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3 Low Cost Ways To Meet Agents & Editors
These days it's common knowledge that it's hard to meet an agent
or an editor through an unsolicited mailing. They are more
likely to pay attention to a submission coming from someone they
have met in person. To that end, writers flock to conferences so
they can get some face time with real live agents and editors.
And that's great. I believe writers should get out and network.
But those conferences can be pricey. It's best to combine
attending conferences with a few other strategies that are
easier on your wallet. Here are 3 you may find useful.
1.) Attend Author Readings
Make a point of keeping track of writers who do work similar to
yours. When they're in the vicinity go hear them read.
Sometimes--not all the time--but sometimes the author's agent
and editor will be in the audience. If they aren't, see if you
can steal a few moments with the writer and ask with whom he or
she works and whether they have been pleased with the
experience. You can either ask for an introduction or contact
the people on your own. If you're going to do the former, first
develop a rapport with the writer and stay in touch. They may
not feel comfortable referring you to their agent or editor
right off the bat, but in time as they get to know you and your
work, an introduction may be a possibility.
2.) Attend Classes Offered by Continuing Education Groups Such
As The Learning Annex
Agents and editors are in the business of looking for the next
hot writer and making a name for themselves in the publishing
world. That's why you'll often find agents and editors teaching
classes related to their work at places such as The Learning
Annex, which has locations in New York City, Los Angeles, San
Diego, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Chicago, Atlanta and Boston
(http://www.learningannex.com). Recent instructors include literary agent Katharine Sands,
editor Marcela Landres (formerly of Simon & Schuster) and Vickie
M. Stringer, founder and CEO of Triple Crown Publications. The
courses can cost as little as $30 or $40 and last about three
hours so you have
some time to find out if the instructor can
help you or point you in the direction of someone who can.
Remember the agent or editor probably has aspiring authors
handing them manuscripts all the time, so make sure you stand
out from the pack. Have a killer query letter and synopsis (if
your book is a novel) or book proposal (for non-fiction works)
at the ready. You'll make a great impression simply because
you're not making them lug a 500-page behemoth home in their
briefcase!
3.) Look for Agents and Editors Who Have Their Own Personal
Websites
When you come across the name of an agent or editor who may be
appropriate for you, Google them to see if they have their own
websites with email addresses that may be different from their
corporate mailboxes. Some are authors themselves (like literary
agent Donald Maass, author of Writing the Breakout Novel) and
have books of their own to promote. Email them and, again, try
to develop a rapport and get a sense of what they're working on
and what they're looking for. It's best to know as specifically
as possible before going through the trouble of making a
submission. I recently heard about a writer who submitted to an
agent looking for African American authors, but in fact the
agent was looking for African American authors who wrote urban
romance--which was not the writer's genre at all.
One Last Note: These ideas should get you started and I hope
they'll inspire you to try other creative routes. It does get
easier because you will find that as you go to more events and
tell more people what you're doing, the more likely you will be
to find the connector that will build the path between you and
your future agent or editor.
© 2005 Sophfronia Scott
About the author:
Author and Writing Coach Sophfronia Scott is "The Book Sistah"
TM. Get her FREE REPORT, "The 5 Big Mistakes Most Writers Make
When Trying to Get Published" and her FREE online writing and
publishing tips at http://www.TheBookSistah.com The Book Sistah,
230 South Main St. Ste. 319, Newtown, CT 06470 203-426-2036,
Info@TheBookSistah.com
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