Comments on: More About Agents http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/08/28/more-about-agents/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:44:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Camille http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/08/28/more-about-agents/#comment-6399 Camille Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:22:36 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/08/28/more-about-agents/#comment-6399 sorry to link and run, but for us pre-pubs still figuring out the roles in this uber editor/agent/novelist game, Rachelle Gardner (lterary agent) had this post on her blog recently about the in-house editing process that might be enlightening for those of us who don't know how it works. And who may never find out, if we don't get the pesky, heartbreaking work of staggering genius novel done. http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com/2008/08/editorial-process.html sorry to link and run, but for us pre-pubs still figuring out the roles in this uber editor/agent/novelist game, Rachelle Gardner (lterary agent) had this post on her blog recently about the in-house editing process that might be enlightening for those of us who don’t know how it works. And who may never find out, if we don’t get the pesky, heartbreaking work of staggering genius novel done.

http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com/2008/08/editorial-process.html

]]> By: Amy VR http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/08/28/more-about-agents/#comment-6400 Amy VR Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:54:12 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/08/28/more-about-agents/#comment-6400 As a Freshman writer, I knew on the surface the difference between agents and editors but your description made it all very clear. I can't imagine ever pitching at a public interview, but I think it would be a great experience to WATCH and learn! As a Freshman writer, I knew on the surface the difference between agents and editors but your description made it all very clear.

I can’t imagine ever pitching at a public interview, but I think it would be a great experience to WATCH and learn!

]]> By: Mark Goodyear http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/08/28/more-about-agents/#comment-6401 Mark Goodyear Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:01:02 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/08/28/more-about-agents/#comment-6401 I'm not an editor for a publishing house, but I do editorial work for several websites and authors. I don't think I'd call myself the coolest person on the planet, but I'm a nice guy. Sometimes authors forget that an editor's job is to make them look good. That's really all we want. Then we fade away... I’m not an editor for a publishing house, but I do editorial work for several websites and authors.

I don’t think I’d call myself the coolest person on the planet, but I’m a nice guy. Sometimes authors forget that an editor’s job is to make them look good. That’s really all we want. Then we fade away…

]]> By: Lynda http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/08/28/more-about-agents/#comment-6402 Lynda Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:35:08 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/08/28/more-about-agents/#comment-6402 Methinks I'd take my chances with the tiger!!!! Yes Marcus, you are a nice guy. :-) Methinks I’d take my chances with the tiger!!!!

Yes Marcus, you are a nice guy. :-)

]]> By: Alice http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/08/28/more-about-agents/#comment-6403 Alice Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:43:29 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/08/28/more-about-agents/#comment-6403 Take warning from my example: RESEARCH YOUR AGENTS. The advice that newer agents are hungry for sales and therefore more willing to take on an unpubbed writer is true, to a point. But established agents are also willing to take on unpubbed--how else will they make money? Last August, I signed with a new agency. This past week, they imploded, leaving 29 writers in a scary section of limbo. Preditors and Editors is your friend. So is AgentQuery. My (former) agent had nothing negative against them, but looking back, the potential for implosion was there. They weren't scammers, didn't try to charge me any money, and did get my mss (yes, two) on editors' desks. But now because of their personal issues (legitimate, but...) I'm looking for a new agent who can pick up those balls and run with them. I got blindsided. It can happen to any of us. Research first! Research again! May y'all never find yourselves in this utterly miserable situation. Take warning from my example:

RESEARCH YOUR AGENTS. The advice that newer agents are hungry for sales and therefore more willing to take on an unpubbed writer is true, to a point. But established agents are also willing to take on unpubbed–how else will they make money?

Last August, I signed with a new agency. This past week, they imploded, leaving 29 writers in a scary section of limbo.

Preditors and Editors is your friend. So is AgentQuery. My (former) agent had nothing negative against them, but looking back, the potential for implosion was there. They weren’t scammers, didn’t try to charge me any money, and did get my mss (yes, two) on editors’ desks. But now because of their personal issues (legitimate, but…) I’m looking for a new agent who can pick up those balls and run with them.

I got blindsided. It can happen to any of us.

Research first! Research again! May y’all never find yourselves in this utterly miserable situation.

]]> By: TIm http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/08/28/more-about-agents/#comment-6404 TIm Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:45:23 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/08/28/more-about-agents/#comment-6404 So how do you pitch a book series instead of just a stand alone novel. Most of my novels are part of a bigger series, so how would I got about doing this? So how do you pitch a book series instead of just a stand alone novel. Most of my novels are part of a bigger series, so how would I got about doing this?

]]> By: Alice http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/08/28/more-about-agents/#comment-6405 Alice Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:49:15 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/08/28/more-about-agents/#comment-6405 Both my books are the first in potential series. I just pitched them as stand-alones. When I talked to my (former) agent, she asked abot series potential and that's when I mentioned the rest. Both my books are the first in potential series. I just pitched them as stand-alones. When I talked to my (former) agent, she asked abot series potential and that’s when I mentioned the rest.

]]> By: Andra M. http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/08/28/more-about-agents/#comment-6406 Andra M. Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:26:05 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/08/28/more-about-agents/#comment-6406 Ditto to Alice. I'm no expert, but I think an agent would prefer a series since he/she will know there's more than one book in an author. When I pitch mine, I make sure to mention my completed novel is the first of a trilogy. Ditto to Alice.

I’m no expert, but I think an agent would prefer a series since he/she will know there’s more than one book in an author.

When I pitch mine, I make sure to mention my completed novel is the first of a trilogy.

]]> By: Heather http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/08/28/more-about-agents/#comment-6407 Heather Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:28:07 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/08/28/more-about-agents/#comment-6407 So would people agree it is generally a bad idea to mention the word "series" as a first-timer, unless handed an appropriate lead-in, as alice was? So would people agree it is generally a bad idea to mention the word “series” as a first-timer, unless handed an appropriate lead-in, as alice was?

]]> By: Heather http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/08/28/more-about-agents/#comment-6410 Heather Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:30:24 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/08/28/more-about-agents/#comment-6410 actually, I am curious about this because I wonder whether to go for a series as I would like (which would develop the story so that the "meatiest" parts are in subsequent books), or, if a series deal is thought to be more unlikely for a newbie, then changing the story so that everything important is encompassed in the one book (and possibly sacrificing telling the story exactly as I had envisioned). has anyone grappled with this conflict before? actually, I am curious about this because I wonder whether to go for a series as I would like (which would develop the story so that the “meatiest” parts are in subsequent books), or, if a series deal is thought to be more unlikely for a newbie, then changing the story so that everything important is encompassed in the one book (and possibly sacrificing telling the story exactly as I had envisioned). has anyone grappled with this conflict before?

]]> By: Pauine Youd http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/08/28/more-about-agents/#comment-6422 Pauine Youd Sun, 31 Aug 2008 01:03:27 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/08/28/more-about-agents/#comment-6422 It seems to me that each book in a series must be able to stand alone. The characters should continue and perhaps their backstory briefly included, but what if a customer buys only one book of the series. I have not read all of the books in the Harry Potter series, but I have enjoyed the ones I've read. I haven't read all of the Left Behind books either, nor have I read all of Jan Karon's wonderful series. I have read all of Cynthia Rylant's Mr. Putter and Tabby books though. What can I say? I'm a children's author. Pauline It seems to me that each book in a series must be able to stand alone. The characters should continue and perhaps their backstory briefly included, but what if a customer buys only one book of the series.
I have not read all of the books in the Harry Potter series, but I have enjoyed the ones I’ve read. I haven’t read all of the Left Behind books either, nor have I read all of Jan Karon’s wonderful series. I have read all of Cynthia Rylant’s Mr. Putter and Tabby books though. What can I say? I’m a children’s author.
Pauline

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