@debi
Active 6 years, 2 months agoForum Replies Created
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Oh Hilary! I was alerted to this thread by Ath. I can see you’re taking this well but I know how much it must hurt. I’m going to try to take a step back and see where the agent might have been coming from. Don’t shout at me!
Agents love books, of course, and get very excited when they are part of the process that leads to publication. For some, that might just be because they then make money but I’m sure most get genuine pleasure. But they don’t know what it is to actually create something. To take a blank sheet of paper and nothing more than your own imagination to form a whole world and people it with characters we come to care about so deeply. They’ll never know that joy – nor that pain. They simply don’t ever have the same kind of emotional investment in our stories as we have.
The thing is, I have a strong feeling that the agent *felt* they were being kind and supportive. They gave up their time to meet with you, even though they may well not be on a salary and could be spending that time working on the authors they already represent and who do make them money. We’re all outraged on your behalf because we love and care for you – and because we can identify so strongly with the raised hopes and the contrast with the reality. I think she would possibly be horrified if she knew how it all felt from your perspective. And it *is* very positive affirmation – she would never have done if she didn’t feel you had the potential to be published.
The age thing is something else and has got me seething. It’s bollocks. All it proves is she’s definitely not the right agent for you if she even sees that as a barrier to you be being published. And the genre thing sounds to me like she was scrabbling round for reasons why she wasn’t taking you on. I’ve chaired at least two reading group fiction panels with agents and publishers and there’s a very clear consensus that reading or book group fiction straddles commercial and literary novels and often covers books that would have previously been perceived as literary = hard sell, or neither one nor the other. So that’s bollocks too.
But to have had as many requests for the full MS as you have shows you’re achingly close. Did you have any feedback from any of them? The wise Denizens have already said you shouldn’t make any radical changes that don’t feel right to you and I completely agree. Have you had any beta readers who have seen the whole draft?
Janette – what happened to you is completely inexcusable. I suspect it might even have been an admin error. It just makes no sense to me at all. I think you should make the changes you’ve already decided on and then consider pitching back to them, with a ‘remember me?’ covering letter that doesn’t mention the form rejection.
Sorry I don’t get here as often as I’d like. Most of you know how to get in touch with me to alert me to anything like this. Always there for you guys. xx
You called, ma’am? Yes, no ‘c’ required for the reasons already given on this thread. It sends out a signal that you don’t really know how this stuff works, which is less-than professional.
@juliec – DHH is David Headley’s agency. David is also a bookseller, owning Goldsboro Books, which hosts some big events like Crime in the Court, and he became an agent in 2008. He knows the business from an unusual – but useful – angle. The agency has grown steadily. I met him a few times at York, in the early days of FoW. At that time, I think he was operating solo. He took on a children’s author on my recommendation and also passed another author to me for a critique. I always found him good to work with. Go for it!
I can see replies here @KazG but can’t see where they are in the thread or how to continue the conversation. Pfft. I’m currently trying to get to grips with the new platform for the course before it starts tomorrow so I’m probably being dense. Just want to say I’m eagerly awaiting a link to say you have a deal (!!!) so I can add you to our Hall of Fame.
I’ve been to every FoW and there have been many golden moments but none compare to sitting on That Stage with That Author. Glad we didn’t need tissues after all. You were perfect.
I’ve blogged about FoW but it’s pix only, I’m afraid, and they’re in an odd order but I don’t have time to faff. What an awesome weekend for Denizens it was. We raised several glasses (each) to absent friends.
*air punch* Yes, publishing moves at a glacial pace but this is a fabulous stride forwards – at last. I saw your lovely agent at York, though we didn’t have a chance to chat. I do know how much she adores you though. (Don’t we all!) xx
Kaz! KAAAAAZZZZ! This is utterly brilliant news. I’m so delighted and excited for you. You’re absolutely right to have an agent too, even though you’ve already got what most people want from an agent. As soon as there’s somewhere online that I can link to, I’ll be adding you to the Self-Edit Hall of Fame. Lots of you are already listed there. Can’t tell you how happy it will make me to add your name.
@bellam – it was indeed recorded. Please excuse me for shouting, everyone, but MANDY WAS BLOODY BRILLIANT!
I would definitely be doing cartwheels if it wouldn’t land me in a neck brace. So proud of Hel for her win, Mandy for her keynote, Philippa for her shortlisting and everyone who has made such massive strides forward.
Always great to have ‘one of our own’ to cheer on. Mind you, I’m going to have to hold myself in check. Apparently, I’m doing the comp intros on both Friday and Saturday this year. Even though the decision isn’t down to me, I’ll be tempted to jump up and down and yell, ‘Vote for her!’
There are quite a few people with WritersDen handles. Nothing with Den of Writers and no hashtag for it. Yet!
Ha! Point taken. I will assume nothing and you can all shout at me if I say something you definitely do know about.
You do all know about ShortStops, run by the wonderful Tania Hershman, don’t you? https://shortstops.info/ The regular emails she sends out list all the events and comps in one place.
