Bad Agents?
Boy have things been busy! I have been acting as my own agent with my latest book deal and thought I would pass on some information about it.
Many of you want to know how to get an agent and are anxious to find one, any one, but the truth is in many cases you can be your own best agent. Now I speak mostly from a non-fiction perspective but it still holds true for fiction.
I sold all of my books on my own. I later found an agent to represent me and work out the deal. The second agent I used was horrible and got me less then the previous agent had. I have to pay this agent royalties forever on this book even though this agent didn't do anything at all for me (I sold the book remember). This agent also kept me from sending out proposals becuase this agent would take forever to get back to me and wanted to change everything in my proposals - making them completely different from what I had envisioned.
A good agent will work with you, be somewhat available and be a champion for your work. He will also get you a larger advance (to pay for his fees) and encourage you. Hopefully he will get you writing assignments as well.
A bad agent will definitely hold you back, get you less money then you deserve, not be available and not stand behind you and your work. In this case you are so much better off on your own.
You should do research and send out your work to a small number of publishers at the same time you are looking for an agent. I say small number because you don't want to get rejections from every house your agent may want to send to later on. Send it out to a few publishers and see what feedback you get. Make sure it is your best work.
Many of you want to know how to get an agent and are anxious to find one, any one, but the truth is in many cases you can be your own best agent. Now I speak mostly from a non-fiction perspective but it still holds true for fiction.
I sold all of my books on my own. I later found an agent to represent me and work out the deal. The second agent I used was horrible and got me less then the previous agent had. I have to pay this agent royalties forever on this book even though this agent didn't do anything at all for me (I sold the book remember). This agent also kept me from sending out proposals becuase this agent would take forever to get back to me and wanted to change everything in my proposals - making them completely different from what I had envisioned.
A good agent will work with you, be somewhat available and be a champion for your work. He will also get you a larger advance (to pay for his fees) and encourage you. Hopefully he will get you writing assignments as well.
A bad agent will definitely hold you back, get you less money then you deserve, not be available and not stand behind you and your work. In this case you are so much better off on your own.
You should do research and send out your work to a small number of publishers at the same time you are looking for an agent. I say small number because you don't want to get rejections from every house your agent may want to send to later on. Send it out to a few publishers and see what feedback you get. Make sure it is your best work.
posted by Victoria at 11:24 AM
1 Comments:
I just had my first short story published. It's not a paper publication, but it's something--a start. I probably won't be thinking agent just yet, but if I work out a novel length piece...
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