Bookninja points to an interesting article about just how impossible it is to get a literary agent and how ineffective they are once you do actually procure representation.
“The problem is that there are many more writers than the market can bear, and to most publishers writers are about as important as farmers are to Tesco - they know that there is an endless supply of produce,” writes Martin Wagner. “Of course most of the unsolicited writing that lands on agents’ desks is rubbish, but how can we be sure that the occasional gem will be discovered? The short answer is that we can’t and, sadly, neither agents nor publishers lose any sleep over it. The undiscovered writer is the acceptable victim of a system which, ironically, works for everyone concerned except for the very people who are its lifeblood.”
This article could be nothing more than the standard writer’s lament–of which I’ve written many myself. But at the end, Wagner makes an interesting point. “For most writers even having an agent who does nothing for you is better than not having one,” he advises. “Apart from the kudos, having an agent is also a safety-blanket that absolves writers from the responsibility of taking care of their own careers. I’ve been most successful since I stopped waiting for others - agents, producers - to do things for me.”
Now, obviously you are limited in just what you can do. I can’t call up Random House and offer to represent myself. And the self-publishing option is a valid one in some cases, but not all. So admittedly, there’s only so much you can do to take care of your own career. But you should still do all you can.
The most successful writer that I can call a good friend says he doesn’t depend or rely on anyone. “I don’t expect my editor to edit the book,” my pal says. “I turn in a copy that is designed and polished and clean as I can possibly get it. Any changes he suggests are just bonus in my mind. I don’t expect my agent to get me deals. I make those connections myself and he hammers out the contract stuff. I plan on handling the vast majority of my own publicity. If the PR department can and will help, that’s great. But in short, I prepare for doing everything myself. Any help I get from those other people is much appreciated, but I don’t expect it.”
Ultimately, the article is too harsh in it’s assessment of literary agents. It makes for good headlines, but the situation isn’t nearly so dire as the author says. But I still like his point of self-reliance. Even though you can’t truly go it alone (unless you’re Rupert Murdoch or someone who owns a media empire), preparing to do so will put you in control of your career. If you’re willing to do whatever it takes to help your career, then a adding good agent is going to be like installing a turbo-boost to an engine.
Well put, long overdue, and duly noted.
And yet, amazingly, new writers get agents every day. Just look at all the debuts each year. It’s simplistic to say “it’s impossible to get an agent.” What you’re really saying is “I can’t get an agent.”
I was turned down by several agents and publishers for a completed novel that eventually won one organization’s young adult novel of the year and is currently being read in high schools across the country. So what did they know. But the turning point was finding an agent who was as passionate about the work as me. And then the publishers followed suit. How did I luck into that agent? E-mailing four or five a day from a listing in Writer’s Market.
your ‘interesting article’ words are linking to the wrong article, I think…
for what it’s worth, I haven’t been published but have been represented (unsuccessfully) by three highly-regarded London agents over the past 10 years - and I’ve received a lot of help and advice from each of them… even though, obviously, the first two weren’t able to sell the novels they were handling at the time, they each gave the relevant project their best shot… can’t complain.
I think a lot of writers have too little empathy for the agent’s role/life/perspective when they approach them and suffer as a result.
also, the article doesn’t quite deserve the praise you give it - it uses the recent happenings at PFD in London to catch the interest of the reader and then clumsily segues into some self-promotion for the playwright…. and the link to the website at the end takes you to a site where the headline asks you to sponsor his film for £50. So: He gave up on writing books and is self-producing a small play (which has finished its run) and asking for money to ‘make a movie’. This is to prove that his agents were the ones who lacked sufficient determination? And that he made it as a writer by other means?
Even if my novel has been turned down, at least I know its been turned down by the editorial heads of the biggest publishing houses who are on first name terms with my agent. I would never have been able to get it into their hands by myself. And my agent does all of this for free - not a penny up front. How many other businesspeople will pin their reputation to your work with no promise of any reward? It isn’t like hiring an accountant or a lawyer - an agent will be judged by your work just as you are. If it’s rejected, that hurts them too.
Perhaps my mistake was not to turn it into a play and to get the guardian to let me self-promote by hitching onto a current event into which I can offer little insight.
Thanks for the notes about the link being broken. I’ve corrected it.
And yes, I was hesitant about the writer’s self-promotion at the end. But I do think the article raises interesting questions.
At the end of the day, my own attitude towards the publishing industry (both agents and editors) is to strive for a healthy balance. I think as writers we should appreciate and respect the contributions of professionals such as agents, editors, publicists, etc. But we should also recognize our own contributions to our career and be willing to shoulder that burden.
Too many aspiring authors veer wildly from extreme to extreme. Either they hate all agents or else they love a particular agent more than their firstborn child. They either thumb their nose completely at the industry or they sit back and expect to do nothing while the industry handles everything for them.
And that out-of-whack perspective is what I think you’re referring to, Marco. Too many aspiring authors approach agents with a self-defeatist, arrogant, and antagonistic attitude. I’ve seen query letters that drip with bitterness and begin with “I know you won’t read my submission because I don’t have a famous last name.” Then those people wonder why they get rejected.
And while articles like this one make for an interesting discussion, I think aspiring authors are best served by maintaining a good balance and proper perspective on the industry. I haven’t always done that myself. But the more and more I learn, the more I realize that levelheaded perspective is what’s needed.
Balance: we’re in full agreement, Scott.
/And then a rustle of gentle head-nodding and goodwill enveloped the comments board./
What is not addressed are the agents who charge “reading fees” and make unrealistic promises and then disappear in the night with your money and a copy of your manuscript/proposal never to be seen or heard from again! Thank you for such an honest discussion.
To be fair though, Shannon, those are crooks. There are charlatans and frauds in all walks of life, but it’s particulary easy to call yourself an agent when so many writers are desperate and too many are gripped by their own wishful thinking. I don’t think they should be considered agents. It’s an unwritten rule that there should be no reading fees - in fact I think in the UK that you can only be a member of the Association of Authors’ Agents if you do not charge a fee. So it’s a written rule too.
I tried, and failed, to persuade any of the dozen agents I contacted to read my manuscript. With hope fading I took the bull by the horns and went straight to the top and offered my book to a major publishing house. Being surprised is such an understaitment, but within three weeks of their recieving it I was offered an advance prior to publication. The book ‘For Liberty and Freedom’ is being released 01/19/2008. My belief that success can only be attained through the assistance of an agent has been shattered. Many of them displayed an arrogance which belied the truth that it is the work of the author which keeps them in the lifestyle to which they are accustomed, and I hold the feeling that they all want the next Stephen King or Dan Brown handed to them on a plate. To the authors of the world I say “Don’t give up.” If your work is of sufficient quality you could have the agents chasing you, instead of the other way around.
Just for the record, Keith’s book is with PublishAmerica.