My Agent Story 

Thank you Kat

Awww, thank you so much, dear!

SoYoureALiar2 thank you so much! Queries are next, actually! Look for the first vid on Thursday 😀

Thanks! Yes, keep going on that YA space book! The genre is having a moment and I REALLY hope it sticks around. There are at least 12 YA space books coming out in 2018 alone. :)

You can certainly have different agents for different things, and some authors do, but many don't! You should always seek appropriate representation for whatever you have ready now/that you want trad pubbed (especially as a debut) and "cross that bridge" with everything else later. So my agent, for instance, doesn't rep adult, but I know I might write adult eventually (and so does she). In that case, she said she'd try to rep my adult work for me--so she's willing to rep and sell anything I want to write (and my agency has experience with adult). It depends on the agent.

I've never met my agent! It's a relationship that is typically done 100% remotely. So don't worry :)

Perfect! Thank you for responding so quickly. I just found your channel today and I am marathon watching. :) Thank you for helping all of us "Newbies". I've self published twice and honestly I'm getting nowhere with it. So, I think it's time for me to look into an agent.

No contractual limitations, but I'm wary about putting older, less polished writing up for consumption.

I didn't find an editor... I don't advise authors pursuing traditional publishing pay for editorial services, generally. I had critique partners (I have a recent video on finding those) and I self-edited my manuscript.

Thank you so much. I finally got an answer on this. I do have one critique partner right now, but I know I need more and I am the most antisocial person alive. Do you have any videos on getting critique partners. Oh! Oops. I mistyped. I still needed an answer to that question, but I was looking for ways to find an AGENT. I didn't check my message before I sent it.

I have a video on finding agents to query, as well as critique partners. You'll find them in my Industry Advice playlist, or just by scrolling through all my videos. The CP one was just posted last week and the Agent one is a bit older.

Thank you.

I advise you watch my video on schmagents--it seems you've perhaps been querying some shady agents. Legitimate agents don't moonlight as editors for self-publishing platforms. Agents also won't offer representation and disappear--if that has happened, they are also likely a scammer or shady. It sounds like you've had a rough go of querying, and for that I apologize, but the only thing you can do is keep going. Form rejections are the norm, especially with agents getting 200+ queries a week--and most agents DON'T get paid to read queries; they have to read and respond in their "free time." Books are subjective, and so an agent can read a full and just not connect and say no. Often they're vague or use cliche phrases because writing a rejection is hard for them, too. We've all had the dreaded form rejection on a FULL of all things--it sucks and it hurts, but that's how it is. The best you can do is write a great book (or a series of them), do your research, and hope for the best. Those who stick with it and keep improving their craft will eventually break through. It can just take multiple books and many years. Beth Revis wrote TEN BOOKS before she found an agent and got a publishing deal (she's always inspired me!). Sarah Ahiers wrote and queried I believe at least 3 books--many of which she got very close on--before she got an agent and a book deal. Best of luck!

Hi there, thanks for responding. well there is this thing called reedsy and a lot of agents who are working in legitimate agencies are also doubling as editors. (check it out, just to see) The platform takes a fee so they jack up the prices even more. I really don't know who to hire because its expensive and I don't know how to get the right kind of editor for my work. I get sample edits, either they don't understand my style, they change the work so it's not my voice, want to inject their own ideas, or flat out want money and charge for a sample edit which is applied as a discount for an editorial fee if you choose to work with them. This locks you into giving them some kind of money and i think its unethical. I've only had two people do this on a quote but still. As far as agents go, well what if you have a really great story that a lot of agents like, but they aren't taking new clients? Or the genre doesn't sell well in todays market. I notice a lot of agencies break up and then reconfigure to new boutique agencies that take on select clients. Some people are left hung out to dry after an agent leaves the big agency and their project. It happens. things are changing in publishing. Things really suck and i feel like I am not being heard nor given a fair shot as well as a lot of people like me. We are talented, we have the chops to go out there and make it, but dammit give us a chance. Throw us a bone. That's why people are self publishing.

If you're seeking traditional publication (ie: querying agents), you shouldn't need to pay for a professional editor. I have a video on that, too. So the conflict of interest shouldn't matter in that case, but also what agencies are these agents with that you are seeing? I'd love to hear some names--none of the agents I have in mind as quality, working at the best agencies, do freelance editing. If your genre doesn't sell well in today's market, it sucks, but there's not much you can do. In these cases, I tell writers to either write something else, or, yes, consider self publishing but ONLY if that's the move they want to make for their long term career. The market is the market--and it does change. Agencies that break up and reconfigure are often schmagencies, not legitimate, quality agencies FYI. Look at their sales--the proof is in that pudding. I wouldn't use those as an example--they are bad examples. Yes, agents leave agencies and sometimes drop clients. It happens. But in my experience, talented clients find new representation. I've helped people through that very situation many times. I don't know what to tell you. I get why people are self-publishing and for some genres that's great, but for many, it's not a good career choice. My thinking is I'd rather scrap a book, move away from a dead genre (I wrote TWO books and TWO dead areas, btw), and try again to get a shot at a big book deal and major distribution. It's what I wanted, so I was willing to shake off the hard knocks and move on. That's my view of it. I don't see the point in bemoaning the system--I'd rather make the system work for me. I do these videos because I sincerely want to help people crack the system, as well. And I do truly think that talented writers who are willing to pivot and bear the various disappointments and keep going can and will breakthrough. That's the best advice I can give without knowing a person's specific situation.

Well, my list has people who have worked in big publishing houses, do not work there any more and freelance edit. Some are still agents and are working but edit and book doctor on the side. I have tried everything, and i mean everything to land a traditional agent, which is why I bemoan the system because the odds are stacked against anyone trying to break in if they don't have the right contacts (some agents want a referral).Try being a minority breaking in, a university acquaintence told me about Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and all the things she went through to get published. At some point someone gave her a chance and she got it, but not before dealing with all kinds of unecessary BS. I am thinking that things must change for people to be included, because publishing is so narrow right now. I am going to write an article on this actually. sorry about the rant BTW. Your videos are helpful, i just hate the industry.

@@artboxfashion4042 Being a minority has nothing to do with it. If your book is good, it'll sell, it doesn't matter if you're a minority or not. Agents doesn't care about your skin color, they care if your book is sellable or not. I know this post is old but I just had to comment on it.

It's not around anymore, unfortunately! It was an agent mentoring & pitch contest from 2012-2014 where there were mentor "coaches" who picked teams, just like The Voice, and then there was an agent showcase. It was very similar to Pitch Madness and Pitch Wars, but modeled on the NBC show.

Aww, dang! It sounded cool!