ABC's of Publishing - About Agents
Publishing Pit BullsPublishing Pit Bulls You have invested a great deal into your writing: time, ..... While there's no Golden Rule to 'Being Published'; it appears the only way to get your foot in the door is to have a respected literary agent hold it open. (I can't count the number of times my toes, and my ego, have been smashed.) Most of the large NY publishing houses don't accept unagented queries, and those that do will assign assistant editors to muck through the slush pile. A good literary agent has spent years in the publishing business, building relationships with editors, studying the market, knowing what editors are looking for and which publishers specialize in specific markets or genres. They will be your guide and your advocate to the publishing world.
The trick is finding a good literary agent. By now you have probably heard many horror stories about disreputable agents. If not, do yourself a favor and read the information at Writer Beware, http://www.sfwa.org/beware/agents.html. Be wary of any agent that charges an upfront fee, regardless of what they call it, or an agent that requires an author to use editing or marketing services as a condition of representation. Agents who make their money up front, as reading fees or marketing fees, or who receive a kickback from referrals, are not motivated to sell books. The anonymity of the Internet provides an ideal environment for these creative con artists but it also lets us warn others. According to Writer Beware, here are few methods employed by dishonest agents:
'Reading Fees ' This practice, once seen with some reputable agents, has been abused to the point it is now prohibited Association of Authors' Representatives for members.
'Evaluation or Critique Fee - If you feel that you need a critique, why not hire the services of a reputable editor'
'Submission or Handling Fee ' Good agents make money selling books, not selling contracts for representation.
'Submission Expenses - Reputable agents don't routinely bill their clients out-of-pocket. These expenses may include a large number of manuscript copies, color printing, photos, etc.
'Sliding scale of Fees - Good agents do as much work as is needed to sell a book, all for the same 15% commission.
'Selling "adjunct" services ' Websites design, book cover design, illustrations, etc. etc. It's a conflict of interest for an agent to offer paid services.
As you can see from this list, dishonest agents are as imaginative and creative as the writers they swindle. Unfortunately, there are no licensing requirements, regulatory agency or competency standards for literary agents. One organization that self regulates literary agents is the Association of Authors' Representatives or AAR. To become a member of AAR, an agent must meet certain criteria, years in business, number of clients, no upfront fees, etc. While there are no guarantees, your odds of selecting a reputable agent will be greatly increased if they are a member of AAR or similar organization. According to AAR, http://www.aar-online.org/faq.html, 'Literary agents are listed in many sources, including Literary Market Place, a directory of the publishing industry, which is available at most libraries. You may also ask for recommendations from editors, writing instructors, or fellow writers.'
According to Susan Rabiner and Alfred Fortunato, authors of Thinking Like Your Editor: How to Write Great Serious Nonfiction -- and Get It Published, you can also locate an agent a your favorite bookstore: ''check out all the book sections, to determine where your book would likely be shelved in that store. From that section, pick up a book similar to yours in content and presentation, one that you believe appeals to the same reader your book will appeal to. Turn to the "Acknowledgments" page, located either in the front of the book or the back. The author will often thank his or her literary agent. Put that agent's name on your list of possible agents.' There are two online services that may be of use, for a small fee. 'The first is www.publishersweekly.com, and the second is publisherslunch.com... they list each week's new sales to the publishing industry and the name of the agent who sold the book.' The final suggestion offered by Rabiner and Fortunato is to attend writers' conferences. Editors are usually in attendance and you can ask for their recommendation of a good agent. (This is also useful when you submit your query letter: 'Mr. Editor suggested I contact you regarding my book'')
To contact an agent, write a short introductory letter which should be informational, no more than one page in length, to the point and professional. Tell the agent if your work is fictional, non fictional, include a sentence or two summarizing the book and then a brief summary of your credentials. Do not make claims that your book will be the next best seller, or comparisons to other works. Include a SASE (self addressed stamped envelope) if you would like a reply.
It is acceptable to submit your work to more than one agent ......
Read More ...
|
