Blogger: Wendy Lawton
Location: Books & Such Central Valley Office, CA
I’ve been collecting publishing myths lately. I’m amassing quite a collection. I think it’s time to do a little myth busting.
Let’s talk about the alleged Catch 22 that frustrates writers. I know you’ve heard it: You can’t get a book published without an agent, but you can’t get an agent if you are not published.
It’s simply not true! Let me take it apart.
Myth: You can’t get published without an agent. I was a writer before I was an agent and I was published before I had an agent. I met an editor, Julie Allyson Ieron, at a writer’s conference. She requested my proposal and manuscript, and I landed a two-book deal. Not an agent in sight until book #3. And mine is not a rare occurrence. There are a number of wonderful publishing houses that welcome queries directly from writers. And editors from most publishing houses can be found at writer’s conferences, looking for great writers.
Sometimes a potential client will come to me with an offer in hand, knowing that they don’t have the industry knowledge needed to get the best contract and the best deal. It’s not unusual for an agent to come on to a writer’s team when the sale is already made. (And it’s a smart writer who realizes that an agent will more than earn her commission on the contract negotiation alone.)
Myth: You can’t get an agent if you’re unpublished. This second part of the myth is no more true than the first part. If you pick up a copy of Publishers Weekly or read Publishers Marketplace, you’ll find deal after reported deal for debut novels or nonfiction books from brand new authors. There’s nothing an agent likes better than discovering brilliant new talent. We are always on the search for that book or that writer who stands out from all the others.
It’s true that an agent has to strike a balance in her client list–several well-published authors, a sprinkling of bestsellers and a handful of bright new talent–in order to keep the receivables healthy and insure the leverage needed to encourage editors to take a good look at the unpublished authors. But an unpublished author with a stunning book may even have his pick of agents.
So help me bust this myth. Tell us your own story. Have you had an editor request a partial or a manuscript from a writer’s conference? Have you ever submitted directly to a publisher, sans agent? Did you sign with your agent before you were published?
It’s still more true than not that an agent who believes in his or her client and his or her work is more helpful than not in the industry. It’s a tough business on both sides. I’d like to have representation but I’m also content right now with supporting the smaller independent publishers who are willing to help me up the ladder, even if I have to wrestle the numbers into respectability myself. Networking makes the world go round. I’ve been to conferences and networked and e-mailed authors whom I’ve read which led to interviews and coffee dates and more networking. I’ve pitched at conferences which led to the “send a proposal”; even had one editor request a full ms based on an idea, which I later wrote for her. I’ve been represented twice: the first time I signed about the same time as I was offered my first cotnract, so it’s a toss-up which came first; the second time I “transferred” with no hard feelings, but the fit didn’t work out. I continue to submit to publishers, but only practice on agents.
I submitted my first two mss directly to the publisher. Both were accepted, and I just got good news: the first book has gone to a third printing! I’m calling it The Little Book That Could. Encouraging, Wendy, that you weren’t agented until your third book. 🙂
I’ve had several agents ask for full proposals at conferences and also an editor ask for a full manuscript. So your myth-busting holds up from my experience.
In fact, if it didn’t, unpublished authors might as well pack their bags and go home.
Writers conferences are ways that both editors and agents keep their doors (and minds) wide open. Bless them all for this.
I look forward to your next exposure of publishing myths!
Wendy,
Been on most sides of this quandry. I submitted my non-fiction book to a number of houses (without an agent), and signed with the first one to offer a contract, discovering later that it was still “under consideration” at other houses. Came out of it okay, though.
Was told by an editor I was about to be offered a multi-book contract by a publisher if I’d work with a certain “book doctor.” Signed with an agent based on this info, but nothing came of that quasi-deal or many subsequent attempts.
Quit writing for a while. Later signed with another agent and within a few months had a contract on a different book.
My experience: it’s possible to get published without an agent, get rejected and/or get published with an agent. All depends on God’s timing.
I’ve sold five romance novels to large, commercial publishing houses without an agent. Most of my sales came from direct contact at writers conferences. I’m still unagented. The key is learing the craft, writing the best book that you can, while making direct contact at conferences. Also, keep submitting things to publishers who are open to seeing work from unagented authors.
In my publishing journey, I went through a wonderful, professional service, Writer’s Edge, which led to a 3-book contract. Prior to this I remember being very discouraged as I didn’t have an agent nor had I ever been to a writer’s conference. I’d never even met another writer, at least one who admitted to it! I knew the Lord would have to open each and every door for me. He did! There are many avenues to publication and God is able to navigate every one of them.
Lisa, I agree with you. It is far better to have an agent as part of your team. Unfortunately it sometimes takes a while to find the right agent so I wanted to address this myth. I think it makes sense for a writer seeking publication to pursue both paths– publishing and representation. Who knows which will come first?
I love hearing these stories. Cecelia, romance is particularly open to unagented authors. And Laura, congratulations! what a story– from Writer’s Edge to a three-book contract. Way to go!
What if you have an idea for a book (and have been working hard on it), but you don’t live anywhere near common locations for writing conferences and don’t know anybody in the publishing industry?
I accepted representation last week with an agent who had never heard of me, without a referral, and without a single publishing credential. (I’m a rotten multi-tasker and I preferred to concentrate on the novel rather than distract myself with the legwork of writing and submitting short pieces.) He liked my premise and he liked my voice. And that was enough.
I chose to query agents before trying publishers because I believe #1 that agents add value and #2 I can be rejected by every agent in the world and go on to query publishers, but the reverse is not true.
Gina, the chances of you finding the perfect writer’s conference nearby are slim, but a regional conference may not be the best choice anyway. You want to choose the best possible conference in terms of reputation and number of editors/agents in attendance no matter where it is.
With any business, you need to be prepared to invest capital to get it off the ground. Writing for publication is no different. You may need to pull together enough money to invest in yourself– flying to a conference or creating a website, for instance.
But don’t think you need to know publishing insiders to get your book noticed. Many excellent publishing houses will still take submissions or queries directly from writers. Check out they websites.
And Laura Franz mentioned Writer’s Edge. http://www.writersedgeservice.com Check them out as well.
Congratulations, Janet. You are a myth buster yourself. An unpublished author who finds representation based only on a fabulous book.
I just offered representation to an unpublished writer last week for the same reason. An editor is already seriously looking at her, but she had me with the writing. I couldn’t put this manuscript down. I knew I wanted to be part of her team.
And you said: “I can be rejected by every agent in the world and go on to query publishers, but the reverse is not true.” An excellent reason to seek representation first.
Whew, I am glad to hear it, though I haven’t tried to secure an agent yet.
Great post. I’ve really enjoyed reading the comments too. Thanks!
Thanks. Still learning and your post is helpful.
It helps to be a part of writers’ forums, I find. Seeing other people busting myths helps keep a sense of perspective. I know a large number of writers who found an agent and got published without any industry contacts. It can be done.
Thanks Wendy – I am going to look for conferences to attend just to get my feet wet in the whole business. Maybe there will be one in Vegas – then I will have an excuse to go to VEGAS !!!!
I landed my agent based on the book I’d written. It was through a professional connection (a wonderful and connected friend who knew me and knew my work, sent the agent a letter of introduction on my behalf). It was over a few e-mails and phone conversations that I was offered representation. That novel, Talking to the Dead, will hit shelves June 1.
I was amazed by what my agent could accomplish in one phone call – it would have taken me literally weeks to accomplish what she can do in a moment, because of her position, connections, and skills.(If I could have accomplished it at all, that is – some things are simply beyond the reach of an author).
And my agent has been working with me, educating me, and making certain I don’t fall flat on my face ever since!
It’s frusterating when I see a potential magazine or publisher or agent and they only consider queries from published authors or queries from agents only. The fiction market for short stories is slim unless you have an agent. I’ve gone to the Literary Market and learned a little in the process. It’s doors are wide open for short fiction, but it is a different way of writing.
As an angler, I’m not sure it’s good form to say I “landed” my wonderful agent, Janet Kobobel Grant, after Mt Hermon Christian Writer’s conference, but that won’t stop me.
I clicked with her and she took pity on me. One editor had asked to see more of my proposal for How to Keep Your Inner Mess from Trashing Your Outer World. Janet also looked at it, and offered to take me on. Some people marry-up; I “agented-up.”
Direct quote from a phone call 6 weeks later: “I think your voice is strong enough to take you on as a client.”
She doesn’t know, but I did a silent cheer.
I’d advise anyone who can afford it to go to high quality writers’ conferences, and make those 15 minute appointments. Be humble enough to take advice, make the needed changes, and don’t quit.
Also, realize the publishing industry exists in its own slow-motion temporal bubble. This is the hardest part for me.
I’m simple-minded enough to believe that if God has given you a message, then, through hard work and faith, he’ll give you the platform to express it.
I only ever submitted to editors until very recently. I think one poster had it right when she stated that if you start with the editors, there is no place to go once you get through the list. However, if you begin with agents, you always have the editor route as a second option.
That said, I have received my best feedback from editors. But I think juvenile literature is still fairly open to unagented subs–comparatively.
I think which ever way you choose, a healthy dose of faith in your manuscript goes a long way. Without it, pitching live would be a train wreck!
In my 40 years of querying agents and publishers alike, I found that apart from commercial publishers as those involved with romance, science fiction, YA, etc every other publisher worked through an agent. Smaller publishing houses also are open to un-agented authors- but this was a decade or more ago- not sure if it still holds true nowadays. What I do know is that even the above named publishers will really only take a look at an agented author even though they say they are open to un-agented writers- well, with all the competition, if an agent presents you a work would you not look at that, rather than one who has only themselves to recommend it. So you see why I don’t rage and try to denigrate self-publishing as some writers’ associations do, because as someone commented on my blog:
“People have a desire to say something, and they have that opportunity and freedom here in the United States!”
After 40 years I grab what I can and good luck to everyone else.
Yes, you can publish without an agent, but why would you want to? If your manuscript is strong enough to climb over a publisher’s slushpile it’s strong enough to climb over an agent’s. Get a deal with a publisher and you now have the ear of one publisher. But if the same effort gets you an agent, you now have the ear of fifty publishers, plus you’ll never have to write another query letter. Also, Janet (previous commenter) is exactly right when she says agents won’t consider a manuscript if you’ve already shopped it to publishers.
You absolutely can get an agent if you’re unpublished. I did, with a cold query, no referral, and only a couple short story credits. It’s simple— not easy, but simple. Agents, like editors, are looking for good books, so put your effort into craft and give them a book they can’t refuse. Hard work is the only shortcut. More time working on the book translates to less time selling it. I worked on my first novel for three years before I shopped it, but my first round of queries landed an excellent agent. Wonderful agent. SUPERB agent. (How’m I doing, Janet?)
Nice of you to say I could even think of WANTING to publish without an agent, Dale. I don’t, I have to. After the first manuscript is rejected over & over, okay maybe it’s not right… the second… then the third and when it comes to the fourth and 40 years later I simply said- blow it- I’ll publish without an agent- I don’t have another 40 years to spare in sending my manuscripts around… there HAS to be another solution or not? I found another solution. I only wish someone told me this 40 years ago. Hopefully making this known to others will spare someone else those 40 years of anguish I went through- and yet I still believe I am a writer.
I submitted a book proposal for one book at a writers conference this summer. First book proposal I’ve ever written. I have no agent. The editor liked it, the team liked it, the Pub Board liked it…and I received an offer to publish not only that book, but a second one as well. Haven’t signed yet, as this just happened yesterday. But you are right: it can and does happen without an agent 🙂
Emily, Congratulations! What an exciting start to your career.
If you’ve had your eye on an agent, now might me the perfect time to contact that person. You’ll need someone to negotiate your contract and to help direct the rest of your career.
The nice thing is that since you have a contract in hand you get to jump over all the steps like querying.
Thank you, this was very encouraging to me as an extremely young author.