How to get a literary agent - in (almost) five minutes
A quick overview of how to get a literary agent
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@NadineDoolittle10 жыл бұрын
For serious writers who are getting rejected, the most significant thing he says is know your genre. This is a point I brought up in my workshop and no one got it. I didn't get it until my 3rd book couldn't find an agent although 3 agents told me why. Thank you again Piers.
@nato2panama8 жыл бұрын
Thanks for putting a very human face on this business. I enjoyed hearing your advice and appreciate the time you've taken to help me understand the process.
@sbaglioscherzo3 жыл бұрын
After weeks of careful research and planning, making a spreadsheet and constructing each query specifically and tightly, I sent out over 25 queries on the same day. I ended up with seven full requests. So, I don't think that sending out a small number at a time is always the right choice. Having to wait for 6 to 8 weeks for a reply from each of them (many of whom don't reply anyway) seems like a huge waste of time, to be frank.
@snatchbloock4 жыл бұрын
Your tips were spot on. I am a senior writer and have played the lit agent game in the past. Lots of rejections but through it all, I learned to write a good query letter. You nailed that one. Overall, you crammed a lot of good information into a very small space. Hope to see more.
@tibbar100011 ай бұрын
I got an agent. I am posting this comment for anybody discouraged; no other reason. Nobody wanted my first three books. I self published them anyway. They got nice reviews but did not sell many copies. I got rejected over 120 times on the fourth book, but I have a very enthusiastic, well respected agent. Don’t give up.
@davidgoulden5956
10 ай бұрын
'Don't give up'. The best advice on here.
@dionlindsay24 жыл бұрын
Neat editing on your title - I didn't realise the significance of the dash - and I thought I could get myself a literary agent by 5 past 9!
@saurabhmawle8813
3 жыл бұрын
Haha, same here
@Auxik4 ай бұрын
After I finished my rough draft, friends and family read my manuscript and were blown away. They told me I absolutely have to get it published even though I never intended to. I quickly researched agents and wrote a horrendous query letter. I sent out about 15 queries and only got about 7 responses. All of them were rejections of course. I've attended a writers workshop and gone back and completely reworked my query letter. I feel like it is as good as it can be now. Last week I sent out 4 queries to 4 agents that I would absolutely love to work with. Fingers crossed.
@TonBil1
11 күн бұрын
You are willing to tell us how things went this time?
@johnrobinson18403 жыл бұрын
when watching these kinds of vids I find myself looking at the titles of the books on the shelf behind. Anyone else?
@raz87523 жыл бұрын
Instructions unclear, it’s been 5 minutes and I still don’t have an agent.
@krazylevin6 жыл бұрын
There's a difference between Science Fiction Agents and Literary Fiction Agents. I learned something important here. Thank you.
@sparticus10107 жыл бұрын
Solid, sensible advice. Too many novice KZreadrs offering advice on this topic. I watch their videos and get Tony Robbins in my feed as a result.
@johnsomerset4074 жыл бұрын
I am usually too lazy to click of advice links, but am glad I clicked on yours. Many thanks for your help.
@tricorntom22547 жыл бұрын
GOOD ADVICE, LACONIC AND TO THE POINT. MANY ON HERE HAVE WIND ENOUGH TO FILL THE HINDENBURG.
@l.m.42594 жыл бұрын
Thank you for making every thing so clear, and for doing so in that short of time! Incredible help you have just given me.
@marcprue4 жыл бұрын
You mentioned that every agent is hoping for..."the next J.K. Rowling..etc.." .. But she was refused about a dozen times. What did she do wrong those first 12 times before being discovered
@chocolate-bunny774
4 жыл бұрын
I watched another video on this. A few of the agents featured explained that sometimes they just don't click with the story for a variety of reasons. It could be because they don't feel as though it would sell well, or maybe something about the story isn't something they want to represent. One said that she won't publish books with scenes of women being mistreated. There are a lot a reasons, which is why you just have to keep trying.
@chocolate-bunny774
4 жыл бұрын
I watched another video on this. A few of the agents featured explained that sometimes they just don't click with the story for a variety of reasons. It could be because they don't feel as though it would sell well, or maybe something about the story isn't something they want to represent. One said that she won't publish books with scenes of women being mistreated. There are a lot a reasons, which is why you just have to keep trying.
@77777aol
4 жыл бұрын
@@chocolate-bunny774 And one agent froths at the mouth on reading about talking birds. I thiught to myself, 'she's first on my list'.
@jeffpotts6187
4 жыл бұрын
She found an agent who sat down with her, took a look at the whole picture, and was willing to take a risk. I know people who LOVED her books, but criticized the writing. I know people who LOVED her books, but had a hard time remembering all of the characters she created (which, by the way, die-hard fans loved). Both of these things are considered the kiss of death when it comes to trying to get a book published, as per every writer and agent I've seen here on KZread. So, I guess what that agent saw was the overall vision, and the core story-telling...none of which I've seen every agent and writer on KZread talk about. Which is probably the reason why J. K. Rowling is a billionaire, and the people on KZread are wringing their hands trying to stay monetized.
@begriddled
3 жыл бұрын
@J D Yeah, it's often the case that people who are persistent are lucky and those that aren't generally aren't.
@vernonrobinson74707 жыл бұрын
This is the most sensible advice from a literary agent that I have ever read
@heidia94415 жыл бұрын
Very helpful stuff. You actually gave me helpful advice that I haven’t found elsewhere. Really appreciate it!
@DavidWilliams-tk3dy3 жыл бұрын
"You'll get feedback from the agents [you submit to]". I wish! Only once from the dozen or so submissions I made. I appreciate they are busy and get many more than they can handle, but a sentence would be great, even something like "well written but the plot doesn't ring true," or "work on your pitch letter, it put me off because it was too informal" or whatever.
@TonBil1
11 күн бұрын
Not getting feedback is also feedback, I'd think. But I agree, a bit more would be nicer.
@duchessmaleficent28116 жыл бұрын
I positively love your videos. Incredibly useful, thank you for making time for them!
@MichelleGarcia-ei6rl4 жыл бұрын
Absolutely fantastic! Incredibly insightful. Many thanks for taking the time to put this video together.
@AlohaTrev Жыл бұрын
The stupidest thing ever is asking writers to select the genre. Agents and publishers will know this MUCH better. If an agent can’t read it and figure out the genre, they’re a pretty shitty agent. There are dozens of genres and stories cross over a lot. Agents should know the market and where the book should fit. Passing this responsibility onto writers is the stupidest thing.
@RobertGFerrell10 жыл бұрын
Appreciate the effort and wisdom, Piers.
@tonymichaelleetmltrademark66272 жыл бұрын
No videos in 3 years. God bless you.
@tinadeath275510 жыл бұрын
Thanks again Piers. These posts are brilliant.
@mariakapatos95456 жыл бұрын
Thank you Piers So much for your time and valuable advice!
@WhirledPublishing6 жыл бұрын
Thank you Piers for sharing your insights and wisdom.
@MrDpbazan19554 жыл бұрын
I've a great journal/memoir I came into possession of. I'd a long time friend once who was a literary agent. Yale guy. However we'd a falling out over decades and he eventually died. All before I was ready to transcribe what I have. Now done with a very good transcription, I'm lazy for one and cold contacting agents seems impossible. Thus I wait for an idea of merit. This video I'll rewatch.
@dholbourne62939 жыл бұрын
thank you , this is very important to people like me who loves to write.
@veronicachristopher9321
4 жыл бұрын
No 's' in 'loves'. I'm not being a keyboard commando; merely providing constructive criticism for writers. It starts with the basics.
@stevelowe55158 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the advice, Piers - I only wish there was more of the same out there. However, some of the reasons (excuses, I think you may even describe them as) for rejecting submissions 'out-of-hand' sound extremely trivial and arbitrary - but I don't doubt every agent does the same. And the real reason for such dismissive & disparaging behaviour by agents towards submissions you also give: There are simply too many people submitting proposals these days, and (even with the 'good-will' you mention as being there) you don't have the time to consider them all fairly. Which is extremely sad for both agents & would be authors. Firstly, because you are possibly passing-over that best-seller which would buy you that yacht you say all agents want; and secondly because the public will never get to read said best-seller (not to mention that the best author in the world may remain unpublished). So it's not a very inspiring scenario for any of us, is it... Having said that, I don't know the answer either :-)
@anthonyryan99543 жыл бұрын
Exactly the kind of insight I was looking for, thanks man
@rebeccalloyd225610 жыл бұрын
Piers, I think you did cover the essentials for new writers in your talk about how to get an agent, but perhaps you could've mentioned that short story writers are less than welcome with agents. I've just had two collections published in the same month this year by two different publishing houses, [print books, not ebooks and very decent publishers as well], I wouldn't have considered an agent for a second as you guys are really not interested in us.
@luxomoore67114 жыл бұрын
So... I can't *get* a literary agent in almost five minutes. *shakes fist at sky*
@robcornejo9597
3 жыл бұрын
Haha. I get the joke. But if it wasn't a joke i would like to clarify he didn't mean you would get an agent in under 5 mins. He meant he would tell how to get an agent in around 5 mins
@luxomoore6711
3 жыл бұрын
@@robcornejo9597 yeah... Fair.
@Rufinoman7 жыл бұрын
Another useful video. Let's face it, we first-time authors are usually like X Factor contestants at an audition. We don't know what to expect at all, but hints like these are like gold dust and more than anything, are expressed in a human way. I've taken away a huge amount of tips from Pier's videos and will use his advice to get my book published.
@stevebakker6884
7 жыл бұрын
How's the search going?
@Rufinoman
Жыл бұрын
@hidetakamiyazaki1825 Self-published on Amazon. It's the only way nowadays.
@patrickgw3 жыл бұрын
Some great advice here - especially around genre!
@ocaramia10 жыл бұрын
This is not about How to get an agent - it's simply the most basic protocol for approaching one and not getting instantly dissed-missed. It's very very difficult to get an agent today even with the most polished proposal.
@stevebakker6884
7 жыл бұрын
Good point. I'm learning that. Do you know WHAT has caused such a sea-change that so many people want to write a book these days?
@thsjesse6 жыл бұрын
Thank you! You gave me some insight I didn't realize before.
@pacedelacruz49136 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for this video. It was very generous of you and much appreciated. Pace de la Cruz
@alancornes89162 жыл бұрын
On a separate KZread video a writer said that some stories actually do defy classification into a single genre and so accurately fall under the general heading of ‘fiction’. Your video suggests that such a story would never attract an agent because they’d never get past the no specific genre hurdle.
@meganpitt5 жыл бұрын
4:15 literally wrote this. Changed it immediately-Thanks!
@historicvic2795
4 жыл бұрын
Haha
@joeyml6092 Жыл бұрын
Very funny... love it! Thanks.
@ihath8 жыл бұрын
Thank you for sharing your valuable views
@robertpietzsch588 жыл бұрын
Great information, trying to get my book seen. Thanks
@foxythepirat3036
4 жыл бұрын
Did you get published
@carlydaniels41842 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the tip. I respect writers who have so many stories in them. And cranks the work like pancakes and get better as they move along. I'm more of a storyteller. And I probably have two or three novels in me. The first work is almost ready after 13 years.
@ClintLoweTube
2 жыл бұрын
thats a long time to write a book - is it good?
@christineansorge55192 жыл бұрын
That was just about what I had the emotional energy for.
@msabcd19374 жыл бұрын
Thank you, very useful advice.
@user-kq1qg2nz4q11 ай бұрын
Great tips! You sound like Hugh Grant
@reichsfuehrerniveacreme5 жыл бұрын
No agent gives helpful feedback in rejection letters. They may use 3 words-- "Not for me"--and that's all you hear. Not much to go on in that. If you press them, they just say "I just don't like it." Again, zero help there.
@davidgoulden5956
10 ай бұрын
You are dead right.
@TheAngelOfDeath014 жыл бұрын
So, my biggest problem with literary agents and publishers -- and frankly why I love and endorse self-publishing -- is that you cut away 'the nagging middleman', so to speak. Not to say anything poorly about agents and publishers, because I am sure that along the way there is something redeeming about them, but I just cannot find any such and I've never been able to. My mom worked as a literary agent all her adult life: a career that span over 40 years of working life. And what really struck me as odd was that she got thousands of manuscripts and Query Letters sent to her, but very-very few of them became actual books. And I told her, "Mom, the idea is not to throw people's work in the bin, but to actually publish books so that people can read them. You're 'failing' all these authors because they don't live up to your principles on a book should be. Books isn't about the Agent or the Publisher -- you're only in it for the money. Nothing else." And my mom told me that books is about perfection. And I said to her: "mom, only J.R.R Tolkien were entitled to demand literary perfection. The rest of us are ordinary humans by comparison."
@jaxcortez5100
4 жыл бұрын
That was insightful, thank you for sharing. I've gone back and forth between wanting to get an agent or just keep self-publishing, as I have been doing that since 2008. My main objective for finding an agent now would be to find one who could direct my stories toward video gaming concepts, graphic novels, or made-for-TV movies. The challenging part is knowing where to start that search.
@Dorma_
Жыл бұрын
I completely disagree with the idea that publishers and agents 'failing' the author by not getting work published. Most works won't sell and would be disliked by most readers. Not only would money be lost, but the publisher's name would be tarnished and people would expect the quality of the books to be poorer and so might avoid them. They don't owe authors anything and it's childish to think they do. It's not a fair system for sure, but people shouldn't act so entitled
@TheAngelOfDeath01
Жыл бұрын
@@Dorma_ See, that's precisely the problem: MONEY and thereby greed. It's by no means about entitlement, far from it. It's about an industry that is ruled by greed rather than an objective view on what they are here for: to publish books. They are not here to judge books -- that is for the reader and the market to decide. I had this whole debate years ago with my mom who worked as a publisher for almost two decades. You can be a good publisher, but if you are too picky about what you want to publish, you'll go bankrupt instead. JK Rowling was dismissed for a whole year by numerous of publishers before she was finally given a contract, with everyone telling her that her books wouldn't sell -- not even a copy. What an absolute LAUGH! Aside from the cases where the book itself simply isn't 'ready' for publishing, meaning there is still work to be done, which is one thing, publishers are very narrow sighted. And it also depend on what genre we're talking about, naturally. I am here talking specifically about novels and novellas. Even if a book sells 3-5000 copies or much, much less, that is still a book worth selling, unless you regard everything in terms of money and have the ridiculous idea that books you publish should sell 10, 20, 30.000 copies. And that is the problem. Not everyone is Stephen King, Tolkien, Rowling, Jerry Jenkins, Dan Simmons, John Gilstrap, etc., to name but a FEW of the many highly talented writers. And as far as quality is concerned, that's highly subjective, gramma and language skills aside. Frankly, I would argue that two-thirds of the books published nowadays are absolute junk, mostly because of the extreme politically correct climate we live, wherein writers are afraid to go beyond what is regarded as "mainstream genre's" and not wanting to take the risk they might be turned down. So they go with what is already on the market. And that's sad. Writing is about being creative; about telling a good story. And there are plenty of those out there. But they cannot all of them be a golden egg, and publishers only want the golden eggs and so they are pushing writers inadvertently towards things like self-publishing and internet platforms, which also has its' downsides. And this behaviour by the publishing industry is indirect censorship, regardless of motives and excuses to the contrary.
@Dorma_
Жыл бұрын
@@TheAngelOfDeath01 Firstly, publishers will loose money from most books people give them (printing costs, distribution and paying employees etc.) People are greedy of course, but they also have to be picky else the market with be saturated with junk people with stop buying the books if they hate them. Also, don't be salty about 'politically correct stuff', as most of stuff I see that goes against that is straight up hateful or bigoted. Anything can be talked about, but promoting awful stuff would go badly with most decent people, leading to them not buying the books. I feel you're simply angry that no publisher or agent wants to take your book. Maybe the problem is your book. Maybe you need to keep trying queries. However, no-one owes you a published book. Especially if they don't like it
@katedanley10 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for sharing all of this information with writers! Invaluable!
@latehare1114 жыл бұрын
Can you tell me, is it true that agents don't like to take on writers who have published on kindle?
@mimiseton5 жыл бұрын
I loved this post, Mr. Blofeld. If you happen to read this message - could you let us know if these tips are still au courant - 5 years later? I shall also look for your more recent posts.
@robertewing31144 жыл бұрын
And finally, here is a leg-pull for you based on part of my second comment, ie beginning Being... only if the industry advised this would I ask this agent for his opinion
@debraborchert30405 жыл бұрын
Wonderful. Thanks so very much
@mariasilvakeyboard77148 жыл бұрын
After listening Piers and reading some of the comments, I'm discouraged about attempting to publish a book. It all sounds so grim and uninteresting for them. The only thing I can see is that they are waiting for a super good book shouting to them 'I'm wonderful' and without effort makes them rich instantly.
@stevebakker6884
7 жыл бұрын
Indeed, I'm learning that agents, and publishers are remarkably overwhelmed these days. Everyone wants to be an author! The term I've heard that best fits is that the author "endures" the process of getting published. As depressing as the landscape is, one should take note that thousands of books ARE published every year. And there is an argument that it's not about the odds. If it is time for you to be published then your odds are better than it may first appear. But that still means do your homework!
@elizabethpipes6500
7 жыл бұрын
I agree with you, Steve bakker. The last paragraph in your comment is very encouraging. Writing is very hard work, but I enjoy it; so I'm going to keep working at it. When it's time for me to be published, it will happen.
@CarolineMitchell10 жыл бұрын
Excellent, I've shared this post, it makes a lot of sense.
@lipomasteps5 жыл бұрын
Seriously helpful. Thank you.
@ZacharyToolsoet3 жыл бұрын
Good presentation, natural style. Standing up - I like it! Could have introduced himself better at very start - 'I am a literary agent'. Could have been a professional author. Need to know these things.
@MrDiamants7 жыл бұрын
Thanks - great advice!
@roncomfort74237 жыл бұрын
your video has been very instructive. the one thing I was looking for though is exactly where to find a literary agent. at check through the internet and it seems to me all I see there are people that want my personal information and obviously want to sell me things
@jezebelrebel2508 жыл бұрын
Good advice, thanks.
@moshecallen2 жыл бұрын
Interesting. An American agent specifically advised not to include the ending in a query letter. Does that differ then among agents or is it more country to country?
@demongroovemusic2 жыл бұрын
Very useful, thank you!
@estherharris782110 жыл бұрын
Really useful Piers - thanks
@Soorkh8 жыл бұрын
If I'm writing a book with chapters should the chapters be in the book (manuscript) when I send it to the agent?
@sandeshpopulwad6797
5 жыл бұрын
@wordstar sandesh. This is my username on Instagram. May be we can talk there about your book. I've recently self published my debut novel Mr. Single and I'm going to submit manuscript to literary agencies
@spreadbeartroops39178 жыл бұрын
Thank you, this is really helpful.
@dandonche8513 жыл бұрын
I thought this would tell me how to get an agent in just 5 minutes.
@ruthflint1028 Жыл бұрын
Hi Piers, what happens if your synopsis ends with a cliff hanger for a sequel? Should you provide three synopsis for each book of a trilogy even if you’ve only written the first?
@anthonyperry72965 жыл бұрын
How to find an agent?
@stonavigatorinc7 жыл бұрын
Brilliant! Thank you.
@johnpavon7992 жыл бұрын
I have tried all the above suggestions, to no avail? Agents are a strange lot! Even one of the Big Five publisher wrote a good review put on the back cover, and recently my publisher not one of the Big 5 gave my new book a Gold Seal!-The Gold Seal of Literary Excellence is a proof of support for your book with superior literary work. Gold Seal of Literary Excellence gives you the chance to have your work stand out from other titles. It acts as an immediate reference for traditional publishers, movie producers, book investors, library directors or readers in choosing their next literary experience. Your book cover will have a Gold Seal stamp, distinguishing it from other published books.
@reubenfrankau6766 Жыл бұрын
This is an all-time classic contribution to the genre of: Reasons to give up and abandon all hope of ever getting anything published. With arrogant tossers like this in charge of the trade, you haven't a chance.
@ringwormranger54077 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video. I have written two books for a large fantasy series that will easily span over at least five books. The amount of characters within the story are vast, and a short synopsis is nearly impossible to create. I have printed the first two books professionally, in paperback form, color covers and done extensive editing. To keep this short, I will get straight to my question. Do literary agents have any issues if an author wants to mail them hard copies of their books? I feel that my story is better represented when it is presented in its entirety, in the form I envision it to be on book sellers shelves. Any response is appreciated. Thanks again.
@funtimeslondon
2 жыл бұрын
The number of characters is correct English. The amount of characters is not!
@stevebakker68847 жыл бұрын
Helpful! Thank you.
@lambertmeertens28774 ай бұрын
A missing first step is how to find agents, which is necessary before you can even begin to research them.
@alkistisTV5 жыл бұрын
THANK YOU FOR THIS INFO, VERY KIND OF YOU, GREETINGS FROM GREECE
@paulthayer408610 жыл бұрын
You didn't mention the most important thing, other than writing a good book. Newbie authors MUST hire a professional editor to make the book as good as it can be. They should not depend on their writing group, a family member, or their 10th grade English teacher to get this job done. If an agent sees writing that is littered with grammatical errors, it's a no-brainer for them to decide whether or not to hit the REJECT button. I suggest that all unpubbed writers read the book THE FIRST FIVE PAGES by American lit agent Noah Lukeman. And then hire a professional editor.
@paulthayer4086
10 жыл бұрын
You're right. There are always exceptions. Congrats to you for your success.
@user-sw2lv3zp6o
9 жыл бұрын
Grammatical errors: that's proofreading. Far more to editing than that.
@nunayabuznatch8685
8 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the suggestion
@nunayabuznatch8685
8 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the suggestion
@user-sw2lv3zp6o
7 жыл бұрын
If writers can't write grammatically, they shouldn't be writing anything. Using clichés like 'no-brainer' isn't a good idea, either.
@steffanpiper9 жыл бұрын
Brilliant.
@JadheDiesse3 жыл бұрын
Great video thank you ✨🧡🧡
@izzojoseph210 жыл бұрын
Sounds like submission letters and synopsis are akin to calculus in the medical field. Just something to weed out the lazy ones. I would seem, if one isn't willing to do what is asked by an agent, then when it comes time for the professional rewrite, the won't be willing to listen to professional advice. Any thoughts?
@elainelouve
2 жыл бұрын
Could be. I'm not an agent or a publisher, but it's annoying when people don't follow the guidelines, and instantly makes one look like a beginner who doesn't yet know what to do. Which is fine of course, but beginners aren't professional writers, and publishers aren't going to teach anyone how to write.
@Angelfish-wr1pp3 жыл бұрын
but what if no publisher can categorise a genre - busting work? I mean, suppose
@williamwells1862 Жыл бұрын
I am not sure how to pitch this in a short form. It is a monumental story changing history. On July 17, 1996 at 11:15 p.m., I was working in overnight security dozing when my wife telephoned and asked if I had heard about the plane crash over Long Island. Immediately, I envisioned an enormous fiery explosion and told her all the people are dead. What happened can only be described as a psychic phenomena that was channeled to me that lasted on and off for three weeks. My book proves that a bomb blew the plane up. The government did not want an international conflict. Khobar Towers had just occurred and turmoil raged in the Middle East so no way the government wanted to report that a bomb blew up the plane. Clinton was far ahead in the polling for the Presidential Election only months away and wanted no Mid-Eastern confrontation to affect his popularity. The CIA made a documentary supporting the government's findings that a spark in the Center Wing Tank caused the plane to blow up which was totally fallacious which is disproved in my book. I hope that a movie can be made from my book. Randall Brooke is my pseudonym. Kindly advise me your thoughts about my movie proposal. TWA Flight 800 WHAT REALLY HAPPENED July 17, 1996 Randall Brooke
@wbiro9 жыл бұрын
Good basic tips - but if an agent or writer runs by those rules alone the quality of output will suffer - for example the agent will miss writers for whom writing is life (the best writers), and not just 'writing' - such 'writers' do not think 'synopsis' or 'genres' - and they do not think 'writing' - they are recording life - be it their experiences or their imaginings - so an agent needs a more open mind, and cannot be afraid of the totally new...
@catsilvy
9 жыл бұрын
Numi Who An agent cares about selling books. That's their job. They really don't have the time or energy to spend on concerns about hypothetical writers that might change the universe with their prose.
@catsilvy
9 жыл бұрын
I have no idea what you are talking about.
@elainelouve
2 жыл бұрын
A professional writer will know the genres and all, and be able to talk about where their work could fit. It might be the umbrella term of litterary fiction, or even postmodernist experimental prose, or "somewhere between prose and poetry". It doesn't matter what you think when you're writing and creating the first draft. You need to be able to look at your text like someone else would. And be at least somewhat familiar with litterature. Btw synopsis is just part of what writers need to do. It's hard to come by, but really, if you aren't able to write a synopsis, then you are kind of a beginner. Which is fine, but you just need to understand where you stand and learn more. I mean *writers* are those who know how to work with texts, so there's no excuse to say "I can't and won't do this" when essentially *you* should be the one who is professional with words. As said, it's 100% fine if you don't know how to. We've all been there. Then you just need to learn. Also need to add, writing is life to all those who work in that field. Or perhaps for an agent or a publisher litterature is life, but for the rest it's writing.
@laurawrigleycarr5 жыл бұрын
Hey, great video. Really helpful! :)
@ChristieNoble4 жыл бұрын
Hi Piers, thank you for your video. I've noticed that some agents in their submission guidelines ask writers to suggest books their novel is comparable to....which seems really fraught. I have no idea what books are comparable to mine. That's not because I think it's incomparable but because I'm not sure what element of the book I'm comparing. Would it be kosher, for example, to compare two novels of totally different genre's simply because I anchor my story in a specific place and time in much the same way the other author does? In a perfect world, I would like my book to sit on a shelf between 'The Hod King' and something like 'A Year of Magical Thinking' - though I don't think its as good as either. What are agents after when then ask this very loaded and frankly terrifying question? Also, is it permissible to admit (at some point along the way) that my book isn't objectively the greatest book ever written--even though it's a cracking good read in its own right?
@SamOwenI
4 жыл бұрын
The agent will be thinking about whether they can sell the book, and so knowing where it fits in the market might be helpful. It could also help you demonstrate you understand the market you have written your novel for.
@AMBK
Жыл бұрын
Wow, no! If you’re not approaching a literary agent thinking that your work is as good if not better than what’s on the shelves then you are setting yourself up for a fail.
@mblake40074 жыл бұрын
Thank you!
@chrisk82086 ай бұрын
liked and subbed with thanks.
@abdirahmandirye55436 жыл бұрын
Hi Blofeld, can I open my novel with proverbs in every chapter that enhances the book's overall theme? thanks for your instant response
@isabellefleszar5851
5 жыл бұрын
(Not a publisher) in my opinion, I think it depends on the a) quality/originality of the proverb, aka is it something everyone has heard before , and b) if it's 100% needed. Proverbs and quotes can come off as pretentious if they're overused or extraneous. Plus, proverbs are just another way of using other people's words to convey your idea. People get bored if they have to slog through a quote every chapter.
@ayamore4 жыл бұрын
Hi, my name is TB Riggs. I currently have (16) self-published books on Amazon. I am now writing a series, and I am wondering whether I should maybe contact an agent?
@ayamore
4 жыл бұрын
I was asking about books I have not yet published?
@katieglauber30835 жыл бұрын
Is it different for children's publishing?
@robertewing31144 жыл бұрын
Being led along by State and media hype that State and business is serving us all well cannot be fought by calling this agent a liar, because the title to his recording is a leg-pull, not a lie. I am the author who wrote misunderstandings must travel fastest, and I begin my present book with a leg-pull, and since blogging this agent the book ends with a leg-pull. We find some hype-spoiled people here, even one or two hopping about, yet doubt the professional reviewer too such as writes this internet comment rewritten as a poem - society can learn from the shut-down to work positively together, or nothing will be left to read except the epitaph dash of mankind, only if the industry advised this I would ask this agent for his opinion, and a conscientious opinion it would be, not an agent obtained in 5 minutes.
@northwind965710 жыл бұрын
Thanks, Buddy! Elementary information but the presentation reminded me of a query letter; no ancillary stuff, straight to the actual point. As far as exceptions to any of this? Surely there are.
@cs60782 ай бұрын
I'd like to find UNBIASED agents.
@jelliebombshell21594 жыл бұрын
Thank you
@roncomfort74237 жыл бұрын
when you say pitch letter, is this the same thing as a query letter? please forgive my ignorance
@MST3Killa
7 жыл бұрын
It is the same.
@joshuaokerson96017 жыл бұрын
could I talk to you sir? I'm a new author and would like to ask you a few questions.
@No-oneInParticular4 жыл бұрын
I feel like Notting Hill may have been based on your life.
@MrJSEARLE16 жыл бұрын
Very Helpful. Thank you.
@azuarc5 жыл бұрын
So how do I get an agent in five minutes?
@joshuaokerson96015 жыл бұрын
Could I ask you a question
@prateeikprajapati23227 жыл бұрын
"Legend of Ayaan and The henimals of Pajcashila" is the first book from the series of nine books revolving around a orphan boy named Ayaan and his unusual monkey. Both were found in a basket on the ashram gate; on the banks of river Ganga; at mysterious time in mysterious situation and were raised by ashram rishi Arunyakunj and his wife Aditi along with their own son Gopi. Now, 13 year old Ayaan loves them as family, but the thought of the fact that they are not his real parents is bothering him perpetually. Dark dreams and blurred visions are adding faith to his wish to someday meet his real parents. Meanwhile he meets a girl named Bilva with an unusual pet bunny as Ayaan's monkey. Inbetween mystical events and awkward explorations, Bilva's elder brother Dhanhar told them something that changed their life. Unlike his ashram friends, he is not human. He is a henimal, just like bilva and her family. He does not belong here, he belongs to henimal world, A world full of wonders and mystics. Which is situated on alter equator of our earth. Where everyone's spirit is shared with their animal partner. Just like Ayaan and his mane haired monkey and Bilva and her wide feather eared bunny. Ayaan decides to take the risk and headed on this adventurous mission. He leaves ashram with strong will to find his parents in that world. Along with Bilva, he joins the largest and oldest gurukul for henimals, Pajcashila (The school of five cut stones). A mystical place full of unusual creatures, gigantic moving trees, huge buildings with conciousness, domestic yetis, floating stones, water mountains, living statues, transferral trees and many more amazingly peculiar things. A world where technology has never overpowered nature. Everybody treats and worships nature like their own mother and in return, she gives them the henical particals with which they do astonishing things. On the mission of finding his parents, he comes to know something much more bigger truth about himself. There he comes to know that he's not an ordinary 13 year old boy. He is very special, not only in human world but even in the henimal world. He's considered to be the one for whom henimals has been waiting for centuries, his arrival has been foretold thousands of years ago. Although this doesn't came out to be so helpful for him, because his arrival somehow gives proof to the whole story and the prophecy which was taught as a myth to students by all teachers, gurus and acharyas. Also the world leaders and legendary henimals were not agreeing to that. Henimals all around the world believed this just as myth because that prophecy admitted the existence and arrival of those demoniac creatures called Hellimals, by whom's rememberence only, one gets terrified horribly. This puts him into great troubles and adventures throughout his gurukul life.Now how is he going to deal with all these problems.! How will he find his parents? Will he even find them? Feel how your vision and senses betrays you, see how our own world and people in it has hidden side of them. Truth we see has a million hidden layers. What we see is not what that actually is, It is what they choose to show you. The tales our great great forefathers left were just a piece in a puzzle. So let me take the blindfolds off and finally reveal the truth that has been hidden for generations. This first part of the novel series will take you along with Ayaan and his friends Bilva and royal twin brother sister Mohin & Myra on a great adventurous ride in the world that is beyond your imagination, the henimal world. Also on the emotional life journey of a 13 years old boy and his peculiar monkey. What happens next? Let me tell you in the book. °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°° Is this synopsis interesting enough to make a reader read further in book?
Пікірлер: 198
For serious writers who are getting rejected, the most significant thing he says is know your genre. This is a point I brought up in my workshop and no one got it. I didn't get it until my 3rd book couldn't find an agent although 3 agents told me why. Thank you again Piers.
Thanks for putting a very human face on this business. I enjoyed hearing your advice and appreciate the time you've taken to help me understand the process.
After weeks of careful research and planning, making a spreadsheet and constructing each query specifically and tightly, I sent out over 25 queries on the same day. I ended up with seven full requests. So, I don't think that sending out a small number at a time is always the right choice. Having to wait for 6 to 8 weeks for a reply from each of them (many of whom don't reply anyway) seems like a huge waste of time, to be frank.
Your tips were spot on. I am a senior writer and have played the lit agent game in the past. Lots of rejections but through it all, I learned to write a good query letter. You nailed that one. Overall, you crammed a lot of good information into a very small space. Hope to see more.
I got an agent. I am posting this comment for anybody discouraged; no other reason. Nobody wanted my first three books. I self published them anyway. They got nice reviews but did not sell many copies. I got rejected over 120 times on the fourth book, but I have a very enthusiastic, well respected agent. Don’t give up.
@davidgoulden5956
10 ай бұрын
'Don't give up'. The best advice on here.
Neat editing on your title - I didn't realise the significance of the dash - and I thought I could get myself a literary agent by 5 past 9!
@saurabhmawle8813
3 жыл бұрын
Haha, same here
After I finished my rough draft, friends and family read my manuscript and were blown away. They told me I absolutely have to get it published even though I never intended to. I quickly researched agents and wrote a horrendous query letter. I sent out about 15 queries and only got about 7 responses. All of them were rejections of course. I've attended a writers workshop and gone back and completely reworked my query letter. I feel like it is as good as it can be now. Last week I sent out 4 queries to 4 agents that I would absolutely love to work with. Fingers crossed.
@TonBil1
11 күн бұрын
You are willing to tell us how things went this time?
when watching these kinds of vids I find myself looking at the titles of the books on the shelf behind. Anyone else?
Instructions unclear, it’s been 5 minutes and I still don’t have an agent.
There's a difference between Science Fiction Agents and Literary Fiction Agents. I learned something important here. Thank you.
Solid, sensible advice. Too many novice KZreadrs offering advice on this topic. I watch their videos and get Tony Robbins in my feed as a result.
I am usually too lazy to click of advice links, but am glad I clicked on yours. Many thanks for your help.
GOOD ADVICE, LACONIC AND TO THE POINT. MANY ON HERE HAVE WIND ENOUGH TO FILL THE HINDENBURG.
Thank you for making every thing so clear, and for doing so in that short of time! Incredible help you have just given me.
You mentioned that every agent is hoping for..."the next J.K. Rowling..etc.." .. But she was refused about a dozen times. What did she do wrong those first 12 times before being discovered
@chocolate-bunny774
4 жыл бұрын
I watched another video on this. A few of the agents featured explained that sometimes they just don't click with the story for a variety of reasons. It could be because they don't feel as though it would sell well, or maybe something about the story isn't something they want to represent. One said that she won't publish books with scenes of women being mistreated. There are a lot a reasons, which is why you just have to keep trying.
@chocolate-bunny774
4 жыл бұрын
I watched another video on this. A few of the agents featured explained that sometimes they just don't click with the story for a variety of reasons. It could be because they don't feel as though it would sell well, or maybe something about the story isn't something they want to represent. One said that she won't publish books with scenes of women being mistreated. There are a lot a reasons, which is why you just have to keep trying.
@77777aol
4 жыл бұрын
@@chocolate-bunny774 And one agent froths at the mouth on reading about talking birds. I thiught to myself, 'she's first on my list'.
@jeffpotts6187
4 жыл бұрын
She found an agent who sat down with her, took a look at the whole picture, and was willing to take a risk. I know people who LOVED her books, but criticized the writing. I know people who LOVED her books, but had a hard time remembering all of the characters she created (which, by the way, die-hard fans loved). Both of these things are considered the kiss of death when it comes to trying to get a book published, as per every writer and agent I've seen here on KZread. So, I guess what that agent saw was the overall vision, and the core story-telling...none of which I've seen every agent and writer on KZread talk about. Which is probably the reason why J. K. Rowling is a billionaire, and the people on KZread are wringing their hands trying to stay monetized.
@begriddled
3 жыл бұрын
@J D Yeah, it's often the case that people who are persistent are lucky and those that aren't generally aren't.
This is the most sensible advice from a literary agent that I have ever read
Very helpful stuff. You actually gave me helpful advice that I haven’t found elsewhere. Really appreciate it!
"You'll get feedback from the agents [you submit to]". I wish! Only once from the dozen or so submissions I made. I appreciate they are busy and get many more than they can handle, but a sentence would be great, even something like "well written but the plot doesn't ring true," or "work on your pitch letter, it put me off because it was too informal" or whatever.
@TonBil1
11 күн бұрын
Not getting feedback is also feedback, I'd think. But I agree, a bit more would be nicer.
I positively love your videos. Incredibly useful, thank you for making time for them!
Absolutely fantastic! Incredibly insightful. Many thanks for taking the time to put this video together.
The stupidest thing ever is asking writers to select the genre. Agents and publishers will know this MUCH better. If an agent can’t read it and figure out the genre, they’re a pretty shitty agent. There are dozens of genres and stories cross over a lot. Agents should know the market and where the book should fit. Passing this responsibility onto writers is the stupidest thing.
Appreciate the effort and wisdom, Piers.
No videos in 3 years. God bless you.
Thanks again Piers. These posts are brilliant.
Thank you Piers So much for your time and valuable advice!
Thank you Piers for sharing your insights and wisdom.
I've a great journal/memoir I came into possession of. I'd a long time friend once who was a literary agent. Yale guy. However we'd a falling out over decades and he eventually died. All before I was ready to transcribe what I have. Now done with a very good transcription, I'm lazy for one and cold contacting agents seems impossible. Thus I wait for an idea of merit. This video I'll rewatch.
thank you , this is very important to people like me who loves to write.
@veronicachristopher9321
4 жыл бұрын
No 's' in 'loves'. I'm not being a keyboard commando; merely providing constructive criticism for writers. It starts with the basics.
Thanks for the advice, Piers - I only wish there was more of the same out there. However, some of the reasons (excuses, I think you may even describe them as) for rejecting submissions 'out-of-hand' sound extremely trivial and arbitrary - but I don't doubt every agent does the same. And the real reason for such dismissive & disparaging behaviour by agents towards submissions you also give: There are simply too many people submitting proposals these days, and (even with the 'good-will' you mention as being there) you don't have the time to consider them all fairly. Which is extremely sad for both agents & would be authors. Firstly, because you are possibly passing-over that best-seller which would buy you that yacht you say all agents want; and secondly because the public will never get to read said best-seller (not to mention that the best author in the world may remain unpublished). So it's not a very inspiring scenario for any of us, is it... Having said that, I don't know the answer either :-)
Exactly the kind of insight I was looking for, thanks man
Piers, I think you did cover the essentials for new writers in your talk about how to get an agent, but perhaps you could've mentioned that short story writers are less than welcome with agents. I've just had two collections published in the same month this year by two different publishing houses, [print books, not ebooks and very decent publishers as well], I wouldn't have considered an agent for a second as you guys are really not interested in us.
So... I can't *get* a literary agent in almost five minutes. *shakes fist at sky*
@robcornejo9597
3 жыл бұрын
Haha. I get the joke. But if it wasn't a joke i would like to clarify he didn't mean you would get an agent in under 5 mins. He meant he would tell how to get an agent in around 5 mins
@luxomoore6711
3 жыл бұрын
@@robcornejo9597 yeah... Fair.
Another useful video. Let's face it, we first-time authors are usually like X Factor contestants at an audition. We don't know what to expect at all, but hints like these are like gold dust and more than anything, are expressed in a human way. I've taken away a huge amount of tips from Pier's videos and will use his advice to get my book published.
@stevebakker6884
7 жыл бұрын
How's the search going?
@Rufinoman
Жыл бұрын
@hidetakamiyazaki1825 Self-published on Amazon. It's the only way nowadays.
Some great advice here - especially around genre!
This is not about How to get an agent - it's simply the most basic protocol for approaching one and not getting instantly dissed-missed. It's very very difficult to get an agent today even with the most polished proposal.
@stevebakker6884
7 жыл бұрын
Good point. I'm learning that. Do you know WHAT has caused such a sea-change that so many people want to write a book these days?
Thank you! You gave me some insight I didn't realize before.
Thank you so much for this video. It was very generous of you and much appreciated. Pace de la Cruz
On a separate KZread video a writer said that some stories actually do defy classification into a single genre and so accurately fall under the general heading of ‘fiction’. Your video suggests that such a story would never attract an agent because they’d never get past the no specific genre hurdle.
4:15 literally wrote this. Changed it immediately-Thanks!
@historicvic2795
4 жыл бұрын
Haha
Very funny... love it! Thanks.
Thank you for sharing your valuable views
Great information, trying to get my book seen. Thanks
@foxythepirat3036
4 жыл бұрын
Did you get published
Thank you for the tip. I respect writers who have so many stories in them. And cranks the work like pancakes and get better as they move along. I'm more of a storyteller. And I probably have two or three novels in me. The first work is almost ready after 13 years.
@ClintLoweTube
2 жыл бұрын
thats a long time to write a book - is it good?
That was just about what I had the emotional energy for.
Thank you, very useful advice.
Great tips! You sound like Hugh Grant
No agent gives helpful feedback in rejection letters. They may use 3 words-- "Not for me"--and that's all you hear. Not much to go on in that. If you press them, they just say "I just don't like it." Again, zero help there.
@davidgoulden5956
10 ай бұрын
You are dead right.
So, my biggest problem with literary agents and publishers -- and frankly why I love and endorse self-publishing -- is that you cut away 'the nagging middleman', so to speak. Not to say anything poorly about agents and publishers, because I am sure that along the way there is something redeeming about them, but I just cannot find any such and I've never been able to. My mom worked as a literary agent all her adult life: a career that span over 40 years of working life. And what really struck me as odd was that she got thousands of manuscripts and Query Letters sent to her, but very-very few of them became actual books. And I told her, "Mom, the idea is not to throw people's work in the bin, but to actually publish books so that people can read them. You're 'failing' all these authors because they don't live up to your principles on a book should be. Books isn't about the Agent or the Publisher -- you're only in it for the money. Nothing else." And my mom told me that books is about perfection. And I said to her: "mom, only J.R.R Tolkien were entitled to demand literary perfection. The rest of us are ordinary humans by comparison."
@jaxcortez5100
4 жыл бұрын
That was insightful, thank you for sharing. I've gone back and forth between wanting to get an agent or just keep self-publishing, as I have been doing that since 2008. My main objective for finding an agent now would be to find one who could direct my stories toward video gaming concepts, graphic novels, or made-for-TV movies. The challenging part is knowing where to start that search.
@Dorma_
Жыл бұрын
I completely disagree with the idea that publishers and agents 'failing' the author by not getting work published. Most works won't sell and would be disliked by most readers. Not only would money be lost, but the publisher's name would be tarnished and people would expect the quality of the books to be poorer and so might avoid them. They don't owe authors anything and it's childish to think they do. It's not a fair system for sure, but people shouldn't act so entitled
@TheAngelOfDeath01
Жыл бұрын
@@Dorma_ See, that's precisely the problem: MONEY and thereby greed. It's by no means about entitlement, far from it. It's about an industry that is ruled by greed rather than an objective view on what they are here for: to publish books. They are not here to judge books -- that is for the reader and the market to decide. I had this whole debate years ago with my mom who worked as a publisher for almost two decades. You can be a good publisher, but if you are too picky about what you want to publish, you'll go bankrupt instead. JK Rowling was dismissed for a whole year by numerous of publishers before she was finally given a contract, with everyone telling her that her books wouldn't sell -- not even a copy. What an absolute LAUGH! Aside from the cases where the book itself simply isn't 'ready' for publishing, meaning there is still work to be done, which is one thing, publishers are very narrow sighted. And it also depend on what genre we're talking about, naturally. I am here talking specifically about novels and novellas. Even if a book sells 3-5000 copies or much, much less, that is still a book worth selling, unless you regard everything in terms of money and have the ridiculous idea that books you publish should sell 10, 20, 30.000 copies. And that is the problem. Not everyone is Stephen King, Tolkien, Rowling, Jerry Jenkins, Dan Simmons, John Gilstrap, etc., to name but a FEW of the many highly talented writers. And as far as quality is concerned, that's highly subjective, gramma and language skills aside. Frankly, I would argue that two-thirds of the books published nowadays are absolute junk, mostly because of the extreme politically correct climate we live, wherein writers are afraid to go beyond what is regarded as "mainstream genre's" and not wanting to take the risk they might be turned down. So they go with what is already on the market. And that's sad. Writing is about being creative; about telling a good story. And there are plenty of those out there. But they cannot all of them be a golden egg, and publishers only want the golden eggs and so they are pushing writers inadvertently towards things like self-publishing and internet platforms, which also has its' downsides. And this behaviour by the publishing industry is indirect censorship, regardless of motives and excuses to the contrary.
@Dorma_
Жыл бұрын
@@TheAngelOfDeath01 Firstly, publishers will loose money from most books people give them (printing costs, distribution and paying employees etc.) People are greedy of course, but they also have to be picky else the market with be saturated with junk people with stop buying the books if they hate them. Also, don't be salty about 'politically correct stuff', as most of stuff I see that goes against that is straight up hateful or bigoted. Anything can be talked about, but promoting awful stuff would go badly with most decent people, leading to them not buying the books. I feel you're simply angry that no publisher or agent wants to take your book. Maybe the problem is your book. Maybe you need to keep trying queries. However, no-one owes you a published book. Especially if they don't like it
Thank you so much for sharing all of this information with writers! Invaluable!
Can you tell me, is it true that agents don't like to take on writers who have published on kindle?
I loved this post, Mr. Blofeld. If you happen to read this message - could you let us know if these tips are still au courant - 5 years later? I shall also look for your more recent posts.
And finally, here is a leg-pull for you based on part of my second comment, ie beginning Being... only if the industry advised this would I ask this agent for his opinion
Wonderful. Thanks so very much
After listening Piers and reading some of the comments, I'm discouraged about attempting to publish a book. It all sounds so grim and uninteresting for them. The only thing I can see is that they are waiting for a super good book shouting to them 'I'm wonderful' and without effort makes them rich instantly.
@stevebakker6884
7 жыл бұрын
Indeed, I'm learning that agents, and publishers are remarkably overwhelmed these days. Everyone wants to be an author! The term I've heard that best fits is that the author "endures" the process of getting published. As depressing as the landscape is, one should take note that thousands of books ARE published every year. And there is an argument that it's not about the odds. If it is time for you to be published then your odds are better than it may first appear. But that still means do your homework!
@elizabethpipes6500
7 жыл бұрын
I agree with you, Steve bakker. The last paragraph in your comment is very encouraging. Writing is very hard work, but I enjoy it; so I'm going to keep working at it. When it's time for me to be published, it will happen.
Excellent, I've shared this post, it makes a lot of sense.
Seriously helpful. Thank you.
Good presentation, natural style. Standing up - I like it! Could have introduced himself better at very start - 'I am a literary agent'. Could have been a professional author. Need to know these things.
Thanks - great advice!
your video has been very instructive. the one thing I was looking for though is exactly where to find a literary agent. at check through the internet and it seems to me all I see there are people that want my personal information and obviously want to sell me things
Good advice, thanks.
Interesting. An American agent specifically advised not to include the ending in a query letter. Does that differ then among agents or is it more country to country?
Very useful, thank you!
Really useful Piers - thanks
If I'm writing a book with chapters should the chapters be in the book (manuscript) when I send it to the agent?
@sandeshpopulwad6797
5 жыл бұрын
@wordstar sandesh. This is my username on Instagram. May be we can talk there about your book. I've recently self published my debut novel Mr. Single and I'm going to submit manuscript to literary agencies
Thank you, this is really helpful.
I thought this would tell me how to get an agent in just 5 minutes.
Hi Piers, what happens if your synopsis ends with a cliff hanger for a sequel? Should you provide three synopsis for each book of a trilogy even if you’ve only written the first?
How to find an agent?
Brilliant! Thank you.
I have tried all the above suggestions, to no avail? Agents are a strange lot! Even one of the Big Five publisher wrote a good review put on the back cover, and recently my publisher not one of the Big 5 gave my new book a Gold Seal!-The Gold Seal of Literary Excellence is a proof of support for your book with superior literary work. Gold Seal of Literary Excellence gives you the chance to have your work stand out from other titles. It acts as an immediate reference for traditional publishers, movie producers, book investors, library directors or readers in choosing their next literary experience. Your book cover will have a Gold Seal stamp, distinguishing it from other published books.
This is an all-time classic contribution to the genre of: Reasons to give up and abandon all hope of ever getting anything published. With arrogant tossers like this in charge of the trade, you haven't a chance.
Thanks for the video. I have written two books for a large fantasy series that will easily span over at least five books. The amount of characters within the story are vast, and a short synopsis is nearly impossible to create. I have printed the first two books professionally, in paperback form, color covers and done extensive editing. To keep this short, I will get straight to my question. Do literary agents have any issues if an author wants to mail them hard copies of their books? I feel that my story is better represented when it is presented in its entirety, in the form I envision it to be on book sellers shelves. Any response is appreciated. Thanks again.
@funtimeslondon
2 жыл бұрын
The number of characters is correct English. The amount of characters is not!
Helpful! Thank you.
A missing first step is how to find agents, which is necessary before you can even begin to research them.
THANK YOU FOR THIS INFO, VERY KIND OF YOU, GREETINGS FROM GREECE
You didn't mention the most important thing, other than writing a good book. Newbie authors MUST hire a professional editor to make the book as good as it can be. They should not depend on their writing group, a family member, or their 10th grade English teacher to get this job done. If an agent sees writing that is littered with grammatical errors, it's a no-brainer for them to decide whether or not to hit the REJECT button. I suggest that all unpubbed writers read the book THE FIRST FIVE PAGES by American lit agent Noah Lukeman. And then hire a professional editor.
@paulthayer4086
10 жыл бұрын
You're right. There are always exceptions. Congrats to you for your success.
@user-sw2lv3zp6o
9 жыл бұрын
Grammatical errors: that's proofreading. Far more to editing than that.
@nunayabuznatch8685
8 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the suggestion
@nunayabuznatch8685
8 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the suggestion
@user-sw2lv3zp6o
7 жыл бұрын
If writers can't write grammatically, they shouldn't be writing anything. Using clichés like 'no-brainer' isn't a good idea, either.
Brilliant.
Great video thank you ✨🧡🧡
Sounds like submission letters and synopsis are akin to calculus in the medical field. Just something to weed out the lazy ones. I would seem, if one isn't willing to do what is asked by an agent, then when it comes time for the professional rewrite, the won't be willing to listen to professional advice. Any thoughts?
@elainelouve
2 жыл бұрын
Could be. I'm not an agent or a publisher, but it's annoying when people don't follow the guidelines, and instantly makes one look like a beginner who doesn't yet know what to do. Which is fine of course, but beginners aren't professional writers, and publishers aren't going to teach anyone how to write.
but what if no publisher can categorise a genre - busting work? I mean, suppose
I am not sure how to pitch this in a short form. It is a monumental story changing history. On July 17, 1996 at 11:15 p.m., I was working in overnight security dozing when my wife telephoned and asked if I had heard about the plane crash over Long Island. Immediately, I envisioned an enormous fiery explosion and told her all the people are dead. What happened can only be described as a psychic phenomena that was channeled to me that lasted on and off for three weeks. My book proves that a bomb blew the plane up. The government did not want an international conflict. Khobar Towers had just occurred and turmoil raged in the Middle East so no way the government wanted to report that a bomb blew up the plane. Clinton was far ahead in the polling for the Presidential Election only months away and wanted no Mid-Eastern confrontation to affect his popularity. The CIA made a documentary supporting the government's findings that a spark in the Center Wing Tank caused the plane to blow up which was totally fallacious which is disproved in my book. I hope that a movie can be made from my book. Randall Brooke is my pseudonym. Kindly advise me your thoughts about my movie proposal. TWA Flight 800 WHAT REALLY HAPPENED July 17, 1996 Randall Brooke
Good basic tips - but if an agent or writer runs by those rules alone the quality of output will suffer - for example the agent will miss writers for whom writing is life (the best writers), and not just 'writing' - such 'writers' do not think 'synopsis' or 'genres' - and they do not think 'writing' - they are recording life - be it their experiences or their imaginings - so an agent needs a more open mind, and cannot be afraid of the totally new...
@catsilvy
9 жыл бұрын
Numi Who An agent cares about selling books. That's their job. They really don't have the time or energy to spend on concerns about hypothetical writers that might change the universe with their prose.
@catsilvy
9 жыл бұрын
I have no idea what you are talking about.
@elainelouve
2 жыл бұрын
A professional writer will know the genres and all, and be able to talk about where their work could fit. It might be the umbrella term of litterary fiction, or even postmodernist experimental prose, or "somewhere between prose and poetry". It doesn't matter what you think when you're writing and creating the first draft. You need to be able to look at your text like someone else would. And be at least somewhat familiar with litterature. Btw synopsis is just part of what writers need to do. It's hard to come by, but really, if you aren't able to write a synopsis, then you are kind of a beginner. Which is fine, but you just need to understand where you stand and learn more. I mean *writers* are those who know how to work with texts, so there's no excuse to say "I can't and won't do this" when essentially *you* should be the one who is professional with words. As said, it's 100% fine if you don't know how to. We've all been there. Then you just need to learn. Also need to add, writing is life to all those who work in that field. Or perhaps for an agent or a publisher litterature is life, but for the rest it's writing.
Hey, great video. Really helpful! :)
Hi Piers, thank you for your video. I've noticed that some agents in their submission guidelines ask writers to suggest books their novel is comparable to....which seems really fraught. I have no idea what books are comparable to mine. That's not because I think it's incomparable but because I'm not sure what element of the book I'm comparing. Would it be kosher, for example, to compare two novels of totally different genre's simply because I anchor my story in a specific place and time in much the same way the other author does? In a perfect world, I would like my book to sit on a shelf between 'The Hod King' and something like 'A Year of Magical Thinking' - though I don't think its as good as either. What are agents after when then ask this very loaded and frankly terrifying question? Also, is it permissible to admit (at some point along the way) that my book isn't objectively the greatest book ever written--even though it's a cracking good read in its own right?
@SamOwenI
4 жыл бұрын
The agent will be thinking about whether they can sell the book, and so knowing where it fits in the market might be helpful. It could also help you demonstrate you understand the market you have written your novel for.
@AMBK
Жыл бұрын
Wow, no! If you’re not approaching a literary agent thinking that your work is as good if not better than what’s on the shelves then you are setting yourself up for a fail.
Thank you!
liked and subbed with thanks.
Hi Blofeld, can I open my novel with proverbs in every chapter that enhances the book's overall theme? thanks for your instant response
@isabellefleszar5851
5 жыл бұрын
(Not a publisher) in my opinion, I think it depends on the a) quality/originality of the proverb, aka is it something everyone has heard before , and b) if it's 100% needed. Proverbs and quotes can come off as pretentious if they're overused or extraneous. Plus, proverbs are just another way of using other people's words to convey your idea. People get bored if they have to slog through a quote every chapter.
Hi, my name is TB Riggs. I currently have (16) self-published books on Amazon. I am now writing a series, and I am wondering whether I should maybe contact an agent?
@ayamore
4 жыл бұрын
I was asking about books I have not yet published?
Is it different for children's publishing?
Being led along by State and media hype that State and business is serving us all well cannot be fought by calling this agent a liar, because the title to his recording is a leg-pull, not a lie. I am the author who wrote misunderstandings must travel fastest, and I begin my present book with a leg-pull, and since blogging this agent the book ends with a leg-pull. We find some hype-spoiled people here, even one or two hopping about, yet doubt the professional reviewer too such as writes this internet comment rewritten as a poem - society can learn from the shut-down to work positively together, or nothing will be left to read except the epitaph dash of mankind, only if the industry advised this I would ask this agent for his opinion, and a conscientious opinion it would be, not an agent obtained in 5 minutes.
Thanks, Buddy! Elementary information but the presentation reminded me of a query letter; no ancillary stuff, straight to the actual point. As far as exceptions to any of this? Surely there are.
I'd like to find UNBIASED agents.
Thank you
when you say pitch letter, is this the same thing as a query letter? please forgive my ignorance
@MST3Killa
7 жыл бұрын
It is the same.
could I talk to you sir? I'm a new author and would like to ask you a few questions.
I feel like Notting Hill may have been based on your life.
Very Helpful. Thank you.
So how do I get an agent in five minutes?
Could I ask you a question
"Legend of Ayaan and The henimals of Pajcashila" is the first book from the series of nine books revolving around a orphan boy named Ayaan and his unusual monkey. Both were found in a basket on the ashram gate; on the banks of river Ganga; at mysterious time in mysterious situation and were raised by ashram rishi Arunyakunj and his wife Aditi along with their own son Gopi. Now, 13 year old Ayaan loves them as family, but the thought of the fact that they are not his real parents is bothering him perpetually. Dark dreams and blurred visions are adding faith to his wish to someday meet his real parents. Meanwhile he meets a girl named Bilva with an unusual pet bunny as Ayaan's monkey. Inbetween mystical events and awkward explorations, Bilva's elder brother Dhanhar told them something that changed their life. Unlike his ashram friends, he is not human. He is a henimal, just like bilva and her family. He does not belong here, he belongs to henimal world, A world full of wonders and mystics. Which is situated on alter equator of our earth. Where everyone's spirit is shared with their animal partner. Just like Ayaan and his mane haired monkey and Bilva and her wide feather eared bunny. Ayaan decides to take the risk and headed on this adventurous mission. He leaves ashram with strong will to find his parents in that world. Along with Bilva, he joins the largest and oldest gurukul for henimals, Pajcashila (The school of five cut stones). A mystical place full of unusual creatures, gigantic moving trees, huge buildings with conciousness, domestic yetis, floating stones, water mountains, living statues, transferral trees and many more amazingly peculiar things. A world where technology has never overpowered nature. Everybody treats and worships nature like their own mother and in return, she gives them the henical particals with which they do astonishing things. On the mission of finding his parents, he comes to know something much more bigger truth about himself. There he comes to know that he's not an ordinary 13 year old boy. He is very special, not only in human world but even in the henimal world. He's considered to be the one for whom henimals has been waiting for centuries, his arrival has been foretold thousands of years ago. Although this doesn't came out to be so helpful for him, because his arrival somehow gives proof to the whole story and the prophecy which was taught as a myth to students by all teachers, gurus and acharyas. Also the world leaders and legendary henimals were not agreeing to that. Henimals all around the world believed this just as myth because that prophecy admitted the existence and arrival of those demoniac creatures called Hellimals, by whom's rememberence only, one gets terrified horribly. This puts him into great troubles and adventures throughout his gurukul life.Now how is he going to deal with all these problems.! How will he find his parents? Will he even find them? Feel how your vision and senses betrays you, see how our own world and people in it has hidden side of them. Truth we see has a million hidden layers. What we see is not what that actually is, It is what they choose to show you. The tales our great great forefathers left were just a piece in a puzzle. So let me take the blindfolds off and finally reveal the truth that has been hidden for generations. This first part of the novel series will take you along with Ayaan and his friends Bilva and royal twin brother sister Mohin & Myra on a great adventurous ride in the world that is beyond your imagination, the henimal world. Also on the emotional life journey of a 13 years old boy and his peculiar monkey. What happens next? Let me tell you in the book. °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°° Is this synopsis interesting enough to make a reader read further in book?