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McAnally's (The Community Pub) => Author Craft => Topic started by: Torvaldr on October 21, 2007, 02:42:35 AM

Title: Finding an Agent
Post by: Torvaldr on October 21, 2007, 02:42:35 AM

I am fairly certain this subject has been addressed before, but I am not finding it. How does one find an agent? I have done the library thing and agent books and that is as much fun and help as a root canal without Novocain. I am working of what would likely be classified as historical fantasy. I am transposing Beowulf into drottkvaet Skaldic Verse, and removing the Christian references as I go. Not an easy thing to do.

So how does one find an agent?

Title: Re: Finding an Agent
Post by: Kathleen Dante on October 22, 2007, 10:03:31 PM

Quote from: Torvaldr on October 21, 2007, 02:42:35 AM

So how does one find an agent?

First, you complete your manuscript and polish it until it's ... presentable. Then you identify agents who represent your genre and find out their submissions guidelines. Follow those guidelines.

Kath

Title: Re: Finding an Agent
Post by: Torvaldr on October 22, 2007, 10:20:25 PM

Thanks, but you really missed the whole point of my question. How does one find an agent? You say find an agent that deals with my genre. HOW? They are not listed in phone books that I have found. I find almost no listing on line for literary agents. The books in the library are no real help. So how do you find an agent?

Title: Re: Finding an Agent
Post by: Dikaion on October 22, 2007, 10:33:08 PM

I've always heard Writer's Market is helpful.  http://www.amazon.com/Writers-Market-2008/dp/1582974969/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-6994349-2470318?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193092295&sr=8-1

Title: Re: Finding an Agent
Post by: Torvaldr on October 22, 2007, 10:37:22 PM

Thank you. That looks like what I needed.

Title: Re: Finding an Agent
Post by: Dikaion on October 22, 2007, 10:38:19 PM

Amazon also recommends a book I think by the same publisher that is just a list of literary agents, that might help if you don't need the comprehensive guide.

Title: Re: Finding an Agent
Post by: Torvaldr on October 22, 2007, 10:47:59 PM

Thank you so much, this is the kind of information I needed. None of the books I saw at the library seemed to be like these.

Title: Re: Finding an Agent
Post by: Dikaion on October 22, 2007, 10:51:45 PM

Glad I could help :)

Title: Re: Finding an Agent
Post by: Suilan on October 23, 2007, 10:07:27 AM

Perhaps this will help with the first steps of finding the right agents for your genre.

http://www.agentquery.com/default.aspx

Good luck!

Title: Re: Finding an Agent
Post by: Kathleen Dante on October 23, 2007, 11:39:42 PM

Quote from: Torvaldr on October 22, 2007, 10:20:25 PM

Thanks, but you really missed the whole point of my question. How does one find an agent? You say find an agent that deals with my genre. HOW? They are not listed in phone books that I have found. I find almost no listing on line for literary agents. The books in the library are no real help. So how do you find an agent?

Ah, I failed to grasp the scope of your problem. My apologies. Well, Suilan already mentioned Agent Query. There's also

Preditors and Editors' agent listing
http://anotherealm.com/prededitors/pubagent.htm (http://anotherealm.com/prededitors/pubagent.htm)

The Association of Authors' Representatives
http://www.aar-online.org/mc/page.do (http://www.aar-online.org/mc/page.do)

Alternatively, you could search out authors who write in the same genre as your manuscript and find out who represents them. You can do this online or by browsing the bookstores; authors sometimes mention their agents in the acknowledgment page.

You can also network. Agents do attend conferences. For example, the 2007 Pikes Peak Writers Conference (where incidentally Jim was a speaker) had a number of agents taking pitch meeting appointments.
http://www.ppwc.net/ppwc07.html#agents (http://www.ppwc.net/ppwc07.html#agents)

Hope this was more helpful.

Kath

Title: Re: Finding an Agent
Post by: pj on November 06, 2007, 05:13:22 AM

I've been using this site specifically, up to date and very informative.

http://www.agentquery.com

PJ