What is it like having a literary agent? (Part 1)

I was asked this question the other day and I found myself walking away and really thinking about the question. What is it like having a literary agent? Well, I have to preface this with a caveat: It is very early in my journey as an agented author.

I signed with Tricia Skinner and Fuse Literary back in March. Which is why I titled this entry “part 1”, because I know there is a lot of road ahead here. And frankly, that’s what has me so excited every time I think about it. In previous entries, I explained that we were deep in the editing process. I sent the last batch of edits I did (which was a BUNDLE) to Trish at the end of June.

She was in the process of reading and editing 2 other manuscripts. She let me know towards the end of July that she was back to reading the latest version of my manuscript. I gotta be real? I’m just as excited (and nervous) as the last two rounds. And the reason for that? Is pretty god damn special.

In our previous phone chat while we were talking editing strategy at the start of June? She said something that really ignited some fire inside my core: “I love this book, and these characters so much, and I want to give it the best possible chance we can at getting picked up.”

That’s a powerful as hell statement. It’s one thing when you hear friends and family and even beta readers say they enjoyed reading something you wrote. But hearing that from someone who literally reads, edits, sells books for a living? That really left a mark for me. No matter how many hours I’ve spent editing, or just going through it asking myself over and over if this is the best it can be? I keep hearing that in my head. My agent loves this book.

So what’s it like having a literary agent? It’s pretty damn motivating. And it’s awesome. And I know it’s still early, and there’s a lot of road ahead. Having someone that believes in your book, believes it’s special and wants it to shine? Man talk about motivation. It’s also done something else. In the almost 6 months I’ve been represented by Tricia Skinner?

I’ve grown in leaps as a writer, like hyperspeed on my writing space highway.

I’ve been working on a new book for the past month, and every piece of advice, encouragement, and editing tips Trish has given me so far, ring over and over in my head as I write. My writing is a world away from where it was, just one year ago. I’ve said it a few times now but,

I’m really excited to see where this journey goes.

What? This is my excited face!