tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809343867197930371.post4919379835650185316..comments2024-03-20T03:14:54.419-04:00Comments on La Vie en Prose: #AskAgentMeredith Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02718251724577409962noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809343867197930371.post-67737313173787549882011-09-21T13:15:13.497-04:002011-09-21T13:15:13.497-04:00"I won't say one is superior to another, ..."I won't say one is superior to another, but think about it this way: if you take a year to query (and do it right, complete with research and a good query letter) and it doesn't work out, you can still go indie or self-pub. But it doesn't go the other direction as easily." That's a good quote. Wishit where short enough for twitter. Thanks Meredith.K. L. Hallamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809343867197930371.post-43891580659377565582011-08-26T17:55:09.478-04:002011-08-26T17:55:09.478-04:00Two questions:
1) A 19 year old heroine in her la...Two questions:<br /><br />1) A 19 year old heroine in her last year of college- what genre would you call that? New Adult? Which houses are publishing those works?<br /><br />2) Is it a problem to get a short story published by a small press if the characters are from a longer manuscript I'm querying?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809343867197930371.post-18589510279207468162011-08-26T01:37:11.380-04:002011-08-26T01:37:11.380-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809343867197930371.post-38886087428648656952011-08-25T20:50:20.062-04:002011-08-25T20:50:20.062-04:00Thanks, Meredith! Your answers were a big help.Thanks, Meredith! Your answers were a big help.Kurt Baumeisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18274149356433045647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809343867197930371.post-41677735689897834522011-08-25T20:30:48.475-04:002011-08-25T20:30:48.475-04:00@Bonnie
See answers to the questions about self-p...@Bonnie<br /><br />See answers to the questions about self-publishing, above. Indie publishing (ie not Big Six, not agented) functions similarly.<br /><br />If you go indie or self-publishing, be sure that's the direction you want to go--it's a very different direction than traditional/Big SIx/Agented publishing, for all the reasons enumerated above. <br /><br />If you're querying *and* subbing to indie publishers, you're not picking a direction.<br /><br />I won't say one is superior to another, but think about it this way: if you take a year to query (and do it right, complete with research and a good query letter) and it doesn't work out, you can still go indie or self-pub. But it doesn't go the other direction as easily.Meredith Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02718251724577409962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809343867197930371.post-24691653707286418162011-08-25T19:31:12.817-04:002011-08-25T19:31:12.817-04:00Thank you so much for answering both my questions....Thank you so much for answering both my questions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809343867197930371.post-69035331436557271062011-08-25T18:22:11.957-04:002011-08-25T18:22:11.957-04:00Is it permissible to send a novel to a publisher t...Is it permissible to send a novel to a publisher that accepts non-agented work at the same time as you are trying to find an agent?<br /><br />Bonnie FerranteBonniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03664166059193328060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809343867197930371.post-36134122887215703892011-08-25T18:06:15.476-04:002011-08-25T18:06:15.476-04:00@Memphisotan
Your ms should be as clean as possib...@Memphisotan<br /><br />Your ms should be as clean as possible before it goes to anyone, even a beta reader--but especially an agent/editor!! You are doing the right thing by your writing group by editing to perfection--if you need to, feel free to send this comment to the prima donnas that don't think they need to edit.<br /><br />It's about respect. Well edited manuscripts are easier to read (especially when you're reading 1000+ pages a week) and are, obviously, much more professional. <br /><br />If you can't take the time to run spell check (and check spell check), why should I take the time to read it?Meredith Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02718251724577409962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809343867197930371.post-21793661875398335482011-08-25T17:59:18.238-04:002011-08-25T17:59:18.238-04:00My question is actually as a beta-reader. How impo...My question is actually as a beta-reader. How important is the cleanliness (grammar and punctuation) of a manuscript during the review phase? It's hard for me not to proofread to perfection, but I find that authors consider this unnecessary for an early draft and feel an agent/editor can overlook these issues and focus on the story itself. Is it a disservice to let a "dirty" ms be sent out, or do reviewers take this early phase into consideration? Does a well-edited piece find favor more easily?Memphisotanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13570015395806348343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809343867197930371.post-40626283876288206072011-08-25T17:58:55.769-04:002011-08-25T17:58:55.769-04:00@Elia 2
Shorter wordcounts are not necessarily &q...@Elia 2<br /><br />Shorter wordcounts are not necessarily "safer" for anyone, including debut authors. <br /><br />A wordcount below the accepted minimum flags an agent that your book might lack development, particularly of character or plot. A wordcount over the maximum flags that you might be overwriting (particularly for literary or women's fiction) or that the plot is not tight--so there might be too much inner monologue, for instance. <br /><br />But these are just flags, not stop signs. This is why a lot of agents request pages in their submission guidelines: so we can see if we should ignore the flag or not.Meredith Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02718251724577409962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809343867197930371.post-20629944352518358472011-08-25T17:55:40.065-04:002011-08-25T17:55:40.065-04:00@lbdiamond
Once you're agented, it's up t...@lbdiamond<br /><br />Once you're agented, it's up to your agent what the gifting policy is. For most, a bottle (usually of hard liquor) is appreciated when there's something to celebrate. Kidding about the hard liquor...sort of.<br /><br />Do not ever gift agents by whom you are not repped! It's considered bribery. :)Meredith Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02718251724577409962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809343867197930371.post-27937618231361184842011-08-25T17:54:01.534-04:002011-08-25T17:54:01.534-04:00@Alwyn
No, blogging for a fiction writer isn'...@Alwyn<br /><br />No, blogging for a fiction writer isn't a deal breaker, although you should be considering a guest or group blog (once a week?! come on. If you can't find time for that...).<br /><br />Twitter is a must, especially for fantasy, women's fic, YA, sci-fi, anything digitally oriented. Your audience is there! Editors actually ask if an author tweets when I pitch things. Lit fic and that type of thing, not so much...but some.Meredith Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02718251724577409962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809343867197930371.post-71875956171256846212011-08-25T17:51:20.165-04:002011-08-25T17:51:20.165-04:00@Jonathan Dalar 2
I definitely think self-publish...@Jonathan Dalar 2<br /><br />I definitely think self-publishing has lost the stigma. I know a lot of agents have an eye on the Amazon bestseller list for new talent. Or even just massive sales/downloads. That'll do in lieu of talent. ;)<br /><br />It is NOT a valid platform unless you're topping 5,000 sales or downloads.Meredith Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02718251724577409962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809343867197930371.post-12355961263202490052011-08-25T17:49:05.192-04:002011-08-25T17:49:05.192-04:00@Tina Moss second ?
If a big-six publisher reques...@Tina Moss second ?<br /><br />If a big-six publisher requests at a conference or something, give them the 4-to-6 weeks to get back to you.<br /><br />If you win a contest and an editor requests *and* gets back to you about a book, you should definitely tell ALL the agents you queried, UNLESS they've said no. So if they've requested anything or you haven't heard back.Meredith Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02718251724577409962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809343867197930371.post-47459300924763870022011-08-25T17:45:49.094-04:002011-08-25T17:45:49.094-04:00@Elia!!!
Thanks so much for this question. It'...@Elia!!!<br /><br />Thanks so much for this question. It's really more of a blog post thing (let's say Tuesday for that) but briefly:<br /><br />Those you've spoken to are EXACTLY right: self-publishing the first in a series (or even a standalone, when you intend to write more unrelated books) makes it very difficult to get the next one picked up. That's because once you have a book on the market, in any way, you have *SALES NUMBERS*. <br /><br />These will follow you on to the next deal. When editors consider acquiring a book, they use an author's past sales history to predict how well the next book will sell. So if you're below, say, 5K, that's an immediate turn-off: the publisher can't make a profit. (To the "But it's art!" people out there: This is a business, and I'm glad it is because it means I get to do it for a living. You're glad, too, because you might be writing for a living someday)<br /><br />It's much easier to sell a debut author (in most cases) because you really are just selling the work. There's nothing to an agent has to "explain away" like bad sales.<br /><br />Note: even agented authors struggle with this. If a first book is a flop, subsequent contract negotiations are not exactly pretty.Meredith Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02718251724577409962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809343867197930371.post-8173568203716175762011-08-25T17:42:20.338-04:002011-08-25T17:42:20.338-04:00Are there guidelines for gifting your agent, for i...Are there guidelines for gifting your agent, for instance, what are the "rules" for sending him or her their favorite bottle of wine if they sell one of your books?<br /><br />Thanks! :DAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809343867197930371.post-67636742654340987392011-08-25T17:31:29.115-04:002011-08-25T17:31:29.115-04:00In response to the word count post... (Sorry to no...In response to the word count post... (Sorry to not include this in my other comment, but I opened the tab thinking I wouldn't have any word count related questions, but I do)<br /><br />Should debut authors shoot to stay in the ranges posted, or is a little shorter safer, (say 60-70k for adult fantasy)? I know I'll read longer books by authors I know and shorter books by authors I don't, but that might just be me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809343867197930371.post-46765173515828153312011-08-25T17:29:25.317-04:002011-08-25T17:29:25.317-04:00I was hoping I could ask a follow up question to y...I was hoping I could ask a follow up question to your reply to Jonathan Daler.<br /><br />If a fiction writer didn't blog at all or maybe has blogged in the past but does not anymore(in my case as part of a Video Gaming community not book related at all) would that majorly affect your decision to consider them as clients?Alwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12515818818254647705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809343867197930371.post-3084208389374646652011-08-25T17:25:27.634-04:002011-08-25T17:25:27.634-04:00Thanks for the advice, Meredith! Good thing I mak...Thanks for the advice, Meredith! Good thing I make stuff up, eh? And it looks like I'm on the right track there.<br /><br />I'd like to ask a follow-up: How much do you see agents actively combing self-pubbers for new talent? I know it's being done, but to what extent? Also, where do you see that trend heading, and do you really believe it's lost enough of its stigma as some say, to be a valid platform for authors?Jonathan Dalarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08001176878191347542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809343867197930371.post-88410956826326804592011-08-25T17:24:07.865-04:002011-08-25T17:24:07.865-04:00My coauthor and I have a project that may or may n...My coauthor and I have a project that may or may not be suited for traditional publishing, so we are querying agents first, but have decided self publishing will be a good alternative since our project is a little out of the box stylistically in hopes that doing well would get attention from agents and publishers for the second book written in the same format. However, I have since been told that self publishing the first book in a series makes all subsequent books in the series less likely to be picked up by agents or publishers, but the person did not have the chance to expand. Could you please do so?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809343867197930371.post-83252417826417539962011-08-25T17:22:37.636-04:002011-08-25T17:22:37.636-04:00@Kurt
Don't approach an agent with a revision...@Kurt<br /><br />Don't approach an agent with a revision unless they asked you to revise and resubmit.<br /><br />Of course, you can always start over with a cold query. Agents will recognize it, but if the pages are significantly better/revised they'll be more inclined to request.<br /><br />Get betas!!! It's very very hard to self-edit. I've literally never seen anyone able to do it as effectively as those with readers.Meredith Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02718251724577409962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809343867197930371.post-6138268532426242262011-08-25T17:20:24.655-04:002011-08-25T17:20:24.655-04:00Hi again, Meredith and thanks for this! You mentio...Hi again, Meredith and thanks for this! You mentioned not to inform agents with fulls or partials about short story publications. What about contest wins? For example, I had a professional organization contest win and the final round judge - an acquiring editor for a big 6 publisher - requested the full MS. Would that be relevant or only if the editor made an offer?Tina Mosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09892617933410379929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809343867197930371.post-71990335486779563642011-08-25T17:18:56.981-04:002011-08-25T17:18:56.981-04:00@Tina
Generally, agents get to things in 4-to-6 w...@Tina<br /><br />Generally, agents get to things in 4-to-6 weeks. If it's been 8 weeks or longer, forward your original email back to the agent and ask if they've had time to look at it.**<br /><br />The reason for forwarding the original is that it keeps everything together and lets the agent see what the timeline is.<br /><br />4-to-6 weeks after *that*, it's probably a cold lead.<br /><br />**Some agents don't respond if the answer is no. If you're querying someplace with this policy, just call it dead after the 8 week mark. This is why you should visit every agency website you query and review their guidelines and policies.Meredith Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02718251724577409962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809343867197930371.post-5886728493899273062011-08-25T17:16:44.343-04:002011-08-25T17:16:44.343-04:00Thanks, Meredith. No betas. I wrote my book the ...Thanks, Meredith. No betas. I wrote my book the way I wanted to even though I knew it was not very taut. The problem with wanting it all is that you have to deal with reality when fantasy doesn't come through. Anyway, if I can ask a follow-up...How should I go about approaching agents with a revision? Are they willing to look at a project more than once? Thanks!Kurt Baumeisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18274149356433045647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809343867197930371.post-75794743653153502062011-08-25T17:14:39.805-04:002011-08-25T17:14:39.805-04:00@Alwyn
If that first line is really strong, let i...@Alwyn<br /><br />If that first line is really strong, let it lead for the manuscript, not the query. You can come up with something else great for the pitch!Meredith Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02718251724577409962noreply@blogger.com