My years working for the X Publisher has introduced me to all kinds of leeches = agents, I mean. Leeches would be an understatement still because leeches who prey on blood happen to suck you dry. They bring out the good blood in and take all the blood out that has been contaminated with a virus. Some agents ARE leeches who just take it all in and never give you anything beneficial back. Again, might I stress on SOME.
Things like this actually discourage any writer out there to ever trust an agent of their own. An author would seek help from an agent because she has access to major publishing houses and can even get their work read and accepted by the super powers of the publishing industry who will give them a contract for printing huge quantities of their book. Some agents would even promise authors of better contracts and huge advances.
I talked to a friend of mine who just published his book and said that he was rather pleased that he decided to take matters into his own hands. Now I tell my friends consider whether or not they need an agent because of the following:
- agents take at least months or worse, YEARS, to ever guarantee a response from a publisher. Some responses are not even positive.
- Agents rake more percentage of your earnings
- Agents critique your book to a point and might even make you change some areas that they think will be marketable to publishers
- An agent can only do so much, when they know that your book isn’t going to be getting any response, they give up, and leave you dry from all that hope and investment
Well, normally, after going thru all these assessments, I can just say that getting an agent or not is dependent on the author himself and how he assesses his career. Authors might even consider talking to an agent to get tips on the publishing industry. Yet, that is as far as it can go.
Meanwhile, I ran into this list of the twenty worst agents in the history of the publishing industry.
Check this out.
Posted by Beth Laking on March 18, 2009 at 12:04 pm
I agree with what you have said. I started out with an agent, trying get one of two books published. This went on and on and on. I was great full when our contract expired. Taking matters into my own hands, I have now self published the second book as it is more trendy and an easier read, hoping it will pave the way for the other book. So far things are moving along. The only problem, for an internet challenged girl who also runs a small business is the time factor of promoting. It has taken considerable time and learning. In the end it has been a great learning experience and I have to say that joining linked in has been one of the greatest assets. I have learned a great deal from all the terrific people who share and encourage. Nothing ventured, Nothing gained!
Beth Laking
Posted by Alice on March 21, 2009 at 9:54 pm
You have made several blunt statements in this. Often times people who write things against agents are people who are too full of themselves to admit that their writing is crap and there for unpublishable. Here’s my responses to ever statement you just said:
- agents take at least months or worse, YEARS, to ever guarantee a response from a publisher. Some responses are not even positive.
Yes, and if you were to try to sell your own manuscript yourself it’d take even longer, if at all, because if you don’t have an agent you are considered part of the ’slush pile.’ Editors’ priorities are not reading the slush piles but to read the stuff that AGENTS submit and marketing books that they’ve already submitted. And EVERYONE gets rejected several times before they actually get published. It’s part of the biz.
- Agents rake more percentage of your earnings
They only ‘rake’ 15%, which they deserve. They’re an agent as their profession. That’s how they make their living. They are working for you so you pay them 15%.
- Agents critique your book to a point and might even make you change some areas that they think will be marketable to publishers.
Yes, this is changing things for your own benefit: so your book will sell. If you don’t want your book to sell then you shouldn’t publish.
- An agent can only do so much, when they know that your book isn’t going to be getting any response, they give up, and leave you dry from all that hope and investment.
‘So much’ is usually sending the manuscript to every editor they know and that’s a lot of work. When they can’t sell your work they don’t get paid.
Just my two cents. If your work is turned down it means you aren’t good enough to be published and that you need to hone your craft and try again later.
Posted by Emma on March 22, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Just a quick question to clarify: You do know that the agent is working for YOU, correct? You are not working for them and this means that they cannot give you advances.
Second: You sound, to me, like an author new to the publishing world and that’s fine. That’s really good actually, but you need to know that the writing you put out is not going to be loved and adored by every agent and publisher out there. An agent’s (and publisher’s for that matter) job is to buy from you what they think they can sell. If they think it cannot sell, they will reject it. But just because it’s rejected once, doesn’t mean it will be rejected every single time! Keep trying, and I can assure you that you will be able to find the perfect agent.
I do realize that traditional publishing is going down the drain, but it is not because of the agents. Self-Publishing is also not perfect. Sometimes it can be outrageously expensive, and not everything will sell well because of it. I am looking at both self publishing and traditional at this moment in time.
Explore your options. Don’t shut down because you were rejected once. Everyone gets rejected. It’s all apart of the learning process, and is actually quite healthy. Don’t give up on the agents!