The Bachelorette and Agents - who gets the Final Rose

 Finding an agent is even harder than for the Bachelorette to find lasting love.         A writer can only dream of being courted by 25 eligible agents, fawning and schmoozing to be "the one". Reality check, its not like that for us.

If you are hoping to read the slam-dunk tip for securing an agent, sorry, there is no one way to success. A genuine, well-connected agent is the Holy Grail and equally difficult to find. Writer's Digest annual marketplace gives the most updated information on agents, addresses, emails.  and what they prefer. It's a Match.com for writers hoping to entice an agent. Another and often better approach is to attend quality Writer's Conferences and register early for a private appointment with an agent. This is akin to speed dating, as you have a short time to make a big impression. Sure they say nice things, but who will call you in the morning for that second date?

Be careful not to spend so much time "agent stalking" that your writing time suffers. Having an agent is far less significant than solid writing. There are many success stories of independent writers whose work was so outstanding and popular with readers that agents and publishers rushed to their door. That is the "Bachelorette" ideal but not the realistic writer's road to land an agent, sign a contract or get the final rose.


Faster, Higher, Stronger - Seriously?

Brace yourself for the Olympics! Its the ultimate example of "the thrill of victory; the agony of defeat". Fledgling ABC producer Roone Arledge penned those now immortal words to open the Wide World of Sports that launched in the early 1960s. Can you believe that his phrase is still quoted fifty years later? That's the kind of writing impact that any author dreams to have.

Arledge's tag line proves that much can be said with a few well chosen words. Whether you are writing for a reader or writing for a speech, where is the memorable line? Simply stated, what's the sound bite that TV news would leap on from your words? Think about it. 

In Olympic terms, is your written product faster, higher and stronger than the previous work? Writing fast is essential in the news business. From my experience in broadcast news, writer's block was synonymous with fired, so it wasn't an option. At times a writer needs to fill the page and meet that deadline. 
Is your working reaching higher levels or skimming at the same easy, less challenging pace?  Are your words strong enough to make the point and dazzling enough to paint a mental picture? That's the writer's version of  the Olympic motto: faster, higher, stronger. Go for the gold by delivering world class writing.