Have you ever gone to a literary agency’s website or to a traditional publisher’s website and looked up their guidelines to find out how you could send a query or proposal for your work only to find out it says something like this: We do not take unsolicited manuscripts.

So exactly what is an unsolicited manuscript? It’s one that is not represented currently by an agent or for a writer who has never been published before. In other words, agents and publishing houses don’t want anyone to just send in a manuscript to be read. Instead, you must either be represented by an agent, you must know someone who refers you to an agent or an editor, or they meet you some place like at a writing conference.

In September, I get to go to my very first writing conference. It’s the ACFW 2014 Annual Conference being held September 25-27. I’m so excited. I’ve already purchased my tickets (which by the way are very expensive coming from Alaska at $675, the cheapest I could find). They haven’t opened up registrations yet but as soon as they do I’ve already done my research for the agent and editor appointments I want to make while I’m there. I plan to have my book not only rewritten by then but to also have it fully edited. I also need to create a one sheet which is totally a new thing for me so I have to research that. I have my proposal written and working on editing that right now. I know there will be other things I have to get ready as well but I know I’m on the right track.

One of the most important things for me going to this conference is that I’m given the opportunity to talk to well-known agents as well as acquisitions editors about my book.