tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15617001.post6676463470720479182..comments2024-01-04T12:13:20.046-05:00Comments on Joanna Bourne: Technical Topic -- Do I need an agent?Jo Bournehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13457862962618886252noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15617001.post-58258294998444727982014-03-27T20:20:48.991-04:002014-03-27T20:20:48.991-04:00If you plan to get an agent at all, I think it'...If you plan to get an agent at all, I think it's a good idea to go for that agent first before you go directly to a publisher. <br /><br />No. Wait. First, finish the book. Right. That's what I meant.Jo Bournehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13457862962618886252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15617001.post-7410894551789059962014-03-27T20:17:00.496-04:002014-03-27T20:17:00.496-04:00Many agents do wonderful work 'shaping up'...Many agents do wonderful work 'shaping up' the manuscript. This is an important matter to discuss with a future agent, ISTM.Jo Bournehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13457862962618886252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15617001.post-66671557409361882412014-03-27T09:32:06.387-04:002014-03-27T09:32:06.387-04:00Finish the @#$* book! My hubby keeps reminding me ...Finish the @#$* book! My hubby keeps reminding me of that one. Thanks for the info. I didn't know that some of the subsidiaries of the Big 5 accepted unagented MS. Add that handy list of big independents... Things to think about... ;-)Zan Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13403563510118660546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15617001.post-67539872932515522242014-03-27T08:40:25.377-04:002014-03-27T08:40:25.377-04:00Something else that some (not all) agents will do ...Something else that some (not all) agents will do is work on the manuscript with you, making the kind of revision suggestions that a good editor will make. This can be helpful before your first sale arrives.<br /><br />But you still have to have a finished book to send them!Lilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15617001.post-5121430010824199852014-03-26T21:14:05.086-04:002014-03-26T21:14:05.086-04:00The nonfiction query is, as I understand it, a dif...The nonfiction query is, as I understand it, a different beast. Yes.<br /><br />I do think it's worthwhile keeping an eye on agents even before you finish the book. But very careful consideration can wait till you in the midst of final drafting.<br />IMO.<br /><br />*waves madly*Jo Bournehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13457862962618886252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15617001.post-4839499991441021992014-03-26T10:50:46.075-04:002014-03-26T10:50:46.075-04:00Hi, Jo. *waves*
You begin and end with the most i...Hi, Jo. *waves*<br /><br />You begin and end with the most important piece of advice: finish the book. Sure, considering agents is a fun form of writerly procrastination, but you reeeeally need to finish the book first. <br /><br />(For fiction, anyway. I'm given to understand nonfiction book proposals are another kettle of beans entirely. But I have no firsthand experience with that.)Linda G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.com