Comments | dynastic_queen: My Fancy has been tickled.

dynastic_queen

My Fancy has been tickled.

Nov 29, 2008 05:21

Some blog posts and websites I have appreciated this week:

JA Konrath's The top ten reasons books are better than sex. Number 5 was his best selling-point, in my opinion.

Lynn Price's Interview with a character. In fact, I grabbed those questions so that I can promptly interview the heroine of Dark Paranormal WIP. I definitely know what she ( Read more... )

art, fiction selling, reading, fiction writing

Comments 6

Whoa, DQ, hold on.... kmarkhoover November 29 2008, 16:51:44 UTC

All right. I read that entry about agents and publishers. And I couldn't disagree more ( ... )

Re: Whoa, DQ, hold on.... dynastic_queen November 30 2008, 06:19:05 UTC

Thanks for opening up a dialogue on this subject.

I didn't take the post to mean all publishers--just the few huge, hefty ones at the top that most agents always try to shoot for.

I'm one of those types who would definitely need help with a contract. :P

Re: Whoa, DQ, hold on.... dbara November 30 2008, 19:09:40 UTC

Like I posted below, I have my second novel in at a major publisher, at their request. If you live in an area where there are writer's conferences or cons and you can go there and meet editors from major publishers, do it. That's how I got my request for a partial, which then led to a request for the full.

At the very least you are getting "face time" with the people who buy books. That's always valuable.

db

dbara November 30 2008, 06:29:49 UTC

I agree with most of what Editorial Ass has to say. However, with a manuscript in at a major publisher and 2 agents, I'll take my chances that an offer on the book will lead to an offer of representation. I have no illusions about representing myself.

I do know of an author who submitted to an editor at her request, like me, and then got an offer, and then got an agent. I think any author who seeks to represent themselves to save 15% is penny-wise and pound foolish.

In my opinion.

db

dynastic_queen November 30 2008, 07:11:11 UTC

Thanks for that opinion, Dave.

Looking after myself when it comes to the legalese terrifies me. I know my limitations. I'm with you on the "no illusions."

I feel boxed in, though, when it comes to not having recourse when the odds of getting an agent are a lot like the odds of bagging a unicorn. I suppose it's just "make the best decision for the situation and cross the best bridge when you get to it" when it comes to the crooks and turns in this road.

dbara November 30 2008, 19:01:55 UTC

Most of the writers I know are in the same boat. It seems harder to get an agent interested than it does to get a request for a manuscript from an editor.

I have a friend who just published a novel with Wizards of the Coast, one of their tie-in lines, and also had one published with Five Star in 2003, and he can hardly get agents to even look at his stuff.

I think the rule is true that you have to just keep writing novels until one breaks through. That may be book 1, 2, or 5, but you have to keep at it, then the others will get published later, hopefully.

db