Obtaining an Agent - CrimeSpace2024-03-28T20:45:38Zhttp://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/obtaining-an-agent?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A368238&feed=yes&xn_auth=noBoth of JE's tips above are e…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2013-03-12:537324:Comment:3692462013-03-12T19:24:55.925ZDana Kinghttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/DanaKing
<p>Both of JE's tips above are excellent advice. Listings change like the weather, and Writer Beware is an excellent resource. Preditors and Editors (<a href="http://pred-ed.com/" target="_blank">http://pred-ed.com/</a>) is also very good.</p>
<p>Both of JE's tips above are excellent advice. Listings change like the weather, and Writer Beware is an excellent resource. Preditors and Editors (<a href="http://pred-ed.com/" target="_blank">http://pred-ed.com/</a>) is also very good.</p> Unfortunately, any book you b…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2013-03-12:537324:Comment:3688912013-03-12T17:14:06.263ZJ. E. Seymourhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JESeymour
<p>Unfortunately, any book you buy is already out of date. An online hunt is better. Agent Query is helpful. The absolute write water cooler is a great resource - <a href="http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=22" target="_blank">http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=22</a></p>
<p>Also check Writer Beware - <a href="http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/" target="_blank">http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/</a></p>
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<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Unfortunately, any book you buy is already out of date. An online hunt is better. Agent Query is helpful. The absolute write water cooler is a great resource - <a href="http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=22" target="_blank">http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=22</a></p>
<p>Also check Writer Beware - <a href="http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/" target="_blank">http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/</a></p>
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<p>Good luck!</p> Thanks for all the helpful ad…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2013-03-01:537324:Comment:3683132013-03-01T14:26:30.323ZKathy Cohenhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/KathyCohen
<p>Thanks for all the helpful advice. I appreciate your taking the time to point me in the right direction.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the helpful advice. I appreciate your taking the time to point me in the right direction.</p> I almost never grant anybody…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2013-02-28:537324:Comment:3683982013-02-28T16:36:00.977ZLinton Robinsonhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/LintonRobinson
<p>I almost never grant anybody an exclusive look at anything.</p>
<p>It's not really their right to demand that. It real industries it would be illegal.</p>
<p>If somebody I really want is reading a book, maybe.</p>
<p></p>
<p>One thing to think about on this... they act like you'll be blacklisted forever if you don't go exclusive (and only be able to show a book or story to 3-4 people a year?????) but there really isn't a hooded tribunal of agents and publishers out there building…</p>
<p>I almost never grant anybody an exclusive look at anything.</p>
<p>It's not really their right to demand that. It real industries it would be illegal.</p>
<p>If somebody I really want is reading a book, maybe.</p>
<p></p>
<p>One thing to think about on this... they act like you'll be blacklisted forever if you don't go exclusive (and only be able to show a book or story to 3-4 people a year?????) but there really isn't a hooded tribunal of agents and publishers out there building lists.</p>
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<p>Bottom line, what's the worst that could happen? Two of them want your book at the same time? Gosh, that would be awful.</p> Unfortunately, it's the norm.…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2013-02-28:537324:Comment:3681392013-02-28T16:32:45.478ZLinton Robinsonhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/LintonRobinson
<p>Unfortunately, it's the norm. Many don't state it so candidly, but it's for real. They're a buyer's market, essentially: they don't have to care.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, it's the norm. Many don't state it so candidly, but it's for real. They're a buyer's market, essentially: they don't have to care.</p> Dana,
Great advice! And, I ag…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2013-02-28:537324:Comment:3682382013-02-28T16:26:39.987ZPatricia Gligorhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/pgligor
<p>Dana,</p>
<p>Great advice! And, I agree with you. I wouldn't want to deal with an agent who would only respond to me "if I feel like it." Talk about attitude!</p>
<p>Dana,</p>
<p>Great advice! And, I agree with you. I wouldn't want to deal with an agent who would only respond to me "if I feel like it." Talk about attitude!</p> Cold querying is tough. If yo…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2013-02-28:537324:Comment:3683882013-02-28T14:26:34.783ZJude Hardinhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/festus
<p>Cold querying is tough. If you have a friend whose agent might be a good fit, a referral always helps. Otherwise, I agree that <a href="http://agentquery.com/" target="_blank">http://agentquery.com/</a> is a good place to start.</p>
<p>Cold querying is tough. If you have a friend whose agent might be a good fit, a referral always helps. Otherwise, I agree that <a href="http://agentquery.com/" target="_blank">http://agentquery.com/</a> is a good place to start.</p> Matter of fact... this blog p…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2013-02-28:537324:Comment:3683822013-02-28T01:57:14.994ZLinton Robinsonhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/LintonRobinson
<p>Matter of fact... this blog post gets reprinted and linked to a lot.</p>
<p><a href="http://linrobinson.com/bulletins/how-to-find-an-agent-when-she-doesnt-want-to-be-found/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://linrobinson.com/bulletins/how-to-find-an-agent-when-she-does...</a></p>
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<p>The main resource there, which I urge on all seraching for agents and understanding the whole process is the AgentQuery database, and their forum in which there is ton's of advice specifically aimed at…</p>
<p>Matter of fact... this blog post gets reprinted and linked to a lot.</p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://linrobinson.com/bulletins/how-to-find-an-agent-when-she-doesnt-want-to-be-found/" target="_blank">http://linrobinson.com/bulletins/how-to-find-an-agent-when-she-does...</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>The main resource there, which I urge on all seraching for agents and understanding the whole process is the AgentQuery database, and their forum in which there is ton's of advice specifically aimed at agent search.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Now that I see Karen's post, I'm obviously in agreement, but would add that other sites, maybe even AAR (which does not have all the good guys, nor exclude all the bad guys) be used to double=check anybody you're considering.</p>
<p>Also, just run their name with "literary" agent on Google. Maybe again with a tag like "scam" or "worthwhile"</p> One of the best resources is…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2013-02-27:537324:Comment:3682772013-02-27T23:52:26.344ZKaren Dionnehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/KarenDionne
<p>One of the best resources is Agent Query. Their database is current, no scammer agents, and it's easily searchable by genre. They also have great examples of how to write a query letter, and tips on how to query. </p>
<p>There are other sites with similar information, but in my opinion, Agent Query is so good, there's no reason to go anywhere else - </p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://agentquery.com/" target="_blank">http://agentquery.com/</a></p>
<p>One of the best resources is Agent Query. Their database is current, no scammer agents, and it's easily searchable by genre. They also have great examples of how to write a query letter, and tips on how to query. </p>
<p>There are other sites with similar information, but in my opinion, Agent Query is so good, there's no reason to go anywhere else - </p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://agentquery.com/" target="_blank">http://agentquery.com/</a></p> Query only members of AAR. T…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2013-02-27:537324:Comment:3682262013-02-27T18:29:57.955ZI. J. Parkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
<p>Query only members of AAR. There are unscrupulous people out there. As for the rest, I checked Writers Digest (God, that was a long time ago) for agents working in my genre. You may also get names from ackowledgments, of course.) and then wrote a very brief query letter, describing the book (s) I'd written and my credentials.</p>
<p>In the second stage, once someone requests a submission exclusive, be sure to give them a deadline, or you'll be at this forever. </p>
<p>Query only members of AAR. There are unscrupulous people out there. As for the rest, I checked Writers Digest (God, that was a long time ago) for agents working in my genre. You may also get names from ackowledgments, of course.) and then wrote a very brief query letter, describing the book (s) I'd written and my credentials.</p>
<p>In the second stage, once someone requests a submission exclusive, be sure to give them a deadline, or you'll be at this forever. </p>