Spoiler Alert - You Need a Synopsis

The Former Agent Who Became My Guide

After Jane Friedman wrote my first query letter—the one I hesitated to send—I knew I still had so much to learn.

I needed to write a synopsis. I needed to research agents. I needed a strategy.

But I had no idea where to start.

And then, on a walk one summer day, I found a person who would change everything.

The Synopsis That Almost Broke Me

Every author needs to write two things: a query letter and a synopsis.

The synopsis nearly defeated me.

How do you condense a 300-page novel into a one-page summary? I thought about all the scenarios, twists, and turns in my story. Which scene mattered most? How could I possibly fit it all into four paragraphs?

I sat at my computer for hours. I wrote five versions. Ten versions. I deleted them all.

This one-page summary was harder than writing the entire book.

I almost gave up on becoming an author altogether.

The Walk That Changed Everything

I did what I always do when I'm overwhelmed: I went for a walk and listened to something positive.

I searched for "how to" podcasts and found one that sounded interesting.

A literary agent had left his job to help new authors.

This person had been an agent. He'd written a novel. But he couldn't get a publishing contract for his own book.

I stopped walking.

If he couldn't get a contract, who did I think I was?

But I kept listening.

He talked about starting a business to help first-time novelists. He'd built a website. He sounded positive and genuine, and his main goal was to help others succeed where he hadn't.

His name was Mark Malatesta.

Finding Mark at the Beginning

When I found Mark, his website and podcasts were just starting. He had moved to California, and his fees were reasonable—affordable for a new author taking a chance.

He offered a free 30-minute call to discuss what he could do for me.

What did I have to lose?

I filled out the contact form on his website.

We Connected Immediately

During that first call, we clicked right away.

I told him about my novel. About the query letter Jane had written that I'd hesitated to send. About the synopsis I couldn't get right. About how lost I felt trying to navigate this industry.

Mark understood. He'd been there. He'd been on both sides—as an agent rejecting manuscripts, and as an author being rejected.

I asked him to help me with my query letter and synopsis.

He said yes.

And then he said something I'll never forget: "I'm with you to the end, no matter how long it takes."

What Mark Did for Me

Mark rewrote my query letter. He rewrote my synopsis.

And then he gave me something I didn't even know I needed: a spreadsheet.

It listed literary agents who represented my genre, including their names, agencies, submission guidelines, and contact information. And it had columns to track when I queried each one, how long to wait before querying the next, and a space to document each agent's reply.

That spreadsheet alone was priceless.

It would have taken me weeks—maybe months—to research agents, read their bios, find their submission guidelines, and compile even ten names.

Mark gave me a roadmap.

The Full Requests (And the Harsh Reality)

I sent out Mark's query and synopsis.

Within the first month, several agents requested my full manuscript.

I had so much hope. So much confidence. My dream was happening!

And then the rejections came. Fast and furious.

Because my manuscript wasn't ready.

I hadn't had it professionally edited yet. I hadn't revised it beyond my own read-throughs at the beach. The query and synopsis were polished and professional. But the manuscript itself? It needed work.

Mark had given me the tools. But I still had to put in the work.

The Process Is Brutal (But Mark Never Gave Up on Me)

That was several years ago.

I've revised my manuscript. Twice. I've changed the title from THE DEPARTED DAUGHTER to THE KISMET KEY. I've queried dozens of agents. I've gotten more full requests. I've gotten encouraging rejections and devastating ones.

And through it all, Mark has been there.

If I have a question, he's the first person I contact. He responds quickly. He's committed to helping me find the right agent for this novel.

He sends me articles. Industry updates—encouragement when I need it most.

To this day, he's never asked for another dime.

"I'm with you to the end," he said years ago.

And he meant it.

Where Mark Is Now

Mark's business has exploded since I first found him.

He's moved from California to Las Vegas. He's in high demand, booked solid, one of the most sought-after consultants in the industry.

His website is full of resources: hundreds of articles, guides, and tips for new authors trying to break into the business. Any writer can study his site and learn the publishing business without ever hiring him.

Mark's knowledge of the industry is second to none.

And somehow, despite his success, he still makes time to answer my emails.

What I've Learned from Mark

There are thousands of literary agents out there.

Getting one to represent you is incredibly difficult. Finding the right one is like finding a needle in a haystack.

Agents have lives, personalities, hardships, and struggles just like everyone else. They're not gatekeepers trying to keep you out. Agents are looking for books they can champion.

The process is brutal. But if you can survive the rejections, you have staying power.

And staying power matters.

For Other Writers

If you're a first-time novelist struggling to understand the publishing business, I can't recommend Mark Malatesta's website highly enough.

It's full of knowledge just waiting to be read. Even if you never hire him, you can learn everything you need to know from his articles and resources.

He built his business to help authors like us—authors who don't have industry connections, who don't know how to write a query or find an agent, who are trying to figure it all out on their own.

Mark was once where we are. An outsider trying to get in.

And now he's helping the rest of us navigate the path he walked.

Thank You, Mark

I'm still querying and still hoping. Still believing this book will find its home.

Not just because of the query letter you wrote, or the agent list you gave me.

But because you never stopped believing in THE KISMET KEY.

Mark told me years ago: "I'm with you to the end, no matter how long it takes."

It's been several years. Mark's still answering my emails. Still sending me articles. Still believing in this book.

That's not just business. That's mentorship. That's rare.

If Mark Malatesta—a former literary agent who knows exactly how hard this industry is—still believes in THE KISMET KEY, then so do I.

Thank you, Mark, for all the insights, encouragement, and knowledge you've given me over the years.

I'm still in this fight because of you.

Keep Writing - Dianne

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