Hi
All a matter of opinion of course, but my agent insists that the biog is the second page of the bound manuscript, (agency details are on the first page). Note that I say biog because that's exactly what I am expeceted to write, a biog and not a CV. She asks me to put in a feel for my personality, plus anything that will act as credentials on the subject matter, ( I write non fiction). However, I do know that clients who write fiction are also asked for biogs too. It seems to work!
Mary

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Good grief, guess who's tired? Sorry, I really can write good English ..... when I am fully awake!

Yes, I think most agents ask you to knock off some kind of bio when they take you on and start selling your work - specially as you say for non-fiction, or if you have any kind of experience which is relevant to your writing. In that case it should be in your covering letter anyway. But that's a different kettle of fish from when you're approaching agents in the first place.

But your agent's perhaps unusual, Mary, in that I've never heard of one who wanted a bound MS.

Emma

I consider myself really lucky because she took me on when she first set up her agency and decided to: 'Do it her way'. It was a gamble, but years ago I was with a really big agent who actually did very little for me ..... I wasn't JKR and so I actually think that they really put in little effort; they felt I wasn't really going to earn them vast amounts of money and so didn't bother! I reckoned that with this agency not only did it matter to me but it mattered to her too. She had to make her agency work and I wanted her to 'sell' my books; she has done just that too! She is always on the end of the phone and works her butt off for me and has got me a really good deal, as she has for other clients.

I guess the moral of this tale is: 'Bigger isn't always better' And yes there is a right way to do things, but sometimes breaking the mould can work.

Hmm are you writing under a nom de plume... ?

Because this is the only rteason I can think of that they are asking for your CV. Smells a bit fishy to me .. they will be asking you for your credit card info next ...!

regards
J

Cor, this thread is a blast from the past - it's the first one I ever started on WW! What's weird is that I originally put

can't think for one moment that anyone cares what jobs I have had, or where I went to school, or what my dog is called

In the end I did mention my dog, and the publisher who is considering my full at the moment liked that because she has the same breed. It's funny how seemingly irrelevant things can give you something in common with the person reading your work.

I think that's one of the reasons they do ask for a CV - beyond your writing credits (if any) and anything in your life that directly gave rise to the book and/or gives it authenticy, it gives some flavour of the person they'll be dealing with - dogs and all... (Though I'm sure she didn't only ask for a full because of it, Caro!)

Emma

Ah intersting because years ago I was asked to go in to a Saturday meeting with someone - which I thought odd at the time. I then got a phone call to say would I mind if the person concerned brought his children along. Now that I thought really bizarre, but I love children and so really didn't give a damn, said so and added that I would bring mine too as it was a weekend and I hated deserting them for me time. I was told a year later that it was my family attitude that clinched the deal. He said he wouldn't have wanted to work with someone who cared more for themselves than their family! SO you never know!
Mary

Which breed is it, Caro? I'll get one...

Dee

She's a Staffie! If I get a publishing deal I have promised to buy her a saveloy from the chippie to celebrate.

C

She deserves it! Staffies are great but, given the choice, I'd have an English. I just love their big conky faces.

Dee

Yes, English are nice too. I used to know someone who had a pure white one called Spooky - brilliant name for a dog. But the cute 'n cuddly Staffies are my first choice! Especially since so many end up in rescue centres.

I mentioned my dog, too, Caro - but mainly because there's one of the same breed in that first book. Hence my dog got onto the bio on the back cover, too.

R x