manuscripts - I don't see how one can ever hope to gain an agent or publisher's interest in their submission without a manuscript to work off.
I'm in the same position as Mark - trying to choose between two. I think writers sometimes forget they will have to work with the person who offers them a contract, therefore no splatter gun approach for me. If I'm handing over 'my baby' it has to be to someone I know I would like to work with.