Modern Good Reads discussion

Hello, I'm David, and I recently brought out my debut novel. I went indie bc agents and publishers sounded over my head but now I have been wondering if anyone can help me about the pros and cons in having an agent, and how I could go about finding one. Thank you very much.

If you believe your novel is polished and in tip-top shape, go ahead and submit a query letter to an agent that specializes in your genre. You can find them on Predators and Editors or any number of other sites. There are a number of agents that are self-pub friendly because it means you've already set up a marketing platform and targeted your audience. However, do your homework. Check each agents' website for their submission guidelines. I think the most important thing you need is confidence in your work and a clear understanding of your book's core themes. Can you articulate what your book is about in 40 words or less? If you don't believe it's good enough to attract an agent, then go back and analyze why. You may want to attend a writing conference so you can pitch your book directly to an agent, thereby bypassing the slush pile.

But let me say this, stay on the indie track because you want to control your work, believe in your book 110%, build your audience, and have a desire to keep the majority of the money from your sales. Seeking out an agent still requires you to do the majority of the marketing work while you give most of the money away. If you do land an agent, that doesn't mean you can sit back and just collect the money while the agent does everything. It can take up to two years to see your book in traditional print. The benefit of an agent is to give you contract representation with a publishing house, get into big-box bookstores, expand worldwide publishing rights, and possibly take your book to film. Hope that helps!

Thanks for replying. Do I have to pay an agent or basically i just have to tempt him into taking me on? And saleswise can an inide compare with an agent or does an agent guarantee much better figures?

so why wouldnt I go straight to the publisher??

ahh, and these publishers do they have good advertising setups? do you know personally of a company or agent you would recommend??

I hear you, but the problem is i don't have a fixed genre. I have just completed a very different style book and I kinda want someone who could handle me in every situation - if such a thing exists

thank u very much

The large publishers are not open to unagented manuscripts, hence why you need an agent to land a larger contract. An agent is paid from the amount you receive, after your manuscript is sold. You don't pay an agent, you have to write a query letter (a 250 word "sales pitch") and hope it entices an agent to request pages.

Some smaller presses take unagented submissions, so you can query them direct if that is a path you want to take.

A.W. wrote: "The large publishers are not open to unagented manuscripts, hence why you need an agent to land a larger contract. An agent is paid from the amount you receive, after your manuscript is sold. You d..."

thanks u..do u have anyone to recommend?

If you are looking for an agent, websites such as:
http://querytracker.net/index.php
and
http://www.agentquery.com/
have searchable databases, you need to find an agent who reps the genre you write.

Be prepared to answer the following question:

Where in the bookstore would you find your book?

Even if your book is multiple genres, you have to answer that question. If you can't, then you need to do more research.

thank you. But what if im going for multiple genres, ie one book, fantasy, one crime or something?

A.W. wrote: "If you are looking for an agent, websites such as:
http://querytracker.net/index.php
and
http://www.agentquery.com/
have searchable databases, you need to find an agent who reps the genre you write."
thanks

Courtney wrote: "If you believe your novel is polished and in tip-top shape, go ahead and submit a query letter to an agent that specializes in your genre. You can find them on Predators and Editors or any number o..."

This a hundred times over. Good post.

R.M.F wrote: "Courtney wrote: "If you believe your novel is polished and in tip-top shape, go ahead and submit a query letter to an agent that specializes in your genre. You can find them on Predators and Editor..."

It seems like indie publishing first, then selling "print only" rights to a publishing house is a growing trend these days? Is that what everyone else is finding also? Any authors out there who have had successful experiences doing this?

Thanks :)

That's what I'm seeing too. But another trend is for agents to become marketing consultants/agents for independent authors. Their goal is to up the ante for indie authors who develop a good following. These agents can get you into stores, major book sites, PR, and get you in front of the film industry without giving up your rights. They'll probably still take 15%. I'd bet 5 years from now, this will be the role of most agents.

Yes there is a trend of indie authors selling "print only" rights to large publishing houses BUT these are best selling authors, some selling in excess of 10,000 copies a week.

From what I understand, some agents are approaching indie authors who are sitting in Amazon's Top 100 (OVERALL, not genre lists) and soliciting to rep their books to publishers & sell foreign rights.