Call me Eric P.,

Just thought I might as well write something in the community, and as you'll find out for yourself I'll probably be coming across as a real newbie. I intend to be a novelist someday, and had long finished my first manuscript. I've self-edited it to the point where I don't know what else needs to be edited. I tried shopping the manuscript to an agent but never heard back from her. Now according to the latest Writer's Market newsletter, I found that it's okay I try querying several agents at once, albeit independently. Thanks to one of the other bloggers I just found out about Pitchtopia, so I'll be trying that also.

I read somewhere that when sending e-queries it's best if you turn off your spam filter at the agent's convenience should they respond back to you. Does anyone know if this is really true/required?

I'm weighing all my options in trying to make it as a published writer, but from my position it doesn't seem like the odds are entirely with me, not to mention the current economic times. I only work at a part-time job, so at this point affording to go to any writer's conference is out of the question, even if it's something that would greatly benefit me. So all things considered I don't know how great my chances are in sticking with the old-fashioned method of reaching an agent. I don't want to get my hopes up, but considering my dreams I don't want it to feel hopeless either.

But in the meantime, I'm already working on my next novel at home, and I got a boatload of book ideas in my head, so I'm not going to run out of material any time soon. I was also planning to submit a short story for the short story Writer's Digest competition. So even if it takes an excruciatingly long time before making it as a writer (assuming I ever do), I'll be ahead in my writing. Will I prevail in the end? Only time shall tell, and I guess it might make for an interesting journey in the long run if I ever do.