I really don't understand the agent process

[Jonathan Price]

So, OK, I am new to the novel writing world. I have only one published book under my belt. Most of my work has been for broadcasting. But now that I have finished my second novel, I thought I might like to find an agent. What a backwards world this is. In the business world the author would be the boss and the agent an (ipso facto) employee. I mean the author writes the work and the agents job is to sell it. The agent makes his/her money based on the job they do. The more they sell, the more they make. If the agent does a poor job, then the author fires them and finds someone else. Now, granted there are some works that are so bad that not even the Nationwide guy with the blue telephone surgically attached to his hip could sell, but a good agent should be able to find an outlet for the book somewhere. Please understand I am not writing this because I have been rejected. In fact I have only started to look for an agent and have approached one, whom I have yet to hear from. But from what I read about the process and the hoops the authors have to jump through and the groveling involved, it is mind boggling. Why isn't there someplace where the author can post a portion of the work, then prospective agent(s) can go there read it, and apply to the author for the job of representing him/her. This agent search process is a real "Through the Looking Glass" journey that Lewis Carroll would be proud of.

[Frank Baron]

There are many places on the net purporting to attract agents and publishers by showcasing writers and their work. They're called "display sites" and they are a complete waste of time and money.

You're not gonna re-invent the publishing wheel. Agents are today's gatekeepers, particularly for novels and most particularly for novels being pitched to the Big Five publishing conglomerates.

Agents spend a lot of time and their own money trying to sell books. They don't get a nickel (the legitimate ones) until and if the book is sold. Some books never sell. It's probably safe to say 97% of all books written are never published. And I'll bet 50% of the ones agents accept to represent never get sold either.

That said, you can try to sell your opus on your own if you can't, or don't want to try to snag an agent. Most small and mid-sized houses and some of the imprints of the biggies can be approached directly by the writer. Do your homework.

I don't have time to pass on any further info atm. Got an appointment. I'm sure others will be along to add their 2 cents.

[Jena Grace]

>>>Why isn't there someplace where the author can post a portion of the work, then prospective agent(s) can go there read it, and apply to the author for the job of representing him/her.

Because agents gets thousands of e-mail and snail mail queries a week, to say nothing of referrals. Why would they look elsewhere?

[Jonathan Price]

JG: I am sure that they do. And thanks for the come back. But it still doesn't change the big picture. I know that I am like Don Quixote and the windmills. Since I am new to this process I can only look at it as a former outsider. I look at this akin to Mr. Smith, the president of the Ajax Widget Company. He needs a salesman to sell his product. He puts an ad in the classifieds looking to hire the qualified salesperson. The job pays a high commission rate 20%. People come to him and apply for the job, not the other way around. My widget is the book, the salesperson, the agent. I understand that I am not going to change the process, but it still doesn't mean it's fair to the author.

[Jena Grace]

I never considered it unfair. It took me over 2 years to find an agent and it was worth every minute, every query, every dime of postage. It is what it is and it's not going to change. *shrug*

[leslee]

I don't like the way the DMV does business, either. It's probably not going to change because I gripe about it.

[Jonathan Price]

Hi Frank: Thanks for the input. I certainly understand that the Agent will spend time and money (But when/if the book does sell they can make 20% or more . If a book makes an author, say $100,000, the agent will make $20,000. He/she may have only invested a couple hundred) In regard to time spent, so does the author, in many cases much more time. I am sure you know that an author can take a year or more to take a concept, expand on it and then punch it out on a keyboard. I know that a huge percentage of books never get published, and I am sure many of them aren't great, but I am equally sure some are really good books. But if the author can never get past the gatekeeper of the publishing world to have his work even considered, think of what the avid readers of the world are missing. I know I cannot change this process, I don't really expect to, but I wanted to get my frustration out there before the flood of rejection letters start to pour in.

[Jena Grace]

And let's not get into social services, lol.

[Jonathan Price]

Ya never know. In Pennsylvania we used to only be able to renew our auto registrations via snail mail and then wait. Now I can go on line and do it in seconds. Someone's gripe about the process was heard somewhere.

[John Hawkwood]

I'm not crazy about the way gravity works. I think rather than being pulled, I'd like to be pushed.