Do You Have an Agent?

[TheOlderGuy]

I'm about halfway through my first novel, still enjoying the work.
I've made queries to eight or ten smaller publishers, and gotten back
three form rejections without comment on the merits of the work,
just that they are not looking for anything like that right now.

I'm thinking maybe I should focus some energy on finding an agent,
but it looks like it could be even trickier to find an agent I trust than a publisher.

How did you go about finding your agent?
Are you happy with him/her?
What wisdom can you share?

 

[TheOlderGuy]

Really?

Nobody has an agent?

Oh, I get it, you just don't want to talk about it.

 

[jeninflorida]

I'm about halfway through my first novel, still enjoying the work.
I've made queries to eight or ten smaller publishers, and gotten back
three form rejections without comment on the merits of the work,
just that they are not looking for anything like that right now.

I'm thinking maybe I should focus some energy on finding an agent,
but it looks like it could be even trickier to find an agent I trust than a publisher.

How did you go about finding your agent?
Are you happy with him/her?
What wisdom can you share?

had one and sold a book to someone, the deal was a ghost writing project. dont know who purchsed it, dont know what they did with it. the agent lost interest....but i made a few dollars.

the stories are, some are really great. but they are short stories, and lack a lot of drama....

 

[Joesephus]

I have a friend...

well an online friend who talked about agents and selling books. He told me that none of the major publisher would look at an un-un (unpublished-unagented.) Getting a good agent doesn't mean you'll sell, but gives you great odds. I think I was told that there are over a 1000 submissions for every sale. Are those other 999 inferior to the one? Unlikely.

I don't know any good way to get an agent. I'm years from being ready for that. Just read my stories if you want proof. I do have 7 of my 8 stories have and "H" but readers here are very kind... odd email excepted.

Getting a book read iby an agent or editor s a major accomplishment, based on what I've been told. Then making any money is even harder. $5000.00 is the minimum and I'm told that most 1st book are only paid the minimum.

Sigh, I guess that's why I'm working on my MBA instead of going to writing courses.

 

[jeninflorida]

becareful, there are a lot of scammers out there.....if an agent wants money upfront...well that is a red flag.

well an online friend who talked about agents and selling books. He told me that none of the major publisher would look at an un-un (unpublished-unagented.) Getting a good agent doesn't mean you'll sell, but gives you great odds. I think I was told that there are over a 1000 submissions for every sale. Are those other 999 inferior to the one? Unlikely.

I don't know any good way to get an agent. I'm years from being ready for that. Just read my stories if you want proof. I do have 7 of my 8 stories have and "H" but readers here are very kind... odd email excepted.

Getting a book read iby an agent or editor s a major accomplishment, based on what I've been told. Then making any money is even harder. $5000.00 is the minimum and I'm told that most 1st book are only paid the minimum.

Sigh, I guess that's why I'm working on my MBA instead of going to writing courses.

 

[Joesephus]

Yes, I've read that too. I've also read that you should check out what type of books they sell. If an agent works with Romances, trying to get them to read a Sci-Fi is a wastes of your time and theirs.

Unfortunately I have no idea where you find that sort of information. Although I do think I saw a list of agents for Sci-Fi once on a web site someplace. I suppose you could google agents and your genre to see what comes up... always being careful of the above.

Sorry for the ramble, I'm really trying to see if my new sig works... I think I screwed it up. I hate computers!

 

[jeninflorida]

Yes, I've read that too. I've also read that you should check out what type of books they sell. If an agent works with Romances, trying to get them to read a Sci-Fi is a wastes of your time and theirs.

Unfortunately I have no idea where you find that sort of information. Although I do think I saw a list of agents for Sci-Fi once on a web site someplace. I suppose you could google agents and your genre to see what comes up... always being careful of the above.

Sorry for the ramble, I'm really trying to see if my new sig works... I think I screwed it up. I hate computers!

Doing your homework is key! Writers digest has a good book, and you can go to any B&N, and look through the reference guide. The guide lists all the agents and which markets they represent. Also, they tend to give you a little blurb as to the best way to submit your book proposal to them.

https://www.writersdigest.com/pcd.asp
http://www.writersmarket.com/index_ns.asp

are two good web sites. The second web site is the online version of the book. I think the yearly membership is $25.00.

 

[TheOlderGuy]

thanks for all your suggestions.

i have been scouring writer's handbooks, and sites the rate agents online.
and i will be looking at B&N for authors' thanks and notes.

i guess what i was looking for here
was any first hand experiences our Lit authors
have had with agents, recommendations or warnings.

 

[jeninflorida]

thanks for all your suggestions.

i have been scouring writer's handbooks, and sites the rate agents online.
and i will be looking at B&N for authors' thanks and notes.

i guess what i was looking for here
was any first hand experiences our Lit authors
have had with agents, recommendations or warnings.

when we are in town, what better way to spend a couple of hours...coffee and looking at books. we love our b&n! btw, what type of book are you writing?

i'm open and honest, today - i've exposed a lot.....maybe i shouldn't have....who knows...who cares.

 

[snowy ciara]

I think it was Orson Scott Card who suggested (in "How to write a Science Fiction or Fantasy Story, I think) that you don't need an agent until you've got a sale. Until then, you're not really considered a saleable commodity, and not a lot of agents are going to be interested. He also said that you should never ever book an agent who charges more than 10 percent or "reading fees."

 

[TheOlderGuy]

when we are in town, what better way to spend a couple of hours...coffee and looking at books. we love our b&n! btw, what type of book are you writing?

i'm open and honest, today - i've exposed a lot.....maybe i shouldn't have....who knows...who cares.

it's a novel, doesn't really fit in any genre,
part political thriller, part romance, part female detective story.

exposed???

 

[snowy ciara]

edited Oops! This should have been a new thread, not a hijack, very sorry. It came up in the search I did...