15 Comments on All I want for Christmas is an agent…

Superzig on Dec 30, 2009 at 12:43pm



…..ok that’s all very interesting… BUT what is a Go Go hamster? is it a bit like a furry Yo-Yo?

or is it a Hamster that got at the xmas pud and is not suffering from dysentery?

or is it related to Gadget man who had a memorable catch phrase – Go Go Gadget?

Superzig:-
‘Forever in love with words and worms….they are more commited, loving and faithful’

Los on Jan 2, 2010 at 08:50am



You’re right, an agent was at the top of my Christmas list, but as I’ve missed out this year, I would still like to get one as a New Year present.

I submitted, unsolicited, my first novel to a well known agency in May 2009. In July 2009 I sent them another letter reminding them about my book. In early August an assistant at the agency got in touch by email and told me they liked what they had read so far and asked me to send the whole manuscript. I sent the manuscript in early August.

It then went quiet so I sent the assistant an email at the end of September asking how their deliberations were going. I got an automated out of office reply (on holiday). So I followed that up by contacting the person named as an alternative contact in the out of office reply. I got a “read receipt” for my email but apart from that have not heard from the agency since their August email.

The agency has had my manuscript for 7 months now. I fear it might be sitting in the bottom of someone’s “in tray” or that the member of staff who contacted me in August has since left. My questions are:

* Does my novel still constitute an unsolicited manuscript with this agency since the agency asked me to send them the full manuscript after they looked at my initial submission?

* Do you agree the agency is due another reminder about my work (is a 7 month wait acceptable/normal)?

* I wonder if this time I should take a more assertive approach & press them for an answer, but would value your thoughts on this also.

Thank you.

M T McGuire on Jan 3, 2010 at 16:33pm



I sympathise with Los. It took me 6 months to approach three agents last year. Two for out-and-out no’s and one who said no when they saw my first 3 chapters.

I do understand about exclusivity, approaching one at a time and all that but the thing is, I’m no spring chicken, I know it will take me several goes to land an agent for my book, if at all and… dammit, I don’t have 10 years to spare while I approach my list of 20.

I want to find an agent before I die… but on last year’s performance it looks as if that might be unlikely.

I think pressing them is bad, I know when the ad-sales people pressed me in my old job I’d say “no” straight off to get them off my case. Judging by their response times, Agents must be incredibly busy so I’d guess they are likely to react the way I did. They’re only human after all!

Cheers

M T McGuire

Cressida Downing (Editorial Consultant) on Jan 4, 2010 at 10:14am



Los and M T McGuire – that does sound like a long time to me.

Los – why not contact them and say you would like to submit it to other agents now, can they come back to you in 30 days?

Most agents I work with would read a full manuscript within 60 days.

Cressida

John Warwick on Jan 4, 2010 at 14:19pm



I am working on an historical novel and have identified an agent that I would like to send it to when it is finished. Their guidelines say that they like to see the synopsis and the first 10,000 words of the work to begin with.

This is fine, but what happens if I am lucky enough to get a positive response? Won’t the agent expect me to produce the remainder of the book straight away? They say that they do not like “proposals” for novels, and that they prefer to assess the actual work, but doesn’t this realistically mean that I have to write the entire book before the agent will even consider the synopsis? What if they reject the central idea for the story without even reading the work itself? I can research the market until I get little sharp aching feelings in my temples, but if the agent simply disagrees with me and says “No, there’s no commercial potential in this idea,” I will have spent a year writing something that they could have rejected at synopsis stage.

Is it really not acceptable to simply ask “I’ve had an idea about so-and-so: do you think I should write it?” I’m not asking for a contract and a million pound advance, just the briefest of assessments.

Jo Herbert (Editor, Writers' & Artists' Yearbook) on Jan 4, 2010 at 16:09pm



Happy New Year Superzig. Go Go Hamsters are interactive robot pets. Sounds silly? Well, it seemed everyone wanted one this Christmas – children mainly but adults too. Shops sold out way before the big day … Hope that answers your question! Best wishes, Jo

clarke on Jan 9, 2010 at 16:13pm



For John

this might sound stupid or incredibly naive, but if you are only writing for your work to be published, then surely you are missing a huge part of being a writer.

I have written all kinds of things and have only been published in a newspaper a few times, but I enjoy my ramblings no matter what, and I love to read all manner of things. I really appreciate literature. It is a fantastic process of creation and for some, it is pure genius!

I hope you have fun with your work, and don’t just regard it as something to slave over and it is not always about luck, but about talent. Surely, if you are serious about your writing, then the whole process, including finding an agent, should always be something savoured and enjoyed and not something that causes you a headache.

I would not approach an agent if I had not completed my work, simply because if I have something worthwhile, then I need to present my best, and my best thoughts are always complete (and edited to the best of my ability!)

Good luck with your book John. Don’t give up at the first hurdle. Write because you love it and have something to say, and then it does not matter as much if you don’t manage to have it published. If it is good, then it will be! Naive or not – trust in your own capacity and that of the agents.

lorryholly on Jan 18, 2010 at 21:39pm



has anyone on here heard of Osborne-Porter Literary Agents? They are in S. Africa and the U.K. I have 2 books at present on Authonomy and Osborne Porter asked for 3 chapters and a synopsis. I know nothing about agents/publishing as I never thought I would ever show my books and here I am 2 months later with 3 approaches already. How do I know if what they ‘may’ offer is good or not and do you pay for any of their services apart from commission? Lots of questions, sorry!

Jo Herbert (Editor, Writers' & Artists' Yearbook) on Jan 19, 2010 at 17:20pm



Hello Lorryholly, we don’t list that particular agent in the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook. Get in touch with PASA (The Publishers’ Association of South Africa) – they should be able to to shed more light on the matter than us. Best wishes, Jo

Cressida Downing (Editorial Consultant) on Jan 19, 2010 at 17:29pm



Hi lorryholly,

We can’t comment on individual agencies, but it’s always a good idea to do research before either signing anything or giving anyone any money.

Ask an agent if they are sending your material to a publisher, or if they help you to self-publish. Ask them for their costs, what commission they take and what services they provide for those costs. The Society of Authors offers an advisory service on contracts when you become a member – and associate membership is available for authors who have been taken on or offered a contract by an agent.

As always, beware of vanity publishers, ones that ask you to pay for a publishing deal. Despite what they promise, they will not market or help sell your book, and they make a profit from what they charge you. If they are offering a service that sounds too good to be true, there’s a good chance it is.

Best of luck for your writing!

Cressida

lorryholly on Jan 19, 2010 at 18:49pm



Thank you for the advice. They came back today and asked for whole manuscript with no charge for reading and said they see it fitting into the market well for that genre. I’ll look into all you’ve told me. Thank you very much,
Lorraine.

John Warwick on Jan 20, 2010 at 22:12pm



Does anyone else have any views on my question?

I’ve been writing for over 15 years now – I’ve jumped a lot of hurdles and I’m certainly not about to give up any time soon. I do write because I enjoy it, but equally I wouldn’t want to write a novel solely for the experience of the thing. I think this is a question of balancing the two motivations – writing for pleasure and writing for profit.

I am serious about the investment of time and effort I am making – I have already spent 4 years researching and developing this idea. Before I go any further, I need to know that what I am doing has at least a reasonable chance of success. I suppose that in this sense writing for pleasure – for me – can never be enough on it’s own, although as a way of earning a living it has an immensely greater appeal than my current job and almost any other I can think of.

As part of the development of this novel, I have spent nine months (and £750 in editorial review fees) writing the opening 10,000 words. I feel that this part of the work is as polished as it can be. The editorial agent was very helpful and I can see a definite improvement in my work, but in the final analysis you can’t beat the opinion of someone who is going to stake their own money (through time and effort) on the quality of your work.

I have written 2 novels before – both of which took about 5 years to write, and both of which were rejected on the basis of the synopsis and first 10,000 words alone. I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy writing the remaining 90,000 words in each case, but it just seems like such an easy thing to ask – that the agent reviews the first 10,000 words and synopsis before I write the remaining 90,000 words – that I’m wondering why I’m not allowed to do it!

Cressida Downing (Editorial Consultant) on Jan 22, 2010 at 12:26pm



Hi John,

There’s nothing to stop you sending in your first 10,000 words without having finished the novel. If an agent wants to see more, you can always give them a timetable at that point.

However if you tell them it won’t come for another five years, they may not wish to keep you ‘on hold’ all that time. Given the fluidity of modern careers, they may not even be in the job by that time. They certainly wouldn’t be able to get you a contract without a full manuscript.

Cressida

john warwick on Jan 23, 2010 at 17:32pm



Thanks Cressida – that’s good news.

I will send it to the agent in question, and if they are interested, I will try to work at a slightly faster rate!

Many thanks

John

sexloveletters on Feb 2, 2010 at 21:18pm



Surely one can approach many agents at the same time but only sign up with one? Whatever our ages, we could otherwise all be dead before we get an agent!