Hello. Just joined on the month's trial to see what WW is like. I've been writing for many years - actually, have a long history of nearly making it, but not quite: for instance, I've had two books with two different agencies, but neither of them sold. Also a long run of getting serious interest from radio producers, but in the end ... you know: the plays weren't quite right. I tend to make it to story competition shortlists fairly often, but I haven't won all that many prizes yet. So ... think I still have a lot to learn, despite the length of time I've been writing. I hope this place will help, and I'm looking forward to meeting you all.

Hi, catlin, and welcome to WriteWords.

As a trail member oyu can join one group and upload one piece of work. Some of the groups are more active than others - you'll find the list by clicking the Groups tab in the top left hand corner.
If you need any help, just give us a shout.


- NaomiM

Hi Catkin and welcome to WW

That so-near-and-yet-so-far stage is so desperately frustrating, and also baffling. Very best of luck with it, and I hope you find WW useful.

Emma

Hi Catkin, and welcome! I've found the expertise available on this site wholly invaluable - and I hope you will do, too!

Good luck with your writing.

Rosy x

Thank you, all. Emma, yes, it is v. frustrating indeed! I read somewhere that agents place 80 per cent of the books they take on, so I've wondered for a long time if I've really been in the unlucky 20 per cent twice. I would love to know if that 80 per cent sold figure is really true - perhaps it's really far less than that.

Naomi, I have joined the Short Story group. Now editing my latest for posting there - thank you.

I would love to know if that 80 per cent sold figure is really true

I think it depends enormously on the agent - a figure across the board doesn't tell you a lot, really. But it's getting much harder: even the top agents who used to be pretty sure that any writer they took on would sell in the end (maybe not with the book in the form they took it on, or maybe even not that book) are finding that their hit rate is dipping.

Emma

I read somewhere that agents place 80 per cent of the books they take on,

I read it was only 10% for debut novelists - although it's a much higher level if they submit a second novel.

Agents vary, as far as I can see: some seem willing to take on quite a few new authors, but drop them fairly fast if no one bites in the first six or eight submissions, others take on fewer new authors, but persist and persist with they ones they do. (My agent was quoted as saying, of moving from editing to agenting, "I discovered that although I'm not often wrong, I'm not always right straight away"). The latter, of course, have a higher apparent hit-rate, on the other hand maybe they didn't take on someone who would have sold...

Emma

[quote]some seem willing to take on quite a few new authors, but drop them fairly fast if no one bites in the first six or eight submissions[quote]

- that's exactly what happened to one of my books!