Literary-Agents.info

My Experiences

I have to admit that my first attempts at getting a literary agent were pretty lousy. All I'd written was one book, which is what I was trying to sell. I didn't have a publishing history, didn't know how to approach an agent, and didn't stand a chance. It was like rolling up off the street, knocking on the front door of Microsoft, and asking to be considered for the role of Chief Executive.

After a few bloody noses I went away to think again, and started writing short stories. This was good for two reasons: having to keep things short taught me to write more concisely and pack a lot of info into much shorter spaces, and ultimately made me see what a rambling monster my novel had been (suddenly I wasn't surprised nobody had accepted it...!). The second benefit was that switching to short stories was like switching to rapid fire – I could now have lots of different things at lots of different places at the same time, significantly increasing my chances of getting accepted! It still took several months and probably a dozen different stories, but I got there in the end!

Getting a few writing credits under my belt gave me a whole lot more confidence when I was sending off other stories. It's not like that's it, and you've broken it, and everyone accepts you just because you can say in your letter "I have previously been published here and there..." but it certainly improves your chances, and allows you to move up the ladder and target bigger publications.

By this time my writing had improved so much that I wouldn't even dream of sending my first book out – it's hidden under my bed somewhere. I've written another novel now in about half the time that's about ten times as good, and has a hell of a lot more punch. It's written with that tightness you only get from being experienced writing short stories, and every page – every paragraph – every word counts.

Anyway, I've started looking for a literary agent again, and this time I'm doing it properly. I've realised I don't know it all, and I need help and need to be prepared to spend a little bit of money to get things right. Before I wouldn't have considered buying a book just to tell me how to write a query letter – I can write a letter, can't I? – but now I consult at least two. Before I wouldn't have dreamt of paying for a subscription to a website like firstwriter.com – I can find agents' details for free by searching the Internet, can't I? – now I can properly target my submissions, get instant updates by email, and save probably ten or twenty hours a month.

The best thing about it is to see how far I've come – from the hopeless amateur a few years ago to somebody with a serious chance – and this is reflected in the responses I get from agents. I haven't yet been accepted, but there's a marked difference in the tone of the letters I get back – from the pro forma "thank you for your interest in our agency, but..." to personal and positive responses. I'm now being taken seriously and have had a number of agents ask to see my manuscript.

Marilyn Lott's Experience

I signed with an agent who claimed to be a "high profile" agent. He called me on the phone and said he wanted to take it into the "war room." BUT he was only allowed a certain amount for a new author. He'd see what he could do he  said and call me the next morning. I sat by the phone very early that next day and sure enough he called. Couldn't do it, he  said, it would go $300 over the allowance. Well, my husband and I talked it over and decided, "Hey, it wasn't that much money!" I told the guy we would pay it and he sent me a bill for $350! Never heard from him again.

Another agent I signed with charged for mailing and photo copying. Sent me a bill each time she sent my manuscript out, wouldn't answer letters and had a machine when I called. I had Ann Crispin check up on her and she had sold three books in five years. Thanks for giving me this opportunity to vent.

Marilyn