Agents

[elepet]

There seem to be several published writers here. Any chance of you giving advice about agents? Thanks.

[SmokingJacket]

1. How to find one:

Find a book you admire that's similar to the one you're trying to publish (same genre, similar style). Call up the publisher of the book you like and ask for the Rights Department. Ask the Rights Department person the name of the agent of the book's author.

Usually they'll tell you. If not, sometimes you can find the name of the agent on the book's acknowledgements page.

A Google search will tell you which agency the agent belongs to. Some agents are also listed in those agent guides, but many are not because they don't want to be swamped with submissions.

Write a letter asking the agent if he or she would be willing to read the book, explaining briefly why you chose him or her ("... since you represent Phyllis DeGeorge, one of my favorite writers and in my opinion the best author in the PsychoCyberLit genre, etc, etc") and -- again, briefly -- describe your book. Don't go overboard. Be clear and concise. The letter shouldn't be longer than a page and a half or so.

Send out a dozen letters at a time. Send your book to the first agent that says they'd like to read it. If they say no, send it on to the next.

Worked for me.

[soleft]

2. Make connections with other writers

I got my agent thru a friend who introduced us. I met my friend at film school. He got his agent through writers he met on an AOL chat room.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

3. I got mine

because my godson's mother writes children's books, and she sent me to her agent.

It's so much personal referral. If you know someone who has good representation, ask for an introduction. That's a pretty sure-fire way of getting your stuff read, at the very least.

Good luck.

[Rockerdem]

4. Thanks, elepet - nt

nt

[wryter2000]

5. Beware of unscrupulous agents

Depending on what you're writing, you should know that there are some real vampires out there. Scam artists. As a rule of thumb, never, ever, ever pay an agent any money, even office expenses. And never pay money to anyone the agent recommends (such as an editorial service). That's usually some kind of kick-back relationship.

There's an organization call the Association of Author's Representatives. Membership means the agent agrees to abide by a set of ethical guidelines. It doesn't guarantee the agent is good, just that s/he isn't a con artist.

If you do get an agent, have a clear understanding (preferably in writing) about how the relationship will work, including how to end the relationship.

[fudge stripe cookays]

6. Thanks for the tip, wryter!

I know it helped me!

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