World, Writing, Wealth discussion
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Lit agents = double agents?
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Ive negotiated contracts for clients with Lit Agents, and quite honestly, I have yet to be impressed with one. I am sure there are superb agents that go the extra mile for their clients. However, in many ways I have gotten the feeling from them there is a formula to what they do. And if you dont fit the formula, they arent that interested.
Michael wrote: "And if you dont fit the formula, they arent that interested...."It was pretty much my impression too, although it didn't go much beyond the initial exchange
Well, if you live in Australia, and you write Science Fiction, there are very few who'll even look at your manuscript. It's a bit frustrating, really. It was easier for me to find a publisher (small press, traditional publishing) than an agent, in fact. Three books down and I still don't have one.
Leonie wrote: "Well, if you live in Australia, and you write Science Fiction, there are very few who'll even look at your manuscript. It's a bit frustrating, really. It was easier for me to find a publisher (smal..."Leonie, if you live in New Zealand, there aren't any agents who will take on SF. Nor publishers. Hence self-publishing.
Ian wrote: "Leonie wrote: "Well, if you live in Australia, and you write Science Fiction, there are very few who'll even look at your manuscript. It's a bit frustrating, really. It was easier for me to find a ..."So frustrating, isn't it?
It is one of the downsides of living in this part of the world, but there are far more compensations I guess we just have to accept the odd problem
Ian wrote: "It is one of the downsides of living in this part of the world, but there are far more compensations I guess we just have to accept the odd problem"True. And we do live in a great part of the world :)
For submitting to agents: read the submission guidelines, follow the submission guidelines. If they ask for a specific font/page numbers they mean it--nothing sticks out more than the wrong font. For mags, F&SF wants Courier. I can't think of anyone who uses Courier, so it would be really obvious is the MS was Arial or something else. Research agents, the type of books they sell; follow them on Twitter or other social media. If they say no, but ask to see additional work, send it, so that means keep writing. :)
Has anyone seen a lit agent or are they as evasive as yeti? -:)
I have in principle communicated with them (unsuccessfully) but they were there and I am here, and I have no idea whether they were real people. Maybe they were some automated mail system run by Dr No.
Ian wrote: "Maybe they were some automated mail system run by Dr No.."Maybe they use AI to go through the query letters
I've got as far as pitching successfully and sending a manuscript. The agent said it was a well written, engaging story, but that she needed to 'fall in love' with my character in order to take it on, and she didn't love my character enough.
It'll be out with my current small press publisher in 2019.
Leonie, I suspect that agents really don't want to say, simply, "Sorry, no," so they tend to write something like that. Anyway, congrats on actually getting it out in a small press, and good luck with the sales.
Thanks, Ian. I'm happy with the story, and am currently editing book 2. Small press is also nice and friendly.
And then I found out that basically any fiction author needs to have one, if s/he wants to approach a trad publisher, since the latter is so overwhelmed that it doesn't care to consider unagented applications.
But who are these brave but less known heroes of the publishing industry?
Are they shrewd marketing pros, who can tell from a thousand feet what would sell and what wouldn't? Or maybe they are brilliant critics, who can discern next Dan Brown from the 2-nd line of the query letter?
What do you think or know?