tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post1791513856600653481..comments2024-03-27T18:06:04.484-04:00Comments on Murder by 4: Misconceptions About Literary Agents, by Andy RossMarta Stephenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126647102399666578noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-53118985111214692742011-10-07T19:11:33.849-04:002011-10-07T19:11:33.849-04:00Robin, your question about the pros and cons of ep...Robin, your question about the pros and cons of epublishing is what everyone is talking about now. You ask if epublishing is a viable altenative if you can't find a commercial publisher. Some people are even saying that epublishing is a better alternative than commercial publishing. A lot has been written about this.<br /><br />I represented a book that was extremely well written. I had difficulty finding an editor who was interested in it. Finally I found one. She loved it, but she took it to the acquisition meeting. And they decided not to publish it because they said "it was too dark for reading groups." <br /><br />In other words the decision was not made because of aesthetic concerns but because of marketing concerns. There are a lot of books like this. And the only realistic choice is self-publishing.<br /><br />The problem with self-publishing is that most of the books aren't very good. There is no filtering mechanism. So your very good book is floating around in an ocean of mediocrity. It will be hard for people to find. <br /><br />So no simple answers to your question.Andy Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07603322789357895611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-53257704011829620352011-10-07T14:10:12.646-04:002011-10-07T14:10:12.646-04:00I read your comment about how most "Good Book...I read your comment about how most "Good Books" don't get picked up. That being said, would you recommend ePublishing for those who have been turned away by traditional agents/publishing? And why do you say that?robinpwaldrophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17438340206684089996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-44780052049349116632011-10-07T13:29:18.272-04:002011-10-07T13:29:18.272-04:00Thanks for that detailed answer, Andy. I'm sur...Thanks for that detailed answer, Andy. I'm sure it will help lots of writers. I remember the hardest part of the whole thing was to keep the query short and to the point. It's a tough writing assignment, but essential!Aaron Paul Lazarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-19295958387397310452011-10-07T13:27:44.899-04:002011-10-07T13:27:44.899-04:00I rec'd the email copy of this answer from And...I rec'd the email copy of this answer from Andy Ross, but for some reason it didn't show up in our comments box. Here is his comment:<br /><br />Andy Ross has left a new comment on your post "Misconceptions About Literary Agents, by Andy Ross...":<br /><br />I did a blog post on writing query letters at:<br />http://andyrossagency.wordpress.com/2010/11/28/9-tips-for-effective-query-letters/<br /><br />There is a vast amount of tips on writing effective query letters. You can find them on line, presentations at writers conferences, and endlessly at Writers Digest.<br /><br />I don't think that there is any hidden kabbalistic knowledge about this.<br /><br />I prefer short queries, half page or less. The first paragraph should state the genre of the project and the number of words<br /><br />Second paragraph should have a very brief description of the book.<br /><br />Third paragraph should describe the writer and her qualifications for writing this book.<br /><br />Also let the agent know if a book proposal is available,if the book is complete or not, or, in the case of fiction that a synopsis and sample chapter are available on request.<br /><br />Query technique is often mystified. It shouldn't be. A good query will not help publish a bad project. A bad query probably won't be an impediment to publishing a good project.(Although it might make it harder to get the attention of an agent.Aaron Paul Lazarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-56572928062789992292011-10-07T13:05:41.844-04:002011-10-07T13:05:41.844-04:00Andy, thanks so much for your answers. I'm goi...Andy, thanks so much for your answers. I'm going over to read your piece now. I'd heard several years ago that the chance of getting picked up by a large publisher was about 0.005%, and now I know that is much, much lower with all the layoffs and cutbacks, and with the eBook world exploding. Now let me go over and see what you can add to this. ;o)<br /><br />Thanks!Aaron Paul Lazarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-79742983366173178412011-10-07T12:29:44.557-04:002011-10-07T12:29:44.557-04:00Kim,
A dream client is one with a dream project. ...Kim,<br /><br />A dream client is one with a dream project. It is always nice to have a client who will keep producing new projects, rather than only having a single book in her head.<br /><br />The hardest job I have as an agent is managing author's expectations. Most books don't find publishers. Even most good books don't. And writers should be realistic about that.<br /><br />I did a blog post on the statistics of getting literary fiction published.It's pretty daunting. It's here.<br /><br />http://andyrossagency.wordpress.com/2011/06/18/publishing-literary-fiction-in-charts-and-words/<br /><br />Commercial genre fiction is somewhat easier, but still devilishly hard.Andy Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07603322789357895611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-41153473545688545812011-10-07T12:13:52.042-04:002011-10-07T12:13:52.042-04:00As a aspiring writer, I appreciated this post very...As a aspiring writer, I appreciated this post very much. Thank you.The Hollywood Film Critichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03022480261565223239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-11925810948139180602011-10-07T11:17:22.071-04:002011-10-07T11:17:22.071-04:00Hey Andy what is your dream client?Hey Andy what is your dream client?Kim Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13933746166088034102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-29402980283007877012011-10-07T11:13:01.975-04:002011-10-07T11:13:01.975-04:00Aaron,
I made a blog post about that. It is at ht...Aaron,<br /><br />I made a blog post about that. It is at http://andyrossagency.wordpress.com/2010/11/28/9-tips-for-effective-query-letters/<br /><br />I don't think there is any alchemical magic to writing a query letter. There seems to be a vast amount of advice being dispensed on line and at writers conferences. But most of it is the same.<br /><br />I like my queries short. No more than half page. I need to know the genre of the book. A short description about what the book is about and why it is important. And a short paragraph about what the author's qualifications are for writing the book. Actually, I go to that paragraph first, because that is what publishers look for first.<br /><br />Different agents have different preferences. Some want longer queries. Others shorter ones. But most want the same information. And not much more.<br /><br />When you do your submission research, make sure you look up each agent's website and check out their submission page for specifics.<br /><br />Remember that a good query is not going to help sell a bad project. And probably a mediocre query is not going to kill a good project, although it could make it harder to grab the attention of some agents.Andy Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07603322789357895611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-48294596849650360802011-10-07T10:27:31.996-04:002011-10-07T10:27:31.996-04:00Andy, I know there are blogs out there with sugges...Andy, I know there are blogs out there with suggestions on how to write the perfect query letter, and people who teach this topic all the time. But what do you look for in a query? What piques your interest? And do you prefer 1 page queries to 2 pages? Thanks in advance!Aaron Paul Lazarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-31881272595722000912011-10-07T09:40:28.976-04:002011-10-07T09:40:28.976-04:00Thanks, Aaron. I'm really flattered to be on t...Thanks, Aaron. I'm really flattered to be on this blog. If anybody has questions about agents, I am happy to respond and dispel those misconceptions.Andy Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07603322789357895611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-3692866316069271632011-10-07T07:05:12.905-04:002011-10-07T07:05:12.905-04:00ps- note to self: do not post comments before 6 am...ps- note to self: do not post comments before 6 am on iPhone. I meant to say I am unagented with a capital U MAINLY because the small houses I write for do not require them. Sheesh. Going for more coffee! thanks AndyKim Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13933746166088034102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-79175168181720171282011-10-07T06:59:40.917-04:002011-10-07T06:59:40.917-04:00Wow Andy thanks for this. I am Unagented with a ca...Wow Andy thanks for this. I am Unagented with a capital Uainly because the small houses I write for do not require them. But I had a few of these misconceptions myself so the clarification is truly welcome! And it is great to have you here on Mb4!Kim Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13933746166088034102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-6092128020272204262011-10-07T05:49:02.925-04:002011-10-07T05:49:02.925-04:00Hi, Andy. Thanks so much for taking time out of yo...Hi, Andy. Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to be here with us today. Your points are all valid and excellent advice for our readers, many of whom struggle daily with these issues. Best of luck with your clients and the agency, and come back soon to visit us.Aaron Paul Lazarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.com