Shannon Bolithoe : A Writing Life


Leave a comment

Connecting with editors / David Farland

Connecting with editors / David Farland

“Most new writers dream of getting a high-powered agent and editor, and as a new author I was no different.  As an older writer, I’m a bit more skeptical.

I got my first agent fairly easily.  After winning the Writers of the Future Contest and having the award ceremony atop the World Trade Center in 1986, I was approached by eight different publishers who asked to see my first novel proposal.  I really didn’t know who to go with, so I did some research on agents and found one who had several big-name clients that I admired.  I called her on the phone and introduced myself, but it turned out that she had heard about me from another writer and agreed to represent me on the spot.  I faxed her my proposal for my first novel, and she sent it to several editors and within a two days we looked at offers from three publishers and had a deal….”


Leave a comment

Going to a writers conference? Click here to learn 5 easy tips that’ll help you pitch your story today! (also get a free worksheet to help you craft your pitch!)

Going to a writers conference? Click here to learn 5 easy tips that’ll help you pitch your story today! (also get a free worksheet to help you craft your pitch!)
Pinned to Literary Agents on Pinterest
Found on: http://ift.tt/1qZFZux


Leave a comment

When do you begin approaching agents? / David Farland

When do you begin approaching agents? by David Farland

“Last night, a new writer who is preparing his first novel asked, “When do I begin approaching agents?” I get that question at least once a week, and my answer is always the same: “When your novel is done. And by that I mean, well done!”

I think that it is human nature to be eager. When we are working on a novel, and we’re excited about it, and the end is in sight, it’s very common for the writer to look ahead and try to figure out how to beat down the doors of New York Publishing, or Hollywood…”


Leave a comment

A comprehensive and accurate guide to finding a Literary Agent–and it’s Literary Agent approved! Perfect for writers, bloggers, and anyone who wants to publish a book!

A comprehensive and accurate guide to finding a Literary Agent–and it’s Literary Agent approved! Perfect for writers, bloggers, and anyone who wants to publish a book!

Pinned to Literary Agents on Pinterest

Found on: http://ift.tt/1TK0vKM


2 Comments

7 Established Agents Looking for Writers — Erica Verrillo

“Here are seven agents seeking clients. Most of these are established agents who have recently changed agencies. All have experience in the publishing industry. They are seeking an eclectic mix, from upmarket literary to children’s books, memoir to fantasy, and from thrillers to health and wellness. “Be sure to read the agency’s full guidelines before submitting.”
Sourced through Scoop.it from: medium.com

See on Scoop.itA Writing Life


Leave a comment

How To Get A Literary Agent: A Step-By-Step Guide To Finding Representation For Your Novel Or Nonfiction Book – Writer’s Relief

How To Get A Literary Agent: A Step-By-Step Guide To Finding Representation For Your Novel Or Nonfiction Book

Pinned to Agents on Pinterest

Found on: http://ift.tt/1ooeBp7


Leave a comment

Publishing … and Other Forms of Insanity: 14 Agents Seeking Science Fiction

Publishing … and Other Forms of Insanity: 14 Agents Seeking Science Fiction https://t.co/0gLlYaFGv6

Sourced through Scoop.it from: publishedtodeath.blogspot.com

See on Scoop.itA Writing Life


Leave a comment

The BIG Reason Agents STOP Reading

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

from http://twitter.com/JLNovelli


Leave a comment

12 Literary Agents Seeking Horror Novels NOW

How to get your horror novel published. These literary agents are actively seeking submissions for adult horror, young adult horror, & middle grade horror.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.writersdigest.com

See on Scoop.itA Writing Life


Leave a comment

Simple Steps to Getting Published

Simple Steps to Getting Published

By Glen C. Strathy

“Getting published is the goal of every book writer. For older writers, publishing that first book may be the fulfilment of a lifelong dream. For young writers, it can be an achievement that launches a career as a professional writer.

Either way, that first sale is a big deal. It’s a milestone that establishes you as a serious writer…”

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.how-to-write-a-book-now.com

See on Scoop.itA Writing Life


Leave a comment

So you’ve written your novel, what now?

So you’ve written your novel, what now?

By Joanna Swainson

“Writing a novel is pretty darn impressive. Lots of people have the big dream but never actually type ‘The End’. If you’ve managed to do that, then you’ve achieved a lot already. Well done!
So what’s next? If you want to see your book on library and bookstore shelves, your best bet is to get a literary agent to represent your work. Many publishing houses don’t accept what they call ‘unsolicited submissions’ – manuscripts that haven’t arrived via a literary agent…”

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.open.edu

See on Scoop.itA Writing Life


Leave a comment

Literary Agents in the Digital Age: Interview with Jessica Faust

Literary Agents in the Digital Age: Interview with Jessica Faust

by Sangeeta Mehta

“Many writers today opt to self-publish so they can bypass literary agents. Why go through what might be an endless cycle of sending out query letters—and pay an agent’s commission—when it’s so easy to publish a book independently?

Some of the most successful authors in the indie writing community, however, do have representation. So how does an agent assist in a debut or established writer’s self-publishing endeavors? Can an agent effectively advocate for her clients’ best interests if she’s also acting as their publisher? I spoke with literary agent Jessica Faust about these topics and more…”

 

Sourced through Scoop.it from: janefriedman.com

See on Scoop.itA Writing Life


Leave a comment

7 Literary Agents Seeking Fantasy Novels NOW

7 Literary Agents Seeking Fantasy Novels NOW

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.writersdigest.com

See on Scoop.itA Writing Life


Leave a comment

Guide to Finding Literary Agents

By David Farland

Searching for literary agents can be tough, and the job is made tougher because most authors go about it in the wrong way. They very often look at listings of agents and don’t really know how to gauge an agent’s credentials.

I like to put agents into various categories:

1. Crooks. Some agents are literally scammers. I’ve known agents who bilk writers out of large sums of money in order to “represent” an author. A few years ago, one young man called me in tears because his agent wanted $12,000 to represent his novel—all the money he had in the world. Immediately I had to warn him that his agent was a fraud. Real agents don’t charge money up front. Remember: agents get paid when they sell a book. Aside from a small reading fee of perhaps a few hundred dollars on a first book that some agents may charge, I don’t know of any real agents who charge the author money. Instead, the agent gets paid a percentage of the money that he or she brings in on the backend.

But there is more than one kind of crook. Some agents steal from their authors. In fact, last Christmas, an “agent” in England faked her death and the deaths of her children, then ran off with her clients’ money, apparently after making a nice movie sale. Others have been known to sell foreign rights for authors and “forget” to ever report them, or they will make bad deals in order to line their own pockets.

2. Frauds. In one case that I know of, a woman posed as an agent while at gatherings of authors, apparently in order to become the center of attention. She garnered one talented author as a client and then proceeded to tell the author that one publisher after another had rejected her book. Eventually, I discovered that the agent had never sent the book to any publisher at all. So the author withdrew her book from the agent and sold it on her first try. It went on to win major awards and launch a fantastically successful career.

3. Wannabes. Recently a young woman complained that her agent had not been able to sell her novel after circulating it for three years. So I checked the agent out. I discovered that the agent had never been able to sell any books, other than a pair of cookbooks. There was nothing criminal in what he’d done, but the truth was that he didn’t have any real contacts, any pull, in the publishing industry. He was just struggling to make a deal.

4. Crippled Agents. Some agents develop bad reputations with publishers. I’ve known of editors who will “blacklist” an agent and refuse to work with him or her. Others will place a ceiling on any book that the editor sells them, usually because they feel that the agent’s literary sensibilities are off.

Most authors are so enamored at the idea of getting an agent that they forget to check to see if they’re hiring a cripple: someone who is unable to sell to the publishers and editors that they want for a good price.

5. Premium Agents. In every genre, there are genuinely wonderful agents that have fine literary sensibilities. They know a great book when they see it, they have good established ties to various editors and publishers, and they know how to negotiate a deal. These are the ones that you look for. They’re an invaluable asset to a writer. But how do you know who they are?

This is what I recommend: To find a top agent, go to http://www.publishersmarketplace.com and pay the money to join. It costs about $25, but the information you’ll get is priceless, and there is no faster way to search for an agent. (By the way, I don’t get any cut from those people for directing you to this site.) Once you join, you can go into the “Top Dealmaker’s” section of their website. Look for deals in your genre, whether it be “Young Adult,” “Fantasy,” “Romance,” or whatever. The point here is that you must search for agents who are able to sell in the genre that you’re writing in.

Once you’ve selected your genre, first look up “Publishers.” This will give you a list of top-ranked publishers in your field. It will also tell you which editors bought books in that genre over the past few years. This way, you can find out which editors are actively buying at the major publishers. More importantly, you can find out which publishers are paying well for novels, and you can even see what hits they’ve been able to engineer. This lets you know which publishers are able to market books well, which have deep pockets, and which ones therefore are likely to invest in you.

Then check on each editor at each publisher and try to discern their tastes. See what books they’ve bought, and if necessary, go to the library or bookstore and sample those books so that you can figure out what the editor likes. Then go to the editors’ websites or search for recent interviews to see if you can find even more information about what the editor might be searching for.

When you’ve found an editor you think you might like, check to see which agents that editor buys from. Just as importantly, look at the quality of the sales. Publisher’s Marketplace uses codes like “significant deal” or “major deal” to let you know which agents bring in the most money for their clients.

Do you get the idea? Most authors search for agents backward. They look for an agent blindly, hoping that the agent can connect the author to an editor and publisher. But if you choose the agent last, after figuring out what publishers and editors you need to connect to, you can avoid the crooks, the frauds, the wannabes and the cripples.

Now, when you’ve come up with a pool of potential agents to work with, research each one before making contact. On Publisher’s Marketplace, you can find out what sale they’ve made, who they represent, and you can even get links to the agent’s website so that you can find out what the agents themselves have to say about their tastes.

But don’t stop there. Before you contact an agent, check out the website http://www.predatorsandeditors.com in order to see if there have been complaints by authors about that agent. Then check with some of the agent’s clients, as much as possible, to find out what the authors think of their agents.

Remember, every agent has his or her own personality, quirks, and way of doing business. An agent that is great for someone else might not be a good fit for you. So enter the relationship carefully.

On the agent’s website, you’ll be able to find out what the agent wants to see from potential clients. They will most likely want a package that contains a query letter (which is something like a written interview), a writing sample of the first pages of your novel, and they’ll probably want a summary of your novel. You will need to submit these items and possibly have some phone conversations before you begin working with the agent.

Good luck!