McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft
Agents - Yea or Nay?
Richelle Mead:
I got the agent first. I'd researched a lot of them based on books and writing conferences & organizations. I did some querying and a couple pitches. At a local conference, I pitched to the head of an agency. It wasn't her genre, but she liked the premise and told me to contact another agent at her company. I did, she signed me, and then a couple months later she made the sale. I think a lot of agencies will look at unsold manuscripts from first time writers. If the query catches their eye, they'll take a look.
Funny things with the genre. I thought it was urban fantasy, but my contract says paranormal romance. However since then, my editor now wants to market me back toward urban fantasy and got authors in that genre to review/blurb me.
Mickey Finn:
Cool. It has the potential for either market, but the feeling that I get is the quirky end of the things, which means it's more likely to be in the urban fantasy section.
But since I don't read romances (as in from the romance section. Many books could be called a romance. Hell, I convinced Hastur that Aliens was a romance.), I could be blowing smoke out of my...um...left pinkie toe.
blgarver:
Is it necessary to send a full manuscript to a prospective agent, or can it be an exerpt?
Abstruse:
I'm not published, but I've read about two dozen books on how to get published. Every single one of them says you should have at least one completed manuscript before doing anything with it. Otherwise, agents would be signing people left and right who are really good at writing the first three chapters of a book but who can't finish anything (like me). You might find one that's willing to take a risk, but most agents and publishers want you to have it finished in a form ready to be submitted (IE correct format, already edited for spelling and grammar, etc). But, as I said, I'm not published yet. I just read a lot.
I have an additional question. I've always written stories that are the type of thing I'd like to read if I were the audience. The reason why I love The Dresden Files so much is that it is more or less exactly what I write (only mine is more action oriented than mystery oriented). Can anyone suggest agents that work in this sort of genre? Preferably, is Jim's agent currently looking for new authors...or at least will be in a couple of months? ^_^;;
The Abstruse One
Darryl Mott Jr.
The Abstruse One
Darryl Mott Jr.
Willowhugger:
I thought I could get by without an agent. I was reassured that I had an excellent publisher who'd advertise my book well and were a "medium sized publisher."
I sold 66 books.
....
Half by myself.
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