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So often we read that agents like to know we've done our research, whose books we envisage seeing our own tome sharing a shelf with, how important it is to sell ourselves as well as our book and so on and so forth......
....... I've just looked up Bill Hamilton at A M Heath who represents Katie Fford, only to find in an interview in Myslexia, that he doesn't want any of that. No comparisons, no over-selling, no detailed synopsis.
Will still send my novel to him, but it's worth looking to see if there's an interview with your chosen agent prior to submitting your work, isn't it?
Comments
And good luck, Anna
BH says they get 75 submissions a week and only take on 2 new authors a year. About as much chance as winning the Lottery, but hey ho.
More likely to take on someone recommended by a publisher (isn't that putting the cart before the horse?!) or existing author. (How does that work? Have any of you ever sent a MS to an author? Is it best to self-publish and send a copy to an author?)
The goalposts get further and further away......... (sigh)
Not really, Anna. Agents who open up about their business tell us that 80 per cent of submissions are non-starters, many showing a deplorable lack of quality and professionalism. Another 10 per cent are promising but nothing like ready - needing a lot more work, too much for them to take on and work at with the author.
You'll be in the remaining 10 per cent. What you want is to get the agent to read your manuscript, so between your letter, synopsis and first couple of pages, you must make them feel it worth a gamble to spend another chunk of time reading the rest of your MS, and that must persuade them that this book keeps the reader glued from first page to last.
Does your book work? And have you put it over at its tempting best in your pitch?
Bon courage!
Try the above link if you want to read interviews with individual agents.
Well, I've sent it on it's way. Feel very peaceful about it after all your encouragement.
Also feel a bit self-conscious about the way this thread's gone - I didn't mean to turn the focus on myself; it was more about the benefits of reading up about your chosen agent as opposed to 'accepting as read' the generalisations we read and hear about.
Hope it might prove useful for someone else.
Moving on.......
Thank you.
(Novel now languishing in drawer until I decide next step)