Sending a new book to agents

Right, I'm in a total stress. I've just spent at least two hours on one stupid submission, this one requiring me to put my name and title of my book on the top of every page. I did this, then rejigged a few things and the bloody name and title went out of synch and ended up in the middle of the pages. ARRGGHHHHH. Why do they ask us to do this kind of thing? It's all in a bloody email anyway. I think they make it deliberately difficult so you give up and don't bother them with what, quite frankly, they are 99.9% likely to reject.

Each agent has a different request for submissions. The permutations would have someone interested in probability doing a major study. Whilst one will ask for a synopsis and three sample chapters, one will ask for the same but a CV; another will ask for an 'informative letter', 4 chapters and a writing biography (what bloody writing biography, I haven't got one yet because no one wants me!!). The postage alone costs hundreds of pounds, then there's the photocopying costs for those who won't accept email submissions. You just know they probably read the first line of your letter and bin the whole lot.

I feel like killing myself now.