In an answer to one of her blog readers, literary agent Miss Snark gave out a piece of advice that applies as well to life as it does to navigating a writing career.
The reader was worried about the chances of being published after he/she gets an agent. Here’s Miss Snark’s advice:
Right now what you are doing is the equivalent of what 15th century mapmakers in Spain did…..they drew pictures of monsters at the edge of the map. Right now you’re in Spain preparing to set sail and you’re looking at the map seeing only the unknown. Just remember that where they drew monsters is present day Hawaii.
The unknown is just that — unknown. But we do tend to populate it with scary things, don’t we?
Heck, I HAD an agent. I’m still not published. Does that make me a bigger loser than the folks who never get signed for representation? Who knows? And, who cares? I’m back out trying to get a BETTER agent!
John