Last week’s comment by Pam and my own recent exchanges with literary agents have got me to thinking.
The question I used to ask myself about agents was “Do I want one?” That’s now easy for me to answer — yes. The question that’s replaced it — “Why do I want one?” — is trickier, but this week I’m going to try my best to answer it. Tonight’s installment is:
I used to pride myself on the database I’d set up for keeping track of publishers, the editors who work there, the books they’ve produced, etc. As these things go, I thought it was pretty comprehensive, well organized, and useful.
Now, it just strikes me as a necessary evil, drudgery, and something I’d dearly love to not have to keep up with anymore. When I take a look at the file, my lack of enthusiasm shows. Here’s a sample:
Ms. Jamie Michalak Associate Editor at 2002 SCBWI Spring Thing — SHE’S GONE (PC 7/04); xxxxxxxxx@candlewick.com; 10 others listed; sent Day-Glo MS to Hilary Cameron; Executive Editor Mary Lee Donovan (CW 8/02); Sarah Ketchersid, Editor, coming to Austin 10/04; Deborah Wayshak, editor of PB and YA (also a writer of YA fantasies; likes picture books with longer texts and more sophisticated plots, says xxxxxxxx after DFW conference 9/04); Marc Aronson is buying young-adult novels, PW 7/8/04; Monica Perez has left for Houghton, PC 5.05
Clearly, some pruning is in order. But the problem is not just that I need to clear out some old contact names. What I notice most is the limited usefulness of this document. I have information that might help me get a manuscript to a receptive editor, but all the database fields in the world won’t allow me to know these people the way a good agent knows them.
Keeping this database helped me learn the business a few years back. Now, I’ve learned it well enough to know that there are limits on the insight I’ll be able to glean from Publisher’s Weekly, the Purple Crayon, and the occasional conference. And so I’m looking for an agent who inhabits the same world as the editors I want to read my manuscripts, and who can help me retire from the publishers-database business.
I think these are great reasons. I am looking forward to reading Part II.
“all the database fields in the world won’t allow me to know these people the way a good agent knows them.” This is something that has really hit home with the reviewing I’m doing at YA Books Central.
I’m really starting to relate to how an editor must feel–and I don’t get nearly as many review copies as they get manuscripts! There are some books I just don’t like and some that hit my hot buttons–but it’s all MY taste; nothing personal about the book or the author at all. (I hope this makes sense–this should be the topic of its own blog post :-)
The editor’s likes and dislikes are such a big part of the process. If you can work with someone with an inside scoop (an agent) it makes a lot of sense.
I think these are great reasons. I am looking forward to reading Part II.
“all the database fields in the world won’t allow me to know these people the way a good agent knows them.” This is something that has really hit home with the reviewing I’m doing at YA Books Central.
I’m really starting to relate to how an editor must feel–and I don’t get nearly as many review copies as they get manuscripts! There are some books I just don’t like and some that hit my hot buttons–but it’s all MY taste; nothing personal about the book or the author at all. (I hope this makes sense–this should be the topic of its own blog post :-)
The editor’s likes and dislikes are such a big part of the process. If you can work with someone with an inside scoop (an agent) it makes a lot of sense.
I think these are great reasons. I am looking forward to reading Part II.
“all the database fields in the world won’t allow me to know these people the way a good agent knows them.” This is something that has really hit home with the reviewing I’m doing at YA Books Central.
I’m really starting to relate to how an editor must feel–and I don’t get nearly as many review copies as they get manuscripts! There are some books I just don’t like and some that hit my hot buttons–but it’s all MY taste; nothing personal about the book or the author at all. (I hope this makes sense–this should be the topic of its own blog post :-)
The editor’s likes and dislikes are such a big part of the process. If you can work with someone with an inside scoop (an agent) it makes a lot of sense.
Well, that’s a good reason to turn to an agent. As for me, I love to market my stuff. I always keep an eye out for someone who might like my work and that’s how I’ve broken into a few places–always through tips and networking but never through personal meeting.
But it would be nice to hand this off to someone else–only if they would be as passionate about my writing as I am. I wonder if there’s a person out there that would care as much about it as me?
Thanks for the insight. I am looking forward to your Part II.
Well, that’s a good reason to turn to an agent. As for me, I love to market my stuff. I always keep an eye out for someone who might like my work and that’s how I’ve broken into a few places–always through tips and networking but never through personal meeting.
But it would be nice to hand this off to someone else–only if they would be as passionate about my writing as I am. I wonder if there’s a person out there that would care as much about it as me?
Thanks for the insight. I am looking forward to your Part II.
Well, that’s a good reason to turn to an agent. As for me, I love to market my stuff. I always keep an eye out for someone who might like my work and that’s how I’ve broken into a few places–always through tips and networking but never through personal meeting.
But it would be nice to hand this off to someone else–only if they would be as passionate about my writing as I am. I wonder if there’s a person out there that would care as much about it as me?
Thanks for the insight. I am looking forward to your Part II.
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