making connections to the literary world |
Author: Michal Tal (---.red.bezeqint.net)
Date: 08-07-08 04:07
Hi all:
I just had the annoying experience of having several agents I contacted claim that they do not take on clients who don't know someone they know. I've been told by other people that you need some magical contacts in order to be accepted by an agent. I'm finding that this may be true, having gone through most agents on the P & E website for both my previously published histroical novel (which needs republishing but got great reviews in London) and for my new non-fiction pop-culture topic work. It feel like I'm walkiong through glue. Any suggestions form some luckier wirters than I?
Michal ("Mikki")
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Re: making connections to the literary world |
Author: Steve Howard (---.bbtec.net)
Date: 08-07-08 08:11
Just curious, are you unable to re-publish your original novel or the new one with the same publishing company? I'm in a similar boat right now trying to shop my novel around to agents, but this is my first time so I'm learning as I go.
Now when I see an agent that states in their submission guidelines that they rarely publish new authors I usually assume it is a waste of time to send them a query letter. Ditto when they state that they publish mainly through intoductions from other writers or agents.
It seems like a tough road now for unpublished novelists now that all the super publishing houses can sell a billion copies of any of the big name writers to Amazon or Barnes and Nobles before anyone has even read the damn things. Add in near instant movies rights thanks to all the crap Hollywood churns out these days and most of us poor dreamers have little chance. And from what I've read here self-publishing seems to be mostly as dead end as well.
Well, since I've completely discouraged and depressed myself I think I'll go write something.
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Re: making connections to the literary world |
Author: d. Leroy (---.hfc.comcastbusiness.net)
Date: 08-07-08 09:05
First off, you don't need connections, but they don't hurt - if you think this is what you need, then you should be trying to make connections. Second, if an agent says they rarely take on new clients, that means there's a chance - rarely doesn't mean never.
Don't eliminate options because you think it's hopeless, and certainly don't let your pride get in the way - go for everything. And remember, it is YOU that must make things happen, not the other way around - that doesn't end with finding an agent, either.
d.
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i heard.... |
Author: Linden Holidae (---.254.216.117.Dial1.Denver1.Level3.net)
Date: 08-07-08 14:33
it's so important to get yourself out there, go to every book thingy (?) you can go to, just to let people know who you are, maybe your college english teacher knows, such and such who knows, so and so, and can tell PUB about you.
A friend of mine that LOVES my novel shared it with her best friend who is friends with an accomplished screen writer. I'm hoping, this will help me in the future. -LH
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Re: i heard.... |
Author: Sarah Connor (---.st.vc.shawcable.net)
Date: 08-07-08 20:26
I'd say the reason agents won't touch you is because...
a. You published with a vanity press.
b. you tried to sue a famous writer for plagiarism a year ago.
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Re: i heard.... |
Author: Paul Harris (---.sub-75-197-238.myvzw.com)
Date: 08-07-08 20:41
Great writing will always find a home.
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Re: i heard.... |
Author: Rick Anderson (---.hfc.comcastbusiness.net)
Date: 08-09-08 01:43
I can't understand why any agent would cut themselves off from any source for new talent, but not having ever been an agent myself, I guess I wouldn't know how their world works. Still, I think Sarah may be on to something with her post. I suspect a comment like that may be a subtle way to give you the slip.
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