As a high school forensic science teacher, Pamela Ruth Meyer discovered inventive ways to solve crimes and was inspired to write mysteries. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Romance Writers of America, and the Historical Novel Society. Her debut manuscript was a Page Turner Writing Award 2022 Finalist.
Pamela’s Pitch: Kate Belli’s Gilded Gotham Mysteries meets Bones in this turn-of-the-century love story wrapped in a historical mystery intricately solved by a woman who would one day change the face of forensics for all time.
Journey to Finding an Agent
One day I read about an art exhibition featuring the creations of a woman who’d helped shape forensic science. Poof, the idea for a historical mystery materialized. I dreamed it and spoke it to anyone who’d listen. It was with me when bike riding or showering. And I wrote it—had my first draft. Exhilarating.
I thought I was done. I signed up for a Writer’s Digest (WD) Querying Workshop with an agent I was sure would love my story. She requested the full manuscript, provided I fulfilled the romance genre’s major requirement—change the ending to a happy one. Challenged but hungry, I took to the keyboard. Months later, I had draft #2. Unfortunately, the agent had run into trouble, and most of her staff had quit. I never heard back from her.
If you fall off the horse, you get back on, right? Enter WD Querying Workshop 2. I read the agent’s reply, heart pounding. POV? Head-hopping? I’d never heard of these things. The very skeleton of my story would need to change—the revelation was bone-crushing. A year later, I had a story told from five distinct POVs. Next step … pitch the manuscript at the 2020 WD Annual Conference. I signed up, hefty price tag and all. But then Covid punched. I was to make a video of my pitch for agents to watch remotely. It must’ve been pretty good because 7 out of 8 agents requested submissions. Surely at least one would love it and offer representation.
Alas, no. But their rejections gave helpful tidbits about the manuscript’s weaknesses along with spoonfuls of encouragement. Now with actionable feedback, I could fix it. Novel-writing classes, conferences, workshops, and contests followed—an enthralling and enlightening process that helped me realize how very far I’d yet to go on the journey to publication. Humbled and aware, I figured out something important—I needed a professional editor. Said editor recommended using fewer POVs and taking out the multi-chaptered thread that had been the original spark of the idea to write the story in the first place. Devasted, I cried for days. But I tell you now, not even for an instant did I consider giving up. I bucked up and tore down what I’d built to make room for what would become. My story got better. With it, I entered the query pit in full force.
Out of 60 agents, only a few had requested pages. Slap. Pow. Bam. Crickets and crickets and crickets. That was the moment I could have given up. Of course, I did the opposite. I paid the largest fee to date and struggled through the month-long lessons of the Algonkian New York Pitch Conference. Slowly, it seeped in. My story needed something a gazillion other mystery stories didn’t have—a unique selling point. The facilitating agent’s personalized and razor-sharp insights made that blatantly clear. Weaving that necessary thread into my plot would take serious mental gymnastics. But I’ll tell you I’d already learned the most important thing I think a writer can learn—trust your subconscious to deliver an answer. Solutions came. Words came. Write, write, write, I did. Now, I thought, I have a story they’ll want.
2022 WD Annual Conference. This would be my first live pitch. The line extended the entire hotel-length hallway. Inside, I’d spend the precious hour waiting in an agent’s line until I reached the front. Then, 90 seconds to pitch and 90 seconds for feedback, including submission instructions. Then repeat. I’d done my research
and ranked agents in order of most likely to want my story.
An announcement. My #4 and #5 agents didn’t come. Darn. The doors opened. I dashed to agent #1. She requested a submission. Next line… Time was called, and home I went, four requests in my pocket. Surely, one of these will love it.
The next day WD sent a link to query the absent agents. I did. A week later, my agent #1 responded. She’d found my writing “pedestrian.” My tears from this experience filled buckets. With none of the other agents requesting more, I turned to rewrite #6. My subconscious brain started niggling me about my story’s ending not fitting with my characters. As fate would have it, it’d take months of mulling it over.
Before the final ending took shape, agent #5, who’d been absent the day of the Pitch-Slam, requested the full manuscript. She’d be abroad, so I shouldn’t hear back from her until a given date, at which time I was to ‘rattle her cage.’ Two days after that date, I did just that. Then I went out to buy a lottery ticket—the prize a staggering billion dollars.
Fifteen minutes later, while standing in line, my phone pinged. It was her! I’ll trade the billion dollars for her. ‘Yes,’ I pleaded to the sky. Expensive, no doubt, but I swear to you that was the best deal I’ve ever made. She loved my story. Further, she knew and loved my characters almost as much as I did. Elation… I have an agent! Her only concern had been the ending. Lucky me, I had changed it. We’re now awaiting word from several editors, leaving me with an interesting mix of agony and euphoria up here in the clouds. I promise to let you know what happens next along our path to finding my story’s forever home. Until then, wish me luck.
Contacts:
Proudly represented by AKA Literary Management: www.akalm.net/
Website: https://pamelaruthmeyer.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pamelaruthmeyer
Instagram: www.instagram.com/pamelaruthmeyer
Blogger Intrusion: Check out the fantastic miniature Pam sent me:
Wow Pam, what a journey! It’s incredible how resilient and dedicated you are to making your dreams and ambitions come true! I was on the edge of my seat reading all the steps you had to take to get here!
I can’t wait to read the novel when it becomes published! Look forward to seeing your name on the bookshelves 🙂
Mansura, you know the last leg of this journey so far better than most from sharing the classroom with me all year. I love that you found the story intriguing even though you had already heard it unfolding day by day (well, near the end of it thus far anyway).
Thanks for being there for me at every turn.
Pam I am in awe of your perseverance and dedication to your craft. You never gave up and look where you are now. Good things always come to those who work hard. I am positive you day of extreme elation will come sooner than you think. You definitely deserve it. I am cheering for you from the sidelines and cannot wait to read your book and share it with friends and family in the future.
Michael, I truly can’t wait for that day, either. Yet, I find I do. Maybe that’s the trick to perseverance, heh? Just not giving up at each step along the way even though you think you might. Your support lifts me up. Thanks.
Congratulations, Pamela! This is one of the truest and most inspirational agent story blogs that I have ever read. Fingers crossed you get that “we’d love to publish your manuscript” emails soon.
Kait, you’re kind words and consistent support encourage me more than I can say. You know this climb we’re both on better than most. I’m touched that my telling of the tale this far hit a chord with you. Thanks for coming by and cheering me on at this step.
OMG, Pam, I am enlightened and awed by the story of what it takes – courage, perseverance, patience, and more – to get from the idea for a story to learning and learning and learning some more about how to make that story take shape in words, and, then, finally, to connect with an agent to whom it speaks the way you want it to. I, too, was privileged to read parts of an early version, and I know it’s good. I can’t wait to see it in print!
I love hearing about this journey! It gives me hope! Fingers crossed for you.
Annarose, you caught the note under all this, I think. It does all come down to hope. Thanks for stopping by to add to mine today. ( ;
Wonderfully inspiring story about the power of determination. Thank you for sharing!!
And, dear Marie, thank you right back at you. It’s days like this when people like you show up to lend a hand and cheer me on that I keep in my back pocket for the times when my determination wanes. It’s a treasure.
Pam, I’m so honored to have been even a small part of your journey! Being able to read an early version of your book was the highlight of my summer last year, and I can’t wait for so many more people to fall in love with your characters and story. I wish you the best of luck, and know you will be a huge success!
Thank you for sharing your story of perseverance and determination. May your hard work be rewarded.
Thanks for stopping by, Elaine. Your well wishes have made an impact on me and my optimism.
Woweee! That’s awesome!
YIPPEE, it really is Alexandra, right? Thanks for reading and commenting. It helped make my day.
Wow, your blog reads like an adventure story in itself. It’s also a good reminder at how shabbily agents treat prospective authors. Through the years the influence of agents has continued to dwindle and rightfully so. As the old saying goes, having the wrong agent is worse than having no agent. The one you seem to have settled upon sounds like a good fit, but more importantly, your drive and quest for perfecting you manuscript is the most important attribute a writer can have. Good luck and stay strong,
Oh what joy it brings me to hear you found the story here an adventure. And you are right, my outstanding agent, Terrie Wolf, is a perfect partner for me as I live that adventure forward. Onward, appreciating both luck and strength, is so much more meaningful when shared with others. Thanks for sharing yours here today.
Pamela, thanks so much for sharing your agent story! Whew! Goes to prove this business is not for the faint-hearted. I love how you’ve highlighted that attending educational opportunities is such an important part of the writing process. It’s one of the best ways to show us what we don’t know! Very best wishes to you on your journey to publication!
MARGARET MIZUSHIMA’s in the house! Margaret. Margaret, thank you for stopping by. Seeing your name here in the comments feels like a jolt of good wishes from my head right down to my feet. Encouraged by one like you who has gone so far along the journey to publishing so many terrific books certainly puts a spring in my step. May the knowledge that you’ve helped another on the path have a similar effect on yours.
What a fantastic story, Pamela. Thanks for sharing. I’m impressed with your determination to keep honing your craft. Fingers crossed at least one editor recognizes a great story and jumps on it.
My, oh my, Barbara, my fingers are thoroughly crisscrossed. Thanks for the encouragement at a moment for me when it really makes a difference, here on my second-ever guest blog post. Accolades and shoutouts of gratitude to George Cramer for taking a chance on one like me who is not yet there but moving forward. Thanks for coming.
GEORGE CRAMER, you are wonderful. Thanks for hosting me on this blog. You took a chance on a writer who hasn’t proved herself yet. And you gave her a chance to try. I LOVED EVERY MOMENT OF THIS. Thank you. Thank you.
Oh, and you put the hugest smile on my face with your ‘Blogger Intrusion.’ I love that everybody who came here got to see the small NEW LIBERTY mini-book in your hand. May it inspire many to get the real-sized NEW LIBERTY book in theirs.
Pam, I am in awe of your ability to “preposition” every obstacle no matter what the project. You go over, around, between, across, under, along, about, and through, whatever stands in your way. Like your students, your characters deserve your best efforts, and you see to it that they receive them. It would have been easy to say, “Oh well, I have a day job” and let your book languish in a drawer once your tears had been spent. Instead, you say, “Oh well, I guess I’ll have to put in more work.” And you do exactly that. No matter what the current publishers say, I have total confidence that one day in the not-too-distant future, I will be opening a “First novel by exciting new voice in the mystery genre, Pam Meyer.” That will be a truly exciting day.
Sometimes another person just gets you, and your heart opens. Then, if they pour sunshine inside, you grow. To me, Joe Bellacero, that is you. I’m sending you a gigantic smile through the internet waves. Thanks for being alongside me through so much of my journeying. Thanks for being here today.
Congratulations, Pam! Hope it all works out. I’m wondering about that ending…
Oh, oh, oh, that ending Peg. I do so hope you get to read it one day. Until then, thanks so much for coming by and leaving me a note of support.
Lovely, lovely, lovely, Pamela. Not only did you write a sensation story that spoke to you and said, “Keep Going No Matter What.” And you did just that: You never gave up! Much success to you, and thanks, George, for introducing us to Pamela.
You pulled out the kernel of the story so well, Donnell Ann. And I appreciate with a resounding three cheers that you also thanked George for hosting me for this. Hip-Hip Hooray! Hip-Hip Hooray! Hip-Hip Hooray for all the people like George and like you who turn around and offer a hand to those further back but trying.
Jeez Pam. Thanks for sharing your ongoing journey. My biggest takeaways are your commitment and willingness to never give up as well as your ability to sit your butt down on a consistent basis to write despite having a full time job. You have inspired me to get more of my own writing done. Good luck.
That full time job thing sure does make it harder, heh? But we each have a passion for writing our hearts out and the gift of recently acquiring more time to do just that. For us, the future is ripe with that joy.
We inspire each other, JP. Always have, always will. Your support here today means the world to me. Please be sure to give me the chance to do the same for you on whatever your “first-ever” or “second-ever” may be. Good luck right back at you, O Captain, My Captain, my principle principal, my friend.
You sure called it right, John Powers. That full-time job thing makes it pretty tough. But you and I share a passion for writing (mine just a bit more recently discovered than yours), and we each have the good fortune to have more time to do exactly that.
We have always inspired each other, JP, and likely always will. Your being here today bolsters me, supports me, fills me with the courage to keep going forward when the next obstacle inevitably blocks my path. Your ‘first-ever’ and ‘second-ever’ twists and turns in this new life we’ve both dove head-first into are waiting in the wings. It will give me such joy when I get the chance to champion you and your work as it first steps out into the light of the world. Thanks for keeping our connection strong, O Captain, My Captain, my principle principal, my friend.
Wow Pam! Your work ethic is unparalleled and you should be so proud of your journey. I really enjoy reading everything you write and absolutely cannot wait to read the novel. 💙
Wow. Your post is an ode to determination, courage, and flexibility! All traits necessary, I believe, to succeed as a writer.
You go.
Kathy McIntosh
Like wind in my sails, Kathy. Having a published author take the time to come and read my guest post and share that after doing so, they believe I have the traits I’ll need to succeed as a writer will carry me far. Thanks so much for stopping by and urging another writer forward.
Wow, Pam! I love your story and your tenacity! My fingers are crossed, but I’m sure you don’t need it. Your moment is going to come!! 🙂
Optimism and hope are the balances against adversity and challenge. As you say here, Francelia, the lovely woman with the beautiful name, this story of mine is filled with ‘tenacity.’ And it is optimism and encouragement, such as you have given me here, that helps fuel that. Thank you so much for stopping by today and crossing your fingers with me.
I’d wish you you luck but with that level of tenacity and dedication, I don’t think you’ll need it! thanks for your inspiring story.
best,
KC (from Vicariousthrills.blog
What a nice message you left for me here, Karen. It is such a thrill to have someone from another blog visit. know that your faith in me strengthens me. Thanks.
Can’t wait to read your book when published. I love your story. Good luck.
Mary that means much to me, especially from one who read an earlier draft and therefore knows this story better than most ( ; Thanks.
Great story of persistence and turning what could have flattened you into inspiration! I shall take y our words to heart–
On my dearest Beth, we both know one must avoid being flattened at all costs. Hence, the persistence. What’s wonderful is that that can turn into inspiration. Fancy that ( ;
I’m over the moon to be working with you. Every step you took has its place on your path to successful publication, and I’m so excited to be involved in your journey! Thanks to George Cramer for including Pam in his own travels.
Pamela, what a wonderful story of tenacity and passion for your project. Belief in our writing is a strong motivator and so glad you didn’t quit. Thanks for sharing your inspiring journey.
Fortitude and determination are assets to creatives, which is what you are. Way-to stick to it 😊
Pamela,
Inspiring story, well told! I, too, was at the edge of my seat and could totally relate. Your writing journey gives me hope, that one day I, too, will find a wonderful agent.
Happy writing!
Carol
You will find your way to an agent, too, Carol. Just keep making yourself, your manuscript, and your submission package better and better. I’m glad this story was inspiring for you on you journey. Let’s keep in touch and cheer each other on, good times and bad, my fellow Sister in Crime. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Pam,
The best students are the ones that have love learning and are willing to work at it… your roller coaster ride towards publication serves as a model for all of us. How fortunate your students are! May your diligence, tenacity, and fantastic storyline find its place… on our shelves soon!!
Thanks, Mini. It has been exactly what you say—a roller coaster ride. And as a fellow teacher, you understand so much more than most that it is the love of learning that can get both a teacher and a student through the lows to ensure they keep going to make it to the highs. Thanks for coming, cheering, and sharing.
Thank you, thank you for sharing your story. Your perseverance is inspiring. I queried a little, entered a contest, got some feedback that really threw me, and… moved on to another project and lost momentum. I’ve been floundering ever since. Your story has got me seriously thinking about getting back on the horse, so to speak, and trying again.
Janet, I say run, don’t walk back to that horse, especially if writing that original project brought you joy. My experience tells me to write what I love and edit it to be what the experts tell me the world wants to read later.
PS: one person’s feedback does not a novel make. Write it the best you can, and then seek out feedback from the best professionals you can find and afford. And if possible, more than one.
PSS: Join writing organizations if you haven’t already. Writer’s Digest is a good place to start. If you write mysteries, Sisters in Crime is magnificent.