Literary Agents in the Brave New World of #selfpublishing

In a blistering post David Gaughran takes on a newly formed ‘self-publishing’ company (if you want to know why I use the quotes, check out my self-publishing basics. I’m going to be updating that post in a couple minutes) and the literary agents backing it.

Whether you’re a published author, or are considering it, this post is a ‘must read.’

Click here for the post.

 

Scriptapalooza, The Screenplay Competition

Scriptapalooza, the annual screenplay writing competition, with its prize money of $10,000, is back.

Contests will have their individual entries read by more than 90 leading filmmakers, production companies and literary agencies. In addition, Scriptapalooza will offer its full support to the winner; finalists and semifinalists of the screenwriting challenge by promoting each work for one year after the winners’ announcement.

Deadline Jan 5, 2012.

Click here for details.

Reputable Literary Agents

A terrific compilation of reputable literary agents:

http://lisa-laura.blogspot.com/2009/12/happy-agent-day.html

http://everyonewhosanyone.com

 

Something Else for Authors to Worry About

In my post on June 11, 2011 I wrote about about Literary agent Peter Cox offering free reviews of author contracts. I also had a link to his rather impassioned post about the dangers of letting your literary agent also be your publisher (for the potential conflict of interest issues).

Today I came across the article that indie publisher Akashic Books  is teaming up with two literary agent to launch the imprint Open Lens.

Please note: I am not stating that the literary agents in question will, in fact, publish the books of their own clients (I have no information on this). I’m just pointing out the trend of literary agent turning publisher.

Click here for the article.

 

Literary Agent Offering Contract Review

Literary agent Peter Cox is offering to review contracts for authors. This is apparently in response to the recent trend of literary agents setting up their own publishing imprints – a potential conflict of interest situation, if ever there was one.

The service, called Project FreeAgent, will be run out of his Redhammer agency. The interesting thing is, he won’t charge a cent for it.

This is a terrific thing for authors, like a second opinion on their contracts.

Click here for a very provocative post by Mr. Cox.

Literary Agent on Pitching Your Manuscript

Interview with Donald Maass

Literary agent Donald Maass has good book for authors ‘The Breakout Novelist’. For an interview with Mr. Maass, click here.You can hear the interview, as well as read the text.

Literary Agent Interviews

Agent interviews are a good way of finding out where a particular literary the agent’s interests lie. I found a site with a few interviews. Check them out. Like always, research before you query. Don’t depend on a single source. Click here for the interview.

Landing an Agent/Editor

You KNOW your writing is good, you just know it. Your critique group has said it, maybe literary agents/editors have, too. Then why aren’t you able to sell your writing or land a literary agent? Check out this short article. Not much there by way of what to do, but it makes you think. Click here for the article.

Picking A Literary Agent

According to Chuck Sambuchino, Editor of The Guide to Literary Agents , there are 1300 odd Literary agents in the US alone. What makes one decide to pick over another? In your query to the agent, he recommends including a line as to why you are contacting the agent. One easy way to establish a connection with an agent is simply to cite something they’ve said in an interview. He has approximately 150 agent interviews so far on the GLA blog.  Click here for the interviews. If you can quickly explain a compelling reason, then the agent realizes that you’ve done your homework and targeted them for a reason. This is a good thing.

He also lists the best agent blogs of 2011 on his website. Well worth the read.   Click here for details.