-
Athelstone posted an update 6 years, 9 months ago
Feeling a bit hacked-off. Just heard that my number one choice of agent to meet at York is no longer going to be there. To be honest, she seemed like such a good fit for my writing that she was a large part of my decision to go this year. My number two choice is a perfectly nice and doubtless excellent agent, but seems interested in rather more genre fantasy than the non-genre, rather odd stuff I’m doing at the moment.
To make it worse, we’re now so late in the day that all the realistic alternatives are booked up.
I’m thinking of either saying that I only want to see one agent, or even opting for a book-doctor instead. Does anybody know anything about Hal Duncan?
Skip to content
Sorry to hear this, Ath. Afraid I don’t know anything about Hal Duncan. I suppose that if you submit your MS to the agent at some later date, you can tell them you’d applied to meet them at York and that would catch their attention favourably.
Hal Duncan? Think he’s the Scottish bloke. Talks nineteen to the dozen in his sessions, but knows his stuff. Can come over a bit abrasive, and I can’t remember what he writes himself. I have a feeling it’s a bit quirky, so you might be OK with him for your non-genre stuff…?
Yep, just had a look at his website and it is the chap I remember. His how to write a sentence session was brilliant.
I had a session with Hal Duncan 2/3 years back. Not easy because he knew nothing about my genre. While his sessions were hi-speed and he promised notes (because taking them was impossible), they never materialised. I can’t find my feed-back sheet but though what little he did say was useful.
Bummer though, big time, for you.
My review of Vellum said :
Review Richly-written with energy and a breadth of knowledge, research and imagination that is mind-blowing, especially to one such as I who hasn’t entered such an all encompassing fantasy world since Jane Gaskell, in my teens. I can easily see its appeal, but confess the genre is not for me, as is reflected by the three star rating.”
None of which is likely to be helpful, sorry.
That is frustrating, Athers, especially as your other options are now limited and less appealing. I did a sentence structure workshop with Hal Duncan at York years ago. I’m afraid to say I got bored because he was being too methodical (my flaw probably, not his), but that’s not to say he wouldn’t be a good fit as a Book Doctor. Looking at his website for mentoring services, he sounds like he knows his stuff. How about asking Debi? I’m sure she’d be happy to advise if he’d be a good match.
Heyoop. Just seen I’ve been name-checked here. I do check the Den regularly but missed this. Sounds like you’ve sorted something out, At hers. Bummer though. Hope you’re not regretting coming to York. I’ll be looking forward to seeing you there.
Ah well, thanks all – just letting off steam. The chance to actually get read by an agent and then meet them is very different from submitting into the dark and if things go wrong it shouldn’t be just a logistical exercise to ‘fix something up’ for the unlucky delegate. I’ve seen similar things happen in previous years and the outcome is never satisfactory. But anyway, I’ve made a decision this year – so that’s that.
And the decision I made is to have a chat with a book doctor who I trust to tell me if I’m being boring, or brilliant, engaging or execrable. I’ve done a bit of research (which is a posh spin on ‘checked the internet’) about Hal Duncan. Seems to be a very fine writer and all-round star, but I’ll stick with my choice.
Oh no, Athers, I’d seen that one or two might have been cancelled and it sucks that one was ‘the one’ of yours. I haven’t heard anything, so presume mine are okay, but that doesn’t help you. Nor does having to pick from the remaining places available so late in the day. I really hope you get something out of coming to York and as mentioned above, perhaps mention in a submission to your chosen agent that you tried to see them at York. Either way, look forward to seeing you there and sharing a glass or three.
Look forward to that, Janette!
The same thing happened to me, Ath. The replacement agent I’ve found I don’t know at all, but she looks quite interesting.
I had something of a false start with my WIP. After getting 40K plus into it, I’ve restarted with a new MC (wildly different character) and a change from past to present tense. The net result is that I’m way behind where I intended to be for York. I’ve decided that if I can’t get an agent who’s a good match then I’ll try a book doctor.
I know all about changing tense, having changed a whole novel from first person present to third person past (and still not getting it published). One possibility at york is to go for an editor. I had a brilliant session with a commissioning editor: I didn’t expect or get a deal, but she helped me pick out underlying themes in the book. One of the most useful ten minutes I’ve had. (Sam Eades).