I don’t want to spark an over-heated debate here, but I’ve noticed WW Site Experts past and present include[d] such notaries as a literary agent and a magazine publisher.
This being the case, has any non-expert member on this site ever been approached by an agent or publisher [WW Site Expert or not] along the lines of: “Hey, seen your work on WW. Give me a call.” Just interested, that's all.

That's an interesting question, Paul....

We did actually have an agent - Katie from Elspeth Cochrane - request submissions from WWers, though. Not sure if she took anyone on.

Cath

Cath, she did.

Top. Who?

Whoever it was deserves a round of applause and the cyber equivalent of a pat on the back. So does Katie for that matter. It was great to have an "insider" on the site.

Colin M

Colin, it was someone who promptly vanished from the site...

Dee

Yeah, I think I know who it was now. Maybe it's someone who still reads the site and might come back.

That would be great, but I somehow doubt it... although I would love him to prove me wrong...

Dee

She didn't take me on --boo hoo
Sue n

Me neither, but she did a great crit on my work.

Colin

So, as well as Katie from Elspeth Cochrane, there was ...

That was it, apart from those lurking in the shadows.

colin

Perhaps it's worth pointing out that it's not very realistic to expect agents to be trawling writers' sites. Any agent worthy of the name is inundated with material. WW doesn't claim to be that kind of shop window. There are a few writers who have very lucky breaks but most of us have to sell our wares in a tough marketplace.

What the site does do, amongst many other things, is help people to improve their writing. It also provides links, via the Directory and other means, to publishers and agents. Further, it allows us all to benefit from the generously shared experience of others.

And, of course, it's not all about being taken on by an agent. For an indication of some of the benefits of WW membership, have a look at the 'members' successes' list (there's a link on the home page). These are just the ones we know about, there are doubtless many more.

Richard.

Hi Paul,

Simon Trewin once commented on Feeling Gravity's Pull and asked to see some more of it.

It's something I think about from time to time. I guess we could try and set up a system like Triggerstreet.com to try and pull agents in, but ultimately I think Writewords is more of a writers circle than a launching pad.

Geoff

Hi Richard,
I don't think I ever had expectation - or the desire - of agents "trawling writers' sites". I merely noted that an editor is on the site's current expert list, plus in the site's own words:

We also have regular 'visiting experts' who come to the site and make comments over a shorter period. In the past these have included top literary agent (so-and-so)

Paul