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Post by schizophonic on May 12, 2009 22:22:50 GMT -5
If this is wrong forum, shift it by all means.
Anyway, I've been sort of trying to find representation, but I've only made a few attempts. At this point, I'm beginning to wonder if my submissions are the best they can be. Everything I've done on the matter is self-taught, and while I'm good at the whole self-teaching stuff, it doesn't necessarily mean I learn the right things.
Anyone have tips?
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Post by Mira on May 12, 2009 22:46:52 GMT -5
My uncle has two novels published, I may ask him about this. I am not sure when I will see him next though.
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Post by terri on May 13, 2009 0:48:25 GMT -5
I have experience with pitching novels... across the room, if they suck.  (Reminds me of Dorothy Parker telling a writer, who asked her if she read his book: "I couldn't put it down. Instead, I threw it with great force.") |
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Post by David D.G. on May 13, 2009 10:52:24 GMT -5
I have experience with pitching novels... across the room, if they suck. Drat! You beat me to the joke. As I recall, the comment was in a review, and it went like this: "This is not a book to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force." ~David D.G. |
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Post by terri on May 13, 2009 12:31:44 GMT -5
As I recall, the comment was in a review, and it went like this: "This is not a book to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force." ~David D.G. That's it... thanks for the correction. |
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Post by NoLeafClover on May 13, 2009 13:36:57 GMT -5
AgentQueryThat's about all the information you for learning how to query agents to represent your work and what not. That's where I went to find out things.
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Post by skyfire on May 14, 2009 21:28:32 GMT -5
Do you have the novels already completed, or are you only in the concept phase?
Editors are more likely to pay attention if you can actually deliver them something.
Also, as for the process of soliciting, good luck.
I'm in the same boat you are, in that I'm trying to pitch an entire metaverse. I've finished the first two volumes of the main series (they do need some proofreading, tho, and no one locally can do that for me), am 2/3rds of the way done with #3 (1 - 3 are a trilogy), have started on 4, 5, and two spin-offs, and 6, 7, and the eventual finale are in the planning stages.
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Post by schizophonic on May 16, 2009 20:57:35 GMT -5
AgentQueryThat's about all the information you for learning how to query agents to represent your work and what not. That's where I went to find out things. I used their guidelines on a query letter once before, though I'd never looked at the main page or the rest of the site. Cool place to look through. I've got about five Agents I'm looking to query and hoping to shore myself up a bit. I've gotten a little advice about my first couple of queries, but I'm anal and always want to do it "right." |
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Post by Jack Bauer on Jun 4, 2009 9:05:51 GMT -5
Right... It took me 12 years to get my first novel published. OK, that was not 12 years continuous banging of the head against the wall - the constant flow of rejection slips proves too depressing. Whether pitching to an agent or a publisher, you, as an unpublished author, need to have your first work completed at least as far as first draft stage. Submit the first chapter and a random other chapter as samples. If you are looking for an agent, do not get involved with anyone who asks you for money - e.g. reading/editing fees; photocopying expenses; money for setting up a website to promote your work - a reputable agent will cover those costs and recoup his/her outlay from the percentage of your royalty payments that will go to him/her. This is a list of some of the rogues - but beware, there are plenty out there willing to take your money. Best of luck! |
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Post by dantesvirgil on Jul 1, 2009 14:00:37 GMT -5
You need to make sure also that you're pitching to the agent that's appropriate for your genre. If you can find work similar to yours, that's the person you should be pitching to. Sometimes that works against you because they don't want to do something they've already done before. But you need to make sure your work matches that person's interests. Your cover letter can also really help with that, because if you reference other projects they've been involved with, it makes them rightly think you've done your homework.
Are there shorter stories you might be able to submit to magazines/journals/e-zines so you have some publication credit? It's a sad truth that agents and publishers are more interested in those who can prove they're already marketable.
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