17 Comments on Agents – what’s the point?

Goldstein on Feb 12, 2010 at 13:00pm



Here here! … but of course, they’re a devil difficult species to track down and stick one’s flag in. Hmmm.

tonyl on Feb 12, 2010 at 14:46pm



I definitely don’t need convincing on the need for an agent, I am still apprehensive about how to find one. I have a plan, but even using the yearbook it still looks like a bit of a needle in a haystack job. I know the advice is write the book then find the agent, but it would be so much nicer to know you were writing a specific book with an agent or publisher in mind, then it could be much more focused on what they look for. I know that’s niaive and getting published first time is hardly ever like that. I am being niaive again thinking that getting anything published anywhere will also help you get an agent?

tonyl on Feb 12, 2010 at 14:48pm



P.S. – it would be nice to secure an agent BEFORE Christmas but I bet it takes at least that long!

David Dougherty on Feb 12, 2010 at 21:23pm



Having been a person always wanting to get into the filming and cartooning industry, I’ve always found it very hard to get in amongst the right people, whether it be through an agent or on my own. Though what I did find out is “going it alone” isn’t as easy and strait forward as some people make out, as the amount of errors I’ve gone through with trying to find the right publication or film company myself has been like a hazzard.

But having read through the Writers and Artists Year book since 1992 and found a few people that have guided me in the right direction, where with Beverley Crew, to whom used to be in the British Film Institute back in 1992 was one of them, it’s been hard, especially with having bumped into a couple of money grabbing cons, who promise you the world, then end up running off with your money.

All I can say to anyone who wants to get into the filming, acting, cartooning, publication or singing career, be careful who you go through and do your research before hand. Even check out http://www.imdbpro.com and see what the individuals/companies you’re wanting to join up with have to show for themselves. Also make sure there’s no money leaving your pocket either. It should be filling your pocket if they think you are good enough.

Ginger on Feb 12, 2010 at 21:46pm



I have finished my book and want to know what agent to get?

Claire Fogg (Publisher, Yearbooks) on Feb 13, 2010 at 14:09pm



Ginger – the best place to start is by searching the listings of literary agents in the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook. There is no one ‘right’ agent for a writer, rather it will depend on the genre of your book and which agents are currently acquiring titles in that area.

Ken on Feb 14, 2010 at 18:30pm



It took two years to write, after six years of scribbling notes, editing and revising.
I’m still editing, revising, or, cutting and pasting, whilst trying to write the perfect query,
The agents all agreed after a onepage outline and biog’ and the first ten pages, that it wasn’t just their cup of tea, But insisted that I keep trying to find the “right” agent.
Soon, I hope that “right” agent and my book will connect and see something beyond what I saw when I wrote this novel.
Meanwhile, I kicked Novel #2 into high gear, and entered five short stories and a sketch into competitions, Also bounced one story _ thought a winner – off a couple of editor’s desks.
I’ve sold free-lance articles, and made newspaper deadlines for more than 30 years. But my best stories are just being written. At least, that’s what I think each time I get an idea and bash it out.
Someday – they say. I believe that.
Someday it will happen. There’s an agent out there who is going to sit down at their desk one morning and with nothing better to do, rustle through the “slag” pile and say – “Hey, that’s not bad.” Then type that on an e-mail adding – “keep looking.”
Ah, well. Writing is fun with all these people dancing around on your screen. I’m never lonely.

KateF on Feb 16, 2010 at 17:33pm



I was an actress for thirty something years and as my cv blossomed I found it fairly easy to get an agent – although some of them were not entirely honest! As a novice writer I’ve read all the submission guidelines I can, and have submitted two previous novels to various literary agents with no success. Novel three is still a work in progress, and when I feel it’s ready, I’ll submit it, as per the instructions on agents’ websites. As an actress I was an incurable optimist and this is what still sustains me when I read yet another e-rejection. If anyone else tells me JK Rowling had 17 rejections before anyone took her work seriously I shall scream. 17 barely scratches the surface for me, tack a ‘nought’ onto the front of that! I shall plough on regardless however, and hope that one day… well.. you know the rest. Besides, no-one said it would be easy.

ricky martin on Feb 17, 2010 at 21:12pm



kateF the real truth of it is not whether you get published. but that you created something that gives you immense joy. I belive when you put the thought of getting published out of your mind and write because you enjoy it. thats when the publishers will notice. and if they dont well how many people do you know that have written a novel.just because its not picked up dosen;t make it a bad read.

M T McGuire on Feb 21, 2010 at 21:51pm



I’m British and I write humorous fantasy… I can’t help noticing when I do the obvious market research thing of looking at which writers who write a bit like me have agents and who those agents are that they are always the head honchos of the biggest badest agencies in the UK. My conclusion; authors like me don’t get an agent until they are already successful… I’m sure with somebody who know what they were doing to help me my work would improve immeasurably… I am equally sure that hardly any agents in the UK feel comfortable accepting fantasy writers who are not already successful. It’s amazing how many say they do but when you actually enquire… don’t.

The only route for me is a small press or self publishing… but since I write because I love it, and because I have to, that’s not a huge deal for me. I’d rather self publish and have a few people enjoy my work, than waste a lot of time and effort chasing an non-existent dream.

Cheers

MTM

Rod on Mar 10, 2010 at 11:02am



Does anyone know who the top Agents in the world are at the moment?

Cressida Downing (Editorial Consultant) on Mar 10, 2010 at 13:47pm



Good luck to everyone hunting for an agent.

Rod – I suspect that would be hotly contested but you can look out for which agents get media attention and draw your own conclusions. A ‘top’ Agent might not be what you’re after in any event. The very big names tend to concentrate on the best known authors, and deal in estates (the copyright of dead authors). What an author needs is an agent that believes in their work and can communicate that to the publishers.

Best regards,
Cressida

Shaudhry on Mar 19, 2010 at 20:50pm



I think I’m ready to submit to and Agent. But I have a dilemma. Shall I go with second best choice first or first choice first. I guess I want to prolong the rejection from my ‘top choice’.

S on Mar 21, 2010 at 16:23pm



I have just publish my first book with Publish America and then I found out on google that Publish America is a scam. I began to realise that it was a scam before I did my research on internet. I realised it after they had formatted and had “edited” my book having introduced new mistakes. Then they overprice all soft cover books and try to sell them to the authors who wrote it. I got 15 e-mails from them offering me to buy my own book at $16.95+ shipping costs and get a few copies for free. “Buy 6 copies and we will send your book to John Travolta who might make a movie “. The worst thing was I signed 7 – year contract with them. I also read that they cheat authors in many ways in order not pay royalties. I am glad that my book consists of only 6 short stories (59 pages). I might change the title of my book, use a pen name and try to publish in UK. If they are scam why I should bother with them?

Cressida Downing (Editorial Consultant) on Mar 31, 2010 at 17:01pm



Shaudhry – go with your top choice first. If they’re going to reject you, they will anyway. You might as well use the research you’ve done.

S – sorry to hear you’ve been taken in by a vanity publisher. As it’s not providing the service they were promising – I would have thought the contract wasn’t enforceable.

Cressida

faust405245 on Apr 1, 2010 at 01:35am



I have a question…

I sent the opening forty or so pages of my manuscript to an agent, she said send the rest. I waited three weeks (I know it’s not very long but I was impatient), and sent an email saying ??? (Although obviously phrased slightly differently) Got a quick reply telling me that she understands my concerns and hopes to get round to reading my novel soon. So far so good, I appreciated the reply. The only problem is that was a month and a half ago. So I suppose my question is – do I pester her again or do I leave it? I have no idea what’s normal in situations like this. I don’t want to annoy her by constantly rushing her, but neither do I want to hang around waiting. I’m not sure what to do…

Does anybody have any advice?

Rhyder on May 4, 2010 at 13:10pm



The AGENT Hustle

You have to get an agent or not is the question that worries you, once your work is complete. You want your work to be submitted directly to the publisher: but at times it is the extra sugar you add to make sure your work soars off.

People worry whether their work will attract attention or not; the question is that whether the agent you choose will be equally interested or not. At times some agents are only looking for a pot of gold , round the corner. Your work strikes their fancy and you being in a tight spot hire them. this might not work for all. Many of us would have to talk to a publisher directly.
So my Advice: In case you really need an Agent , do microanalyse their tastes, otherwise you might be the one running around in circles!!.