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Topic: Media Professionals: Please Help w/Input
| Author | Message |
| testing123 | Posted – 3/1/2008 12:03:57 AM | show profile | email poster If I run long here (don't know if there's a word or character limit) I will continue in 2nd post. I am in process with a non fiction manuscript. April 18 was my date to begin mailing literary agents to announce and query, etc. September 19th 2008 is the 30th anniversary of my manuscript's topic, but my manuscript's subject and attendant topic are evergreen - still viable today, although the topic (event) I am writing about was 30 yrs ago. I began this project in October of 2007; it wasn't meant to be an anniversary project. It began as a lark. A bet with myself because I was enthralled by the topic and subject. Well, up to this moment, since October, I have basically rebuilt this event, and have united all the persons involved in it. All have agreed to be interviewed. My question: Many people tell me: "Get an agent NOW and get on the coming media blitzkrieg this Fall! Even in the book isn't published yet, you can sell it, and they can market/hype it, pinned to the related press, etc." Many others tell me: "Wait. You can ONLY make this work AFTER you have interviewed all these people, have gotten their permissions, and such. After all, without them, this never would have happened. And you have a guaranteed international audience anyway - no matter when you publish....rushing would only cause you to do less than what you planned, which could ruin the work." Both are, to me, good arguments. I'd like to ask for your thoughts please. E mail off board if you wish. Thank you. Freaking out now. Is it all in my head? Both points are valid. |
| Village Gal | Posted – 3/1/2008 9:45:43 AM | show profile If you book is nonfiction, I agee with the people who say to get an agent first. You write a book proposal- not the whole book. Use the proposal and the upcoming news hook to get an agent. Of course, your proposal could include a list of the sources you plan to interview. You just need to line them up, maybe get a few quotes from one or two for your proposal . |
| testing123 | Posted – 3/1/2008 10:02:35 AM | show profile | email poster Thank you. Anyone else have a thought? After posting, and now reading Village G's reply, I am tipping towards major gear shift: Slow the research and what not (I DO have enough info/knowledge/fact/resource, etc. now) and speed up the process of seeking an agent. I was going to just start this in mid/late April, after I had begun the interviews with some of the people, but I suppose it boild down to a simple concept: Do two things at once. I think I am capable of that. I'll start seeking representation now, as opposed to waiting until i am in some imagined comfort zone in late April...as previously planned. Thanks for the clarity. |
| Village Gal | Posted – 3/1/2008 4:00:46 PM | show profile You need to write a great book proposal. After you have that, start to query agents who will hopfully ask to see the proposal. |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 3/1/2008 5:46:55 PM | show profile Given the speed at which the book industry moves (very slowly), the fact that the 30th anniversary of this event is 9 months away is meaningless, to be honest. More likely than not, if the book is published, it probably won't be published until two or three years from now, by which time the 30th anniversary hoopla will be a distant memory. So start with the agents and see what happens.. |
| testing123 | Posted – 3/1/2008 8:23:21 PM | show profile | email poster Yeah....see....that's the flip side. That's why I wrote this: 'Many others tell me: "Wait. You can ONLY make this work AFTER you have interviewed all these people, have gotten their permissions, and such. After all, without them, this never would have happened. And you have a guaranteed international audience anyway - no matter when you publish....rushing (because of perception I'll miss something anniversary-wise) would only cause you to do less than what you planned, which could ruin the work." By nature I am best when methodical and slow. I can lay a massively compelling proposal on a desk if I don't rush. My nature/gut/heart says, "F*ck the anniversary. Just do what you know is right for you and the project". I guess, at the most root level, I will err on the side with my gut/heart. I have once chance to sell this to each of the one time readers (agents) w/my first contacts to them, which will or will not invite second contacts. i have to know I did MY best - and perhaps not worry about what I 'think' may happen, but what I know in my heart I can MAKE happen if my writing is sound. So, thank you. I know the book pub industry is slow. I am under no illusions there...and like I said up top, my topic/subject IS evergreen - I could write this in ten years and sell it fine. It will be relevant. Ok. Thanks. This feedback is hugely helpful. I appreciate your time to reply. |
| Lula | Posted – 3/2/2008 4:27:05 AM | show profile Okay, please know that I'm not giving advice based on experience, but this comment... "My nature/gut/heart says, 'F*ck the anniversary. Just do what you know is right for you and the project'" ...tells me that you already know your answer. Again, I'm more of a commercial writer so I can't speak from experience. Except that if the person is sound, then gut instincts are generally good ones to follow. Best of luck! |
| testing123 | Posted – 3/2/2008 11:30:11 PM | show profile | email poster Thanks, everyone! Will be back. Take care. J |
