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Talking to Literary Agents

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  • 30-04-2015 11:59pm
    #1
    Das Kitty
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    I'm getting a really brilliant opportunity to have a chat with a London literary agent in a few weeks. It's supposed to be an "advice" thing, but I'm going to pitch.

    Being a general stress-ball, and never having done anything like this before, I'm looking for advice on how to approach it.

    Is there anyone who has pitched before who'd be willing to advise me?


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    #2
    zeffabelli
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,516 ✭✭✭zeffabelli


    What are you pitching?

    Generally they want a proposal and three chapters. You could either go there prepared with that to hand to him or you could warm him up to be prepared to receive one in his inbox.


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    #3
    Das Kitty
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭Das Kitty


    Her. :)

    It's a novel.

    It's the proposal I'm floundering with. I've got the start chapters almost ready.

    I have a synopsis, which I need to work on. I suppose I'm looking for someone who's been there to tell me how it went for them. From what I've read, this agent is nice to deal with. I'm probably worrying about nothing.


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    #4
    zeffabelli
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,516 ✭✭✭zeffabelli


    Das Kitty wrote: »
    Her. :)

    It's a novel.

    It's the proposal I'm floundering with. I've got the start chapters almost ready.

    I have a synopsis, which I need to work on. I suppose I'm looking for someone who's been there to tell me how it went for them. From what I've read, this agent is nice to deal with. I'm probably worrying about nothing.

    Don't sweat it too much.

    If it gets taken on, it will completely change by the time it hits print.

    Publishing is in a flumix right now because of self publishing.

    If there is anything I have learned, it's that when you read a book, you can never really be sure who wrote it.

    I'd bring it with you, but I'd also be prepared to email her the copy. Many don't even accept manuscripts by post.

    This is an opportunity.


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    #5
    Geniass
    Closed Accounts Posts: 643 ✭✭✭Geniass


    Das Kitty wrote: »
    Her. :)

    It's a novel.

    It's the proposal I'm floundering with. I've got the start chapters almost ready.

    I have a synopsis, which I need to work on. I suppose I'm looking for someone who's been there to tell me how it went for them. From what I've read, this agent is nice to deal with. I'm probably worrying about nothing.

    You obviously have an in with the LA. So the following may not be relevant. This is more general advice.

    If you are pitching a nonfiction book then what you're doing might be plausible. Usually this would apply to famous people or experts in their field (say you're an astronaut recently descended from space :) ).

    Otherwise the LA will not only want the book finished (they get possibly a hundred fully complete books a week) and wont entertain an incomplete book, never mind one that only has three chapters complete.

    My advice would be to make contact, try and make a good impression with her. Give a very brief synopsis of your book and ask her can you submit when it is complete.

    Otherwise I think you risk them feeling doorstepped and receiving polite 'of course, just leave it with me there' and leave her with a bad impression.

    Now, it would be easier to say 'Go for it, what do you have to lose' - but in this circumstance I don't think it would be appropriate to make a movie script agent type pitch.


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    #6
    Das Kitty
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭Das Kitty


    She's aware it's not fully finished. Well, it is finished, but it's still in early draft for the most part. I think I have about 10 minutes with her.


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    #7
    Geniass
    Closed Accounts Posts: 643 ✭✭✭Geniass


    Das Kitty wrote: »
    She's aware it's not fully finished. Well, it is finished, but it's still in early draft for the most part. I think I have about 10 minutes with her.

    What Genre is it?

    I've submitted something to a literary agent today for the first time in about 6 years.


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    #8
    Das Kitty
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭Das Kitty


    Geniass wrote: »
    What Genre is it?

    I've submitted something to a literary agent today for the first time in about 6 years.

    Contemporary fiction.

    Well done on the submission.


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    #9
    EileenG
    Registered Users Posts: 5,775 ✭✭✭EileenG


    Work on the ten word pitch. She asks you, "What is your book about?" and you need to be able to sum it up in ten words or less. http://www.wattpad.com/forums/discussion/594798/0/25/the-ten-word-pitch

    Focus on what makes this book the one that people will want to buy. Be enthusiatic. Make sure you know where the book will fit in the market.


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    #10
    Das Kitty
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭Das Kitty


    It went really well. She had almost exclusively positive things to say, and one suggestion which I'm taking on board. She asked me to send it to her when it's ready. So now I have to get it ready. :)


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    #11
    echo beach
    Registered Users Posts: 1,252 ✭✭✭echo beach


    Das Kitty wrote: »
    It went really well. She had almost exclusively positive things to say, and one suggestion which I'm taking on board. She asked me to send it to her when it's ready. So now I have to get it ready. :)

    Delighted to hear that. No more than you deserve. At least now you know you aren't wasting your time getting it ready. Do you have a deadline?

    I expect the next news will be the bidding-war.:)


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    #12
    Das Kitty
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭Das Kitty


    echo beach wrote: »
    Do you have a deadline?

    No deadline. I need it to be as good as it can be.


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    #13
    Geniass
    Closed Accounts Posts: 643 ✭✭✭Geniass


    Das Kitty wrote: »
    No deadline. I need it to be as good as it can be.

    Have you/are you going to put a section up on write club for critique?


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    #14
    Das Kitty
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭Das Kitty


    Geniass wrote: »
    Have you/are you going to put a section up on write club for critique?

    Probably not at this stage. I'm work-shopping it with my group.


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