I honestly have to laugh at the number of social media posts out there from authors who are screaming and yelling that editors and agents are just not acquiring. Really? Last time I checked, a lot of us are really looking. We even go out of our way to post things on #MSWL of things we want. Do we get those submissions? No.
What is more amazing are the number of authors just trying to find "the easy way to that contract." They gather up with friends to try to get editors and agents to join in with a Twitter Query Fest, or to sign in on their social media channel to go looking for authors.
Even major writing organizations are trying to "make things easier for authors" by creating programs where the organizers will "personally contact the editors and agents for the authors." You sign up, send your material to the organization and they will do the leg work for you.
REALLY?
I am sorry to say this, but you have to be proactive. You need to be the one to reach out to the editors and agents. If you want a job in publishing, you need to reach out yourself. You know what you need as an author. I don't know what you need. None of the editors and agents can read your mind.
Look, we are not spending our days just getting on the internet and looking for all of you with your blogs in the hopes to find the next best author. We are editing books for our authors. We are providing them guidance for their careers. We are reading submissions from those authors who actually want to work with us because they took the time to say "Hey, I think my writing really fits with what Scott wants."
Quit looking for short cuts people. Do your homework. Find the editors and agents that are the right fit for you. Write the dang query letters. Write your own synopsis. You write the email. and YOU hit submit.
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