Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sharon Lindenburger on October 1, 2012 at 4:58pm

I know a few authors right now who have agents but thus far the agents haven't gotten them a book deal. I think an agent is useful when he/she does get a book deal for his/her client. But as we know, it is getting harder and harder for agents to sell books to publishers even when they (agents) know the book is damn good. It's not surprising that so many authors are bypassing agents or despairing of even getting one, and taking their book straight to market via other means (which of course is also problematic).

Permalink Reply by Sharon Lindenburger on October 1, 2012 at 5:00pm

I do also think, though, that if an author has a good agent and there is a good rapport between author and agent, and the author/agent combo is pitching successfully to publishers, having an agent like that would be well worth it. 

Permalink Reply by Mary Treacy O'Keefe on October 1, 2012 at 6:28pm

If we want to get published by a traditional publisher, having a literary agent seems to be the best way to go. I've checked some of the submission guidelines of publishers and several suggest getting one.  I just finished my second book so will be completing a book proposal once I have all the release statements signed from people I interviewed. If not able to obtain an agent, I'll just self-publish again. Doing so worked fairly well for my first book, which has sold quite well locally but not nationally as I don't have the type of distribution that I would with a traditional publisher.  A suggestion: It would be helpful to know some questions to ask of a potential agent, just in case!

Permalink Reply by Melodie Hull on October 21, 2012 at 7:25pm

Hi, Jeff:

    This is an excellent question and one that compels me to answer!  I have written 2 textbooks plus a couple of chapters in other people's textbooks all in nursing/medicine.  Wow!  There is just no money in the very long process of writing and editing in non-fiction as far as I can tell. And then you have to cross your fingers that your textbook(s) get adopted.  Now, I get more offers but I feel completely at a loss as to how to negotiate.  I really feel at the mercy of the publishing houses.  So, in my mind, I thinks its a good idea to have a literary agent even though I don't have one (yet).

Anyone want to share their experiences?

 

Permalink Reply by Haseena Patel on November 24, 2012 at 12:39pm

I found myself asking this question months ago.  However, I was talking to the PA of the editor of O, The Oprah Magazine here in South Africa.  The editor had contributed to my sister and my book, Leave No Girl Behind: How to help girls become the change in our world.  They wanted to buy a copy of our book when it was published.  The PA told me that it's probably better to go the mainstream publishing route since their magazine (and similarly other magazines) wouldn't review a book that wasn't published mainstream, simply because while there is a universal mainstream publishing standard, there is no set standard for self-published books.  So while self-publishing could mean more money, mainstream publishing (requiring a literary agent) can mean more publicity of our message.  And getting our message out to as many people as possible is really the number one priority...of course, the money coming with it would help a great deal too!!