The old saying goes something like, "The more I learn, the less I know".
During my recent journey to publish my novel, this little saying has popped into my mind nearly a thousand times.
As I've taken each step, I've become aware of things that I didn't even contemplate before. (Who knew a query letter was even a thing?)
When I began the process of throwing words onto paper and rearranging them repeatedly, I had an ignorantly, blissfully, sweet way of viewing this thing called "getting published".
I thought it would be as simple as creating a great story, picking an agent (little did I know the approval process would be the other way around), and finding a publisher. Ta-dah! I would be a best selling author! Wasn't I precious?
Fast forward four, or five, years later and my awareness has changed.
Write a great novel- Check.
Pick an agent - Leave blank. This may not happen quickly. I am a researcher. I've done my homework.
To be completely honest, I haven't even approached one single agent. I think I've nearly talked myself out of it at this stage of the game. The word on the street is that for someone like me (never published, minuscule social media platform) finding a good agent at this point will be as easy as winning the figure skating competition in the Olympics after the winter of rest that I've enjoyed.