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Topic: U.S. writer using a British literary agent?
| Author | Message |
| harlemwriter | Posted – 3/16/2008 1:33:24 PM | show profile I've been on the search for a literary agent for my novel for about a year, on and off. The last few months I've been mostly off the search for a variety of reasons, but want to start querying again. My novel is literary fiction, a hard sell--or so all the agents tell me who write back saying they like my writing but can't take me on. I've queried about 65 people or so. My question is: Is it worth trying agents in London? I wonder if there's a better market for literary fiction over there? I live in NY but wouldn't mind getting published in the UK first--in fact, I just want to get published, period! But is this ever done? I know usually U.S. writers get an agent & publisher here then sell foreign rights. Any thoughts on whether this would be a waste of time? Thanks! |
| foodlit | Posted – 3/16/2008 9:21:58 PM | show profile Two part advice I used to be a literary agent, so my advice may seem a little blunt, but it's based on what I know. You can certainly try with UK based agents...you have nothing to lose, but know that it will be a long shot. The first thing I would think if I were in their shoes would be 'okay she isn't getting any bites in the US, and must have tried everyone before going overseas'. That doesn't inspire confidence. Literary fiction is being sold all the time. Agents are dying for great stuff. That brings me to my next point. I'm not saying your stuff isn't great, it could be fabulous, but for whatever reason, timing, subjectivity, etc. the market isn't right for that book now. Solution? Write another book. Focus all your energy on the new book. Chances are it will be better than the last and your odds of placing this one will be better as well. So, go ahead and query the UK on this book....but get going on your next book, make it as good as it can posssibly be. Good luck! |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 3/16/2008 10:42:27 PM | show profile It really isn't that much time, if all you are doing is sending emails and query letters. After all, you only write one pitch. And it isn't hard to find the names and email addresses of agents. The time is mostly in waiting for responses. So, sure, if you've extended all avenues here, it won't hurt. The odds are long, but that's always the case with a literary novel. As the previous poster said, write another novel, if this is your passion (and if not, it's OK to quit and do something else too). |
| harlemwriter | Posted – 3/17/2008 11:34:29 AM | show profile Thanks for the advice. I am certainly planning to write something else, but am trying to sell my first one at the same time. The issue for me is trying to query agents who are actually interested in literary fiction. I don't even want to bother with someone who represents 90% nonfiction, and only takes on chick lit or mysteries when they do represent fiction. I did wonder whether UK agents might just think I struck out in the US, as foodlit mentions. Well, it doesn't hurt to try. Any other advice would be appreciated, particularly from anyone who has tried to do this. Thanks! |
| stinking prague | Posted – 3/17/2008 11:37:47 AM | show profile I don't see why you shouldn't try getting a Brit agent. I don't think the business/ market is all that different in London. My skewed mentality is that London and New York are essentially the same place. An important difference could be that if the brit agent sells your book the money will be in pound sterling and the the baja-canukistani Rupee (US Dollar) The one big problem in nailing a brit agent is he/she/it might want stuff sent in hard copy which is expensive, but if it thinks it can sell your literary piffle, then go for it Big Dan. |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 3/17/2008 12:38:18 PM | show profile I think you're over-thinking this. Sure, every first-time novelist would love to get a top agent, but that rarely happens. You should research agents and send it to the most likely ones first. But at a certain point, you have to remember you are sending out a form letter, and the only downside to sending an agent who is an iffy fit is the price of a stamp. You never who will respond to your work and what they can do with it. So, if you've already gone through the A and B list, it's probably better to take a flier on a mass mailing to the C list rather than worrying who on the list is a good or bad fit. --Thanks for the advice. I am certainly planning to write something else, but am trying to sell my first one at the same time. The issue for me is trying to query agents who are actually interested in literary fiction. I don't even want to bother with someone who represents 90% nonfiction, and only takes on chick lit or mysteries when they do represent fiction.-- |
| stinking prague | Posted – 3/17/2008 4:22:42 PM | show profile I think you're missing an important point here, Harlem. Nearly all successful agents sell mostly non-fiction. Cook books, self help etc is their daily bread and butter. They may all profess love of literary, but damn few of them can make a living selling just that. You have to have a literary work that is so good, so absolutely kickass that they'll take time out from their busy non-fiction selling schedule to go out and flog it. good luck |
| harlemwriter | Posted – 3/17/2008 4:44:44 PM | show profile Points taken, but why would I send a work of fiction to someone who doesn't really represent fiction? I'm not being picky about only going for A-list agents--I went through that list long ago. But every guide to agents I've read, and everything I've heard agents say at conferences suggests that that they get pissed if you send them something in a genre they don't represent. Of course, I guess if my work is so fantastically brilliant, perhaps they will take it on anyway. :) Maybe I should pass off my novel as a made-up memoir... |
| foodlit | Posted – 3/17/2008 11:54:43 PM | show profile Definitely make sure they rep and sell literary fiction. Total waste of everyone's time to query an agent who doesn't sell it. The good thing is I think most overseas agents will do it all via email, which is free....so query away! Good luck, Pam |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 3/18/2008 1:04:18 AM | show profile Sure, if you're 100% sure an agent doesn't rep your kind of stuff, don't send it. If you think there's a 1% chance he will, send it. Don't worry about ticking the agent off. He will forget your name in 5 minutes. --Points taken, but why would I send a work of fiction to someone who doesn't really represent fiction? I'm not being picky about only going for A-list agents--I went through that list long ago. But every guide to agents I've read, and everything I've heard agents say at conferences suggests that that they get pissed if you send them something in a genre they don't represent.-- |
| Mr Media | Posted – 3/20/2008 10:55:48 PM | show profile I'm not American but I have looked for UK based literary agents they always tell me try to find a Canadian or American agent. Next, I try to contact American agents but they tell me to find a Canadian. The thing is though I'm black and in Canada the publishing industry is so small. I tell the American agents there is a black audience over 37 million blacks live in the United States. I think the black American market would be a good one for me to target. I was wondering does anyone know if there are any books about specific black literary agents? I really want to know? I've read the Writer's Market literary agent book but I don't remember anything specific about black literary agents. I need to find an agent that would take on a writer that writes about Caribbean themes. The novel I have written deals with Caribbean and Canadian culture. Any advice would help? |
| jobhunter08 | Posted – 3/20/2008 11:03:37 PM | show profile Given the load of actual crap fiction that is out there, I'd say it's all about timing. Harry Potter, The Da Vinci Code...are these truly great literary works? No. |
| stinking prague | Posted – 3/21/2008 3:09:38 AM | show profile regarding Carribean fiction: I think there is a much bigger market for that in London than in New York. They have had a tradition of publishing outstanding fiction writers from that region. There is a famous work called The Lonely Londoners, and a lot of others as well. I don't know much about targeted black fiction in the US, but one gets the idea that most of it makes ChickLit look like Proust. |
| stinking prague | Posted – 3/21/2008 5:03:18 AM | show profile Speaking of which, Mister Media, there is an article in the Guardian book section today (fri) on the subject. Author of Lonely Londoners was Samuel Selvon. Thee should check it out. Article is titled, appropriately enough, Lonely Londoner. |
| rhino writer | Posted – 3/21/2008 11:35:53 AM | show profile Mr. Media -- Read some contemporary novels you like on similar themes, and see who the agents were. They're usually listed in the author's acknowledgments. Then pitch to them. This would probably be a good tack for the OP too, if s/he hasn't already done so. |
| Mr Media | Posted – 3/24/2008 1:09:09 PM | show profile Everyone thanks for the advice I will check out the article right now ASAP. |
