One
of the best resources for those interested in the book publishing industry is Jeff Herman’s Guide to Book Publishers,
Editors and Literary Agents. The
2017 edition is out and it is as good as ever.
I highly recommend you consult a copy from New World Library.
The
book offers many useful resources. It
has:
·
Advice
for writers.
·
An
overview of the publishing conglomerates.
· Insights on independent presses and university presses.
·
An
introduction to the Canadian book publishing market.
·
A
directory of literary agents.
·
A
listing of independent editors.
The Literary Market Place and The Writers Market are also definitive,
excellent resources that cover similar ground, but this book comes from a literary
agent who knows his stuff. He’s put
together over 1,000 deals and has published a number of successful books of his
own.
He’s
been producing his guide since 1990 – over a quarter-century ago. This is the 15th edition. He presents information in a straightforward
way and covers all of the questions one can anticipate wanting answered. For instance, on the subject of literary
agents, here’s what he answers:
·
How
do publishers find books to publish?
·
What
do agents work for?
·
How
do agents make money?
·
How
do false agents make money?
·
What’s
the Association of Authors Representatives?
·
What
services do agents provide in exchange for their commission?
·
What
won’t agents do as part of their commission?
·
How
do you get an agent?
·
What
else should you know about agents?
·
Do
agents and editors have similar traits?
·
Who
can be an agent?
·
Do
agents make sweetheart deals?
·
What
if an agent offers you representation?
·
How
do you know if your agent is doing a good job?
·
What
if the agent is unable to sell your work?
·
What
will happen to agents as a category over the next several years?
·
Do
agents sell everything they represent?
·
What’s
the typical agent’s sales process and how long does it take?
·
How
do agents find their clients?
·
If
you get 20 agent rejections, is it unlikely you’ll get an agent?
·
How
do agents like to work with their clients?
·
Is
it okay to switch agents?
·
What
kind of client do agents dislike?
·
How
come rejection letters are generic?
See
what I mean. He’s thorough and cuts to
the issues that writers need answers on.
The
publishing process has become more complex and simpler. Big 5, indi-press, university press,
self-publish, hybrid, POD, e-book only…the options can be mind-boggling. So many books are being published but each
book is selling fewer copies, on average, than books used to.
Authors
need to determine how they want to be published and then to determine the best
provider for that path. If one
determines he or she wants to be published – not be the publisher – he has to
find a literary agent or find a way to solicit the editorial departments of
publishers. No matter how one gets
published, the author takes on the heavy lifting to promote his or her book.
So
what if someone tries but fails to get a literary agent?
“Fortunately,
there are ways to get access to editors and get published even if you don’t
have an agent,” writes Herman. “Here’s a
big secret: publishers actually will
consider unagented/unsolicited submissions, but they don’t want you to know
that. In fact, they may not even know
it.
Remember
this; the rule exists for their convenience, not yours. If you rigidly follow their rules, you’re
only serving them, not yourself. It’s
reasonable for you to consider ways to bypass the rule. Ironically your success will also be the
publisher’s success it’s a win-win."
So
how does one go forward in such a situation?
He says
you should appoint yourself as your agent.
Start cold-calling publishers and seek to get the name of the right
editor that your manuscript or query needs to get to. Know what editors do and look to serve their
needs.
He
leaves us with this advice:
“Editors
need to acquire good product (books) in order to justify their employment. Your job as a writer is to give it to
them. If you succeed at giving them what
they need, you will get what you want (a deal).
It’s really that simple, yet too many writers don’t seem to get it. They approach editors on their knees asking
for mercy and attention, which is also, how they confront agents. That’s not pitching; that’s begging, and it’s
unappealing. Don’t be a beggar; be a
giver and maker. Initiate the process by
communicating your intent and power to make everyone else very happy.”
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