Do you have a problem you’d like to share with other writers? Email us, marking it ‘Problem page’ and if we think it’s of interest to other writers we’ll answer it on our new page. Don’t worry about privacy, we will only use your initials and general location if we reply to your letter on the site. We regret that we cannot answer all letters individually, although we will do our best to help.  There are many pages of advice on the site, so use please use these freely to help resolve your problem.   Here's our second letter: Dear WritersServices I'm getting dizzy with the effort of finding an agent.  Every single one I've sent my work to has turned it down, often after weeks of keeping it.  One of them took four months and then just said that it wasn't what the market was looking for.  That's ten agents I've tried! What do I do next and is there any point in approaching publishers direct? J C B, Abingdon PS  My book is a fantasy novel. Our reply: Dear Mr B Are you sending the full manuscript to the agents you're getting in touch with?  It's important to follow the guidelines the agents set, so if they ask you for a synopsis and two chapters, this is all you should send.  But first you should research what individual agencies deal with (see our agency listings), as otherwise you may be sending it to the wrong place.  Many agencies don't handle fantasy at all and you'd be better off with an agent who is really knowledgeable about the genre and keen to represent fantasy authors. So, have a careful trawl through the listings before you start and check out our page on finding an agent.  Our tips on making submissions may also help.  It's always good to try to find an agent who is actively looking for new clients (try the newer agencies or phone up to see which agents in a big agency are building a client list). I would advise you to keep trying the agents as it really is quite difficult to get publishers' attention if you go direct to them. If you do still want to try this (and it can work better for non-fiction), research the publishers carefully and make sure that you address your letter to the right editor. Make sure that your work is ready for publication before you start submitting it. Feel confident that you've reworked it until you're satisfied.  If you're not sure, you could consider using our services to get a professional appraisal. The best of luck! Chris Holifield