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Phoenix Gracia
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Some time ago I voluntarily carried out a work experience in a small London literary agency in order to experience the nitty-gritty of it.
There was information and advice I gained from it that I never forget, and that had served me well.
1) I always enclose an SAE.
Literary agents often, to save on printing costs, reuse the manuscripts that have been submitted, turn the pages over and print what they need on the other side. Essentially your work stays in their office as long as they have the paper.
2) Name dropping is cheap.
One person submitting a manuscript enclosed her businesscard for one of the big football clubs because she was secretary there. What connection there was between her job and her writing: none.
3) The rejection slips are kept enmasse. Individual replies will be rare. Submissions arrive in a mail sack each morning.
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LoopyLou
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I've always wondered if a rejected author's name (if they have potential) is ever kept on file or something?
___________________________________________________ http://louisewise.blogspot.com
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Louise-Wise/e/B003FW6RKM/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1Romance by Louise Wise
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perrybond
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Thanks Phoenix, you've given me an idea....
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Sammy
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What most of us suspected...certainly about the rejection slips! A few things I have learnt. Don't try and be clever and gimmicky in your approach. Agents have seen it all before. Be slick. Be professional. A little humility and subtle touch of humour in a letter can't hurt. For God's sake don't be pretentious or try too hard to be impressive. Agents don't care if you won a poetry competition when you were twelve. Not every agent wants a long synopsis. Many prefer a 'back of the book' blurb. Don't mention that this is your fourth, fifth, sixth book. Actually makes you sound like a failure. NEVER say you have been working on a book for five or more years. Agents want authors who can churn out a book every year. If your writing is good enough you will eventually provoke a response...even if it's a hand written note on the bottom of a standard rejection. Don't be afraid to be a bit cheeky. Never be cocky. Don't be afraid to dump one book if it gets enough rejections and start again on another. There is a reason no agent wants it. It won't sell. Bottom line. If you go the agent route, forget being an 'artist'. You are a commodity. Think about yourself as such. Don't expect, just because you have an agent, you will automatically find a publisher. This can also take many books and many years. Don't give up. x
'Stay away from your potential. It's like your bank balance. There's never as much of it as you think.'
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nosekmedas
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Also, something to add here, to the long list of what not to do, is send in your first draft.
I did that recently and got selected out of last month's 300 submissions. Overjoyed, I suddenly remembered one of my reviews from a journalist on here, and all the typos and outright mistakes I'd made - my heart plopped into my intestines. On the one hand, thanks to the journalist, I'd really improved my opening chapter. Hooray! On the other hand, I sent the agency the old and daft, error-ridden copy of it. They were nice; even kind enough to give me the personal email address of their agent. He however refused the updated draft.
So here I am waiting for my rejection slip! That's the industry for you. We MUST do what they DEMAND or else!!
I can understand that, if you receive 300 submissions every month of every year.
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Sammy
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Don't give up hope! Depending on the agent, some are surprisingly forgiving about a few typos (I say 'a few' mind). What they will be far more concerned about is whether your book is commercial. Pretty much what it all comes down to these days. I have been surprised by how much a professional editor will 'let go' compared to the reviewers on here. They are much tougher! x
'Stay away from your potential. It's like your bank balance. There's never as much of it as you think.'
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Athene
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On second thoughts, decided to remove this post. It'll only cause another silly row. No one's right or wrong on this one.
This post was last edited by Athene, 13 Aug 2010, 08:29
Scias te fortasse Romanum esse si animal convivialissimum arbitreris esse caprum (Henricus Barbatus) my website
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Cinnamon
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.
This post was last edited by Cinnamon, 13 Aug 2010, 08:33
E-asy Peasy?
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Cinnamon
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Quote: Athene, Friday, 13 Aug 2010 08:15On second thoughts, decided to remove this post. It'll only cause another silly row. No one's right or wrong on this one. I'll remove my reply too, then. But I don't see why we can't discuss it, if that's what you really think! Love, an aspiring 'hack'.
E-asy Peasy?
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Malcolm
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Quote: Sammy, Tuesday, 3 Aug 2010 22:00What most of us suspected...certainly about the rejection slips! A few things I have learnt. Don't try and be clever and gimmicky in your approach. Agents have seen it all before. Be slick. Be professional. A little humility and subtle touch of humour in a letter can't hurt. For God's sake don't be pretentious or try too hard to be impressive. Agents don't care if you won a poetry competition when you were twelve. Not every agent wants a long synopsis. Many prefer a 'back of the book' blurb. Don't mention that this is your fourth, fifth, sixth book. Actually makes you sound like a failure. NEVER say you have been working on a book for five or more years. Agents want authors who can churn out a book every year. If your writing is good enough you will eventually provoke a response...even if it's a hand written note on the bottom of a standard rejection. Don't be afraid to be a bit cheeky. Never be cocky. Don't be afraid to dump one book if it gets enough rejections and start again on another. There is a reason no agent wants it. It won't sell. Bottom line. If you go the agent route, forget being an 'artist'. You are a commodity. Think about yourself as such. Don't expect, just because you have an agent, you will automatically find a publisher. This can also take many books and many years. Don't give up. x I can get used to thinking of my books as commodities, but I am not a commodity and never will be. If my agent thinks of me as such, she has never been crude enough to say so. I do believe if you're good enough, someone will notice. You just have to keep putting it out there. I also think that finding out which agents aren't for you is a valuable step towards finding an agent who is.
No stars. No charts. Just crits.
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Some things I learned about agents
03 Aug 2010, 16:05
