Trying to get information on the process of publishing novels..

Just curious, if anyone might know exactly what the process is like to get a literary agent. I am writing a western mythology(as some of you might know)and I am curious as to how much material should I have in order to sell it to an agency.

I have sent a sample to Heavy Metal magazine to see if it might it published as a short story(I also have illustrations to go with it). If it does get published, does that change the playing field a bit?

I have written about 3 chapters right now(about 15 pages total) and I am currently writing the fourth. Basically the first few chapters are all character introductions(jumping back and forth in the timeline I have laid out). I envision the novel to be roughly between 250pages to 500 pages(depending on how much detail I feel is necessary). How much would you say I would need right now? I don't really feel like writing a full 500 page novel without getting some sort of monetary compensation(but I am willing to do that if that is what it takes).

Thanks..

yeah well the story I am writing is essentially a collection of short stories..that tie together in the end. A novel can be birthed from it, it was originally concieved as a graphic novel(I did storyboarding and design work before I even sat down to write it).

Ideally, the work should be started out in magazines. Its a pulp character ala Conan and it can be converted into almost any medium you can think of. Not to mention, its a cross genre piece of work. Its the type of character, as well, that I will be writing the rest of my life. But novels are really where I want this character to be fully realized.

well all the characters in the short stories are all interconnected by the main character. There are five major players one which dies during the course of the novel. But the character introductions are told from different perspectives and jump around alot in the timeline that I have laid out. The horror stuff that connects the novel...doesn't really come into heavy effect until later(although its introduced in the beginning with the main characters introduction)..but then only really makes brief apperances). I also have two supporting characters that will probably turn into major players down the road.

Essentially I have to five iconic characters(and kill one of them off). But the main guy is going to be front and center...and where he goes eventually has nothing to do with the west(its merely his home).

Short stories seem to be the best venue right now. I have a few other ideas, a sci-fi mythology, a modern lovecraft tale about consumerism and perhaps I can do a pirate tale(although I haven't really thought about that one too deeply).

I'm really hell bent on just sticking with this one character and supporting cast. For the fact that to do the research on everything else would take a LONG time. I got westerns on my mind right now and that seems to be what I want to write about(since its a pretty untapped genre atm).

I appreciate the feedback though, hopefully if it gets published by heavy metal I can start sharing it with you guys.

Thanks, I will try that venue too. I'm not looking to become a millionare over night. I'm sure the money will come eventually, but that is not why I want to be a writer to begin with. I just love doing it, its a ton of fun. As long as I can survive..I will be satisfied. I will get more ambitious as I get stuff published. Truth be told its always "baby steps."