Agents and that word I can't pronounce

[erastes]

Which is: Statistics.

I've been updating my page at www.litmatch.net (which is very useful site - go join - shoo!) and putting in all the agent queries that I can find in my inbox. As you can see, it's pretty depressing reading. Out of the 21 queries I've made, you can literally say I've had 20 rejections (because one was made this morning).

	Initial	Follow -up	Overall
Offers	0	0	0
Requests	1	0	1
Rejected	7	0	7
Withdrawn	0	0	0
Pending	13	1	14

I'm sure I'm queried more than 20 over the last 2 years, but I don't seem to have kept the emails--or maybe I haven't.  Oh well, keep on plugging as they say.

I do rather get the feeling that many of these agents put "gay/lesbian" as one of their targetted markets but they only do it for PC reasons--when you check their client lists, many don't have any gay/lesbian books at all. You'd think, therefore, that it would be something they'd be particularly looking for then, wouldn't you?  No? Me either.

Somehow (oh how naive...) I had the impression that once I'd actually SIGNED a damned mainstream contract that it would be mildly easier to land an agent, because all they have to do now is cop a percentage of what money I might own, but now I look at it with more sober eyes, I realise this is nonsense. There's no guarantee Transgressions will earn-out its advance (most books don't, apparently so I'd better cancel the order for that new house, eh?) and unless it does the new agent won't be earning a penny, whereas if they'd come on board before I got that advance, at least they'd have had some of that. I learn. Slowly, but it is possible to teach this old bitch.

I'm pitching a weird query too, I'm not just pitching "here's my new novel PLEASE READ" I'm sort of pitching Junction X in conjunction with the ongoing marketing of Transgressions (and the others I suppose, as I'm still living in hope of:- Standish the movie, Standish the mini-series, Standish the GRAPHIC NOVEL (come on - wouldn't you buy it?) Standish the fully illustrated glossy paper full colour coffee-table edition....Standish the posable dolls....Standish the dollshouses....) 

Yeah yeah. Champagne marketing ideas. Beer in hand.

On we go...

Oh - and PS - before querying ANY AGENT - even from this site - check 'em out on Preditors and Editors and the Water Cooler FIRST. OK?
 

Comments

[the-sea-to.livejournal.com]

yes. I get that feeling too. We'll see. It is an emerging market - who do we know that is well connected and pushy enough to be a good agent? *ponders, not being bitchy here, just thinking out loud*

Maybe you should simplify your query just to Junction X... it may be the scope of it is confusing people. Esp since JX and T are v. different... would you like me to take a look at it? Just for a 3rd party POV?

Standish _ Uncut. Take it as you will....

[erastes.livejournal.com]

If you have da connections to the trade, hun - I'd say go for it!

I sort of don't want to not mention Transgressions because it's the mainstream thing, if you know what I mean...I don't want them to think that I'm still being published just by small PODS. It's a difficulty. I'll send you email that I'm sending out. Don't laugh.

[the-sea-to.livejournal.com]

no no- I don't have the connections. Or, more to the point, the time. However, assuming we win the euromilllions tonight... done deal! :)

You can mention transgressions - it makes perfect business sense. However, maybe it is best mentioned in something like "In XXXX of 2009, Running Press will be publishing Transgressions (blurb). RP have (if they do) first refusal of any future (XXXXX). Erastes has also previously had books published by XXXX and XXX."

That way, you are telling them, but not pushing the commission side on them. Am I making sense?

[crawling-angel.livejournal.com]

I'd buy Standish the movie as well as Standish the posable dolls (especially Ambrose - I could have a dozen of them each in a seductive pose for the one Rafe (Yes, I almost typed Raith there!) I would have).

I wish I had the brains to be an agent, lol...or an author for that matter *lmao*

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I so want dollz. :)

[sleveen.livejournal.com]

Somehow (oh how naive...) I had the impression that once I'd actually SIGNED a damned mainstream contract that it would be mildly easier to land an agent, because all they have to do now is cop a percentage of what money I might own, but now I look at it with more sober eyes, I realise this is nonsense.

Yeah. Welcome to my world. Six books published to rave reviews but I couldn't get an agent if I dipped myself in smarm and rolled in money. o_O

[erastes.livejournal.com]

There must be some kind to alchemy to it. Gawd knows what.

[sleveen.livejournal.com]

I keep trying to figure out what it is. If you find out tell me. If I find out, I'll pass it along to you. :)

[vashtan.livejournal.com]

I hear ya. I'm just getting ready to do the rat race again. :)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Good luck!

[alankria.livejournal.com]

My understanding was that agents don't get a share of royalties, only the advance.

Also, when they say they're interested in GLBT fiction but have no GLBT books on their list, it could be that some of their books have GLBT elements. The book I'm currently submitting features two women who are in a relationship, but I doubt the book would be marketed as GLBT because that relationship isn't the focus of the plot.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I thought they got a percentage of all .

http://hollylisle.com/fm/Articles/faqs3.html

[b-sheridan.livejournal.com]

it would be mildly easier to land an agent, because all they have to do now is cop a percentage of what money I might own,

An agent only gets a percentage on works contracted after you sign with them. They get nothing on any contract you already have. And yeah they get a percentage of all the books earnings for projects they sell..

[semioticwarrior.livejournal.com]

Am sending you email presently RE agents.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

ah - the mystery solved - I couldn't work out who it was from!! Thank you!

[penelopefriday.livejournal.com]

Ooh, are you like my mother and pronounce it 'sadistics'? It gives entirely the wrong impression in psychology lessons, though judging from your experience possibly not in this case.

I had a look through the writers and artists yearbook 2009 and couldn't find ANY agents who advertised GLBT as a speciality. So that's me stuffed when the novel's finished...

[erastes.livejournal.com]

The year book is hopeless in that regard, quite out of touch, I bought one the first couple of years and don't bother now.

Now, it's worse. It's stastisticks. *horror* Unless i concentrate.

innovative is tough too.