Comments on: AGENT SERIES–Part Two, WHY an Agent? http://www.plotmonkeys.com/464/agent-series-part-two-why-an-agent/ Testing the Plot Monkey Blog Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:16:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Dr. Bill Emener http://www.plotmonkeys.com/464/agent-series-part-two-why-an-agent/#comment-27268 Dr. Bill Emener Wed, 13 Jun 2007 04:15:39 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/464/agent-series-part-two-why-an-agent/#comment-27268 Hi Julie, Excellent suggestions! I have been using a more focused approach lately (especially since my writing is branching out -- from romance to mystery/romance) and in that regard your suggestions are very helpful. Thanks also for the well-wishes... much appreciated! Bill Hi Julie,
Excellent suggestions! I have been using a more focused approach lately (especially since my writing is branching out — from romance to mystery/romance) and in that regard your suggestions are very helpful.
Thanks also for the well-wishes… much appreciated!
Bill

]]> By: Julie Leto http://www.plotmonkeys.com/464/agent-series-part-two-why-an-agent/#comment-27249 Julie Leto Tue, 12 Jun 2007 17:11:51 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/464/agent-series-part-two-why-an-agent/#comment-27249 Susie! Hola, chica! I know, I know...I need to come by and visit. Miss you guys!! Susie! Hola, chica! I know, I know…I need to come by and visit. Miss you guys!!

]]> By: Julie Leto http://www.plotmonkeys.com/464/agent-series-part-two-why-an-agent/#comment-27248 Julie Leto Tue, 12 Jun 2007 17:11:29 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/464/agent-series-part-two-why-an-agent/#comment-27248 Bill, I cannot give out referrals, but the best thing to do is to check out books that are like yours and try to find out who the agents of those projects are. You can check the acknowledgements/dedications, do a Google search or best yet, subscribe to Publisher's Marketplace and do deal searches. Another good idea is to attend some conferences where agents in your genre will be. Face to face--or even just hearing the agent speak during a panel or workshop--can give you a great idea of what that agent is about. Good luck! Bill, I cannot give out referrals, but the best thing to do is to check out books that are like yours and try to find out who the agents of those projects are. You can check the acknowledgements/dedications, do a Google search or best yet, subscribe to Publisher’s Marketplace and do deal searches.

Another good idea is to attend some conferences where agents in your genre will be. Face to face–or even just hearing the agent speak during a panel or workshop–can give you a great idea of what that agent is about.

Good luck!

]]> By: Dr. Bill Emener http://www.plotmonkeys.com/464/agent-series-part-two-why-an-agent/#comment-27246 Dr. Bill Emener Tue, 12 Jun 2007 16:21:31 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/464/agent-series-part-two-why-an-agent/#comment-27246 Great Post... You hit the important nails on the head! Since venturing away from textbooks to pop-psych and novels, I have tried many times to procure and/or work with an agent. However, I have yet to have a real good experience with an agent... they either ignore me, won't talk with me, or simply want me to do all their work for them so they simply can forward things to publishers. I even asked one gentleman if he always outsources his work... to his authors? If you have any Agents who you would recommend (for romance and mystery), I would appreciate the referral. Thanks... and as I said, great Post! Bill Great Post… You hit the important nails on the head! Since venturing away from textbooks to pop-psych and novels, I have tried many times to procure and/or work with an agent. However, I have yet to have a real good experience with an agent… they either ignore me, won’t talk with me, or simply want me to do all their work for them so they simply can forward things to publishers. I even asked one gentleman if he always outsources his work… to his authors?
If you have any Agents who you would recommend (for romance and mystery), I would appreciate the referral.
Thanks… and as I said, great Post!
Bill

]]> By: la susie http://www.plotmonkeys.com/464/agent-series-part-two-why-an-agent/#comment-27216 la susie Tue, 12 Jun 2007 04:29:29 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/464/agent-series-part-two-why-an-agent/#comment-27216 MUAH! I see you've been busy but wanted to stop by and say hello! Hope you and the family are well! What chya working on these days????:thumbsup: MUAH! I see you’ve been busy but wanted to stop by and say hello! Hope you and the family are well! What chya working on these days????

]]> By: Diana http://www.plotmonkeys.com/464/agent-series-part-two-why-an-agent/#comment-27166 Diana Sun, 10 Jun 2007 13:05:02 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/464/agent-series-part-two-why-an-agent/#comment-27166 60,000 words is category. Going with the gut at this stage is a good thing. :cheer: Sorry for the confusion -- I thought your DH was suggesting finding an agent first thing. I suppose it's a personal thing. You can finish several manuscripts without thinking they are "agent ready." I know people who have done that. Or you could think (as I did) "I'm not writing them to NOT send them out." (Though I sent it to an editor, not an agent, since it was category.) I think Julie's rule of thumb can be a good one in the "practice" situation. There was definitely a learning curve for me and I look back on my first manuscript and wonder what I was thinking. Or you could be one of those people whose first manuscript makes a big splash. But I do believe an agent is indispensable if you're writing anything but category. I couldn't do without mine. 60,000 words is category. Going with the gut at this stage is a good thing.

Sorry for the confusion — I thought your DH was suggesting finding an agent first thing.

I suppose it’s a personal thing. You can finish several manuscripts without thinking they are “agent ready.” I know people who have done that. Or you could think (as I did) “I’m not writing them to NOT send them out.” (Though I sent it to an editor, not an agent, since it was category.)

I think Julie’s rule of thumb can be a good one in the “practice” situation. There was definitely a learning curve for me and I look back on my first manuscript and wonder what I was thinking. Or you could be one of those people whose first manuscript makes a big splash.

But I do believe an agent is indispensable if you’re writing anything but category. I couldn’t do without mine.

]]> By: Jessica Raymond http://www.plotmonkeys.com/464/agent-series-part-two-why-an-agent/#comment-27148 Jessica Raymond Sun, 10 Jun 2007 09:26:59 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/464/agent-series-part-two-why-an-agent/#comment-27148 :thumbsup: Thank you, Julie! Another very interesting and helpful article. I found it really valuable to read your thoughts on getting an agent for category versus single-title submissions. Thank you! :wave: Jess x Thank you, Julie! Another very interesting and helpful article. I found it really valuable to read your thoughts on getting an agent for category versus single-title submissions. Thank you!

Jess x

]]> By: Jodie http://www.plotmonkeys.com/464/agent-series-part-two-why-an-agent/#comment-27120 Jodie Sun, 10 Jun 2007 01:11:24 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/464/agent-series-part-two-why-an-agent/#comment-27120 Diana - he definitely meant after I had finished the ms I'm working on, rewrote it, refined it, polished it, etc. but even then, it just seemed that an agent search was jumping ahead. But I know nothing, everything I'm doing at this point is based on gut feelings and instinct. As for what I write, I'm not sure.:lol: But I think it probably falls into category. I'm basing that on it being 60,000 words and kind of steamy - how's that for vague? Again, just going with gut. :? Thanks for all the insight!! Diana - he definitely meant after I had finished the ms I’m working on, rewrote it, refined it, polished it, etc. but even then, it just seemed that an agent search was jumping ahead. But I know nothing, everything I’m doing at this point is based on gut feelings and instinct.

As for what I write, I’m not sure. But I think it probably falls into category. I’m basing that on it being 60,000 words and kind of steamy - how’s that for vague? Again, just going with gut.

Thanks for all the insight!!

]]> By: Diana http://www.plotmonkeys.com/464/agent-series-part-two-why-an-agent/#comment-27107 Diana Sat, 09 Jun 2007 22:28:56 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/464/agent-series-part-two-why-an-agent/#comment-27107 Jodie, what your family is saying makes perfect sense, but the thing is, an agent is a salesperson. If you have a business, you don't hire salespeople until you have a product. You can't, actually -- there's nothing for them to do. And agents work entirely on commission, so there's nothing to pay them WITH until you have a product for them to sell. So you can't START with an agent. You can only start with a product. And, like Julie says, you don't have a product until you have written a book and had it vetted and critiqued and polished and etc. If this were another business, a first draft (or 3 chapters and a synopsis, as Julie said) is like a blueprint of your product. Unlike Julie or Jaci, I've never sold a book without an agent, because I've only sold books into markets where agents were mandatory. If you're not writing category romance or for the epublishing market, you're pretty much going to need an agent. And not everyone is good at writing category romances. I :wallbash: it for a while before I figured out :doh: that I wasn't particularly good at it. But once you have a finished, revised, critiqued, polished manuscript meant for a market where agents are a big plus or a must have, it's time to look for an agent. Jodie, what your family is saying makes perfect sense, but the thing is, an agent is a salesperson. If you have a business, you don’t hire salespeople until you have a product. You can’t, actually — there’s nothing for them to do. And agents work entirely on commission, so there’s nothing to pay them WITH until you have a product for them to sell.

So you can’t START with an agent. You can only start with a product. And, like Julie says, you don’t have a product until you have written a book and had it vetted and critiqued and polished and etc. If this were another business, a first draft (or 3 chapters and a synopsis, as Julie said) is like a blueprint of your product.

Unlike Julie or Jaci, I’ve never sold a book without an agent, because I’ve only sold books into markets where agents were mandatory. If you’re not writing category romance or for the epublishing market, you’re pretty much going to need an agent. And not everyone is good at writing category romances. I :wallbash: it for a while before I figured out that I wasn’t particularly good at it.

But once you have a finished, revised, critiqued, polished manuscript meant for a market where agents are a big plus or a must have, it’s time to look for an agent.

]]> By: Robin http://www.plotmonkeys.com/464/agent-series-part-two-why-an-agent/#comment-27071 Robin Sat, 09 Jun 2007 15:50:28 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/464/agent-series-part-two-why-an-agent/#comment-27071 Wow Julie. Thanks for the great information. Once again you have put it in perfect perspective and I know what I should do (which is much more than I knew yesterday so thank you, thank you, thank you!). I really appreciate these Saturday blogs - thanks for taking the time to help! Have a great weekend~ Wow Julie. Thanks for the great information. Once again you have put it in perfect perspective and I know what I should do (which is much more than I knew yesterday so thank you, thank you, thank you!).

I really appreciate these Saturday blogs - thanks for taking the time to help!

Have a great weekend~

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