Here's
what agents and editors mean by platform, plus a clear definition of what platform is NOT.
Those who still condemn indies are either parroting
what their agents and editors tell them or they scared to give up that upfront advance and strike out on their own.
It tells would - be authors
what agents and editors look for in book proposals, with advice on how you can tailor your book proposal for the market at which you're aiming.
Not exact matches
(It also tends to gloss over the hard work of real people, like
agents,
editors, sales reps, marketing people, designers,
and assistants whose gifts
and creative energy make a lot of
what we create possible.
This session, taught by literary
agent and former
editor Latoya C. Smith, examines
what happens after you sign on the dotted line.
And literary agents meet with editors and publishers first (or call them on the phone), to tell them what the book is abo
And literary
agents meet with
editors and publishers first (or call them on the phone), to tell them what the book is abo
and publishers first (or call them on the phone), to tell them
what the book is about.
Depending on
what your publisher has planned for your book (which an
editor often shares with you
and your
agent 6 months to a year before your book launches),
and depending on your budget, a freelance publicist (who usually works on fewer books at any time than an in - house publicist) can supplement or enhance
what your in - house publicist will be doing.
Looking at it from the viewpoint of someone who self - publishes, there are no gatekeepers,
agents and copy
editors» etcetera to lean on, nor any to take
what you have written off your hands
and hopefully turn it into a winner.
The romance market is constantly changing, so how then, are you to know
what and when to submit to
editors and agents?
In this workshop, you will learn not only
what's trending in the current marketplace, but how to research an
agent /
editor that best suits your needs,
and the proper ways to approach them.
I chose to publish via Amazon this summer because for me, getting my novel in the hands of readers
and focusing on crafting a quality product is
what matters most — not lining the pockets of literary
agents,
editors, marketeers,
and publishing houses.
A resource to return to with each new novel, remembering
what it is that keeps
agents,
editors and, most importantly, readers who trust you with their time
and money, reading past page one.
As noted in last week's post, if a writer takes to social media to do a hatchet job on an
agent or
editor and doesn't back up
what they are saying, well, that author comes across as a prima donna
and only does himself harm.
I say that because I asked a number of
agents and editors what they look for in a memoir before they would consider it.
While I applaud your willingness to embrace self - publishing,
what I would say about publishers
and agents is two things: the first is that they act as guardians of good taste in a way, helping get important (
and not - so - important) books out there,
and secondly, they are crucial as
editors.
Being part of a team really appeals to me — with me doing
what I do best
and agents, publishers
and editors doing
what they do best to the benefit of all.
Our experienced fiction
and nonfiction
editors know
what agents and publishers want
and will provide a detailed, written critique of your opening, a candid assessment of whether or not your work is ready for the marketplace,
and specific suggestions to make your opening more captivating.
It's worth reading this sort of thing
and learning
what editors and agents are seeing too much of,
and what they're particularly interested in acquiring.
Meet as many authors
and editors and publishers
and agents as you can, take them to coffee if you can,
and ask them every question that you can (do not ask them to read your book, help you get a contract, or help you sell it — just ask them to share
what they know,
and thank them with coffee
and a nice hand - written note).
Lurk or join for free,
and see
what a community of 50,000 + authors, readers,
editors,
agents,
and other literary professionals says about places like Balboa, PublishAmerica,
and Author Solutions.
Stop worrying about
what editors or
agents want
and write
what you want.
My two favorites are Writer's Digest Guide to Literary
Agents (the 2016 issue is now available)
and Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers,
Editors and Literary
Agents: Who They Are,
What They Want, How to Win Them Over.
If your freelance
editor attends conferences or is a member of any of these organizations, it shows that he or she is in touch with
editors,
agents,
and writers,
and knows
what the current trends are.
The
agent's aren't seeing
what you
and all your friends / beta readers see... You know you have the money to invest in an
editor and are willing to put the time in to do the marketing... then go for it.
If you sign with an
agent or a publishing house,
and they don't like
what the freelance
editor has suggested, the writer then has to rework the manuscript, sort of like taking it back to where it was pre-money.
Sometimes it's enough to make you pull out your hair, especially when you find an
agent (or publisher or
editor) who represents
what you write
and is looking to build his or her list.
No matter
what anyone tells you (like that
agent you've been talking to in Wichita, KS), it's much easier for a New York literary
agent to meet (or be introduced to)
editors and publishers.
That's
what being a professional writer means: you are a CEO, a small businessperson,
and you need to learn not only how to write a great book but how to reach out to your customers whether they're
agents,
editors, reviewers, or readers.
If you don't know the name of an
editor or a specific agent at an agency, address your envelope or email if that's what they prefer) to the Submissions Editor, and art samples to the Art Dir
editor or a specific
agent at an agency, address your envelope or email if that's
what they prefer) to the Submissions
Editor, and art samples to the Art Dir
Editor,
and art samples to the Art Director.
That said,
editors and agents can also be out of touch with
what pleases the average reader,
and here 50 Shades of Grey is always trotted out as the stereotypical example.
Donald Maass, literary
agent and author of many books on writing, says, «Independent
editor Ray Rhamey's first - page checklist is an excellent yardstick for measuring
what makes openings interesting.»
Otherwise the response time on the project will be longer; the book might be submitted to the wrong person (often someone who doesn't even work there anymore); the
editor will wonder
what's wrong with the literary
agent or the author since no one cared enough to make a real pitch;
and, if you do get an offer, it will be smaller because it will probably be the only offer.
Telling
agents,
editors,
and readers your models will enable them to understand
what your book is instantly.
To ensure that
what I send to those
agents and editors,
and ultimately my readers, is more than good.
After all, that's
what every conscientious
agent,
editor,
and publisher wants for your manuscript — to transform it into a high - quality book that you
and they can be proud of.
They've heard from readers — or in some cases, even
agents and editors — who don't believe the character's situation because of their personal beliefs about
what a black, gay, autistic, etc. experience would be like.
First, the terminology — line editing, copy editing, proofreading — seems to mean something slightly different to every author,
editor, publisher, magazine,
agent,
and online journal,
and this makes it tough for the author seeking an
editor to know exactly
what it is they're asking for.
Yes, there's a great article on edittorrent (a blog run by two
editors) about why
agents /
editors might not love
what your critique group loves,
and one of the reasons it mentions is this same issue.
«Publishers would become profitable in short order if entrenched
agents and editors weren't allowed to have veto power over innovative proposals, running their jaded, cynical eyes over every hint of freshness, trained in being subservient lapdogs to master strategists holding the keys to the riches,» Shavani argued in the post, pointing out
what indie presses
and self - published authors alike have experienced: the gatekeeper mentality.
, but there are also some brilliant «unpublished» authors who get overlooked by smug lit
agents and editors, simply because the story isn't
what they're «looking for.»
There's all this talk about traditional publishing starting to be old fashioned
and unable to keep up with the changes of our times... could it be true that these same
editors and agents and publication houses are just as dragging in the times as to
what their readers might want
and crave
and cling to?
See the bios below for complete details about the
editors and agents and what they are seeking to acquire or represent, respectively.
What probably annoys agents and editors is the obvious question which follows: if paper is shrinking, bookstores are closing, and book - buying is transition online, what value is there in giving 52.5 % to a publisher whose USP is print dis
What probably annoys
agents and editors is the obvious question which follows: if paper is shrinking, bookstores are closing,
and book - buying is transition online,
what value is there in giving 52.5 % to a publisher whose USP is print dis
what value is there in giving 52.5 % to a publisher whose USP is print distro?
If an
agent offers to represent you but says your manuscript needs editing
and says they know a freelance
editor you can hire, check to see
what sort of relationship might exist between the
agent and editor.
Getting into traditional publishing now takes either guts to send a package to
editors directly or the writer has to find an
agent who loves a book
and knows
what they are doing.
This comment comes from traditional publishers,
editors,
agents,
and traditional writers who have zero idea
what an indie (self) publisher does.
The hordes of
agents and editors who used to scour slushpiles
and sift through query letters were all trained to know
what the marketing departments were looking for, to the point that if your manuscript didn't fit a market niche or pigeon hole it had little or no chance of attracting attention.
Agent and Editor Panel Our agent and editor guests will tell you what is on their manuscript wish lists and will take questions from the aud
Editor Panel Our
agent and editor guests will tell you what is on their manuscript wish lists and will take questions from the aud
editor guests will tell you
what is on their manuscript wish lists
and will take questions from the audience.
QUESTION:
What have you done to your online author platform to make a good first impression on
agents and editors?
In this session, our guest
editors and agents will give honest
and detailed feedback about
what works
and what needs work as we examine query letters submitted anonymously by attendees.