That's great Katie. I'll send it off today. It's not a gay detective story, as they seem a little trad to me!
Strangely, there don't seem to be any agents that deal with gay literature - on the whole it seems to be done directly through publishers. As the potential readership may seem limited, I can understand this. One agent loved the story, but turned it down because he said he had no experience of the genre. Or that 'this isnt a market in which we are currently involved'. That confused me. Surely if a book will sell in any genre, then it's of interest to an agent? You'd know better than me of course.
However, my story is not about being gay, or making any great political statement - its just a story where the main characters happen to be gay, and there is a difference.
It's great that you're writing on here, as it gives us writers a chance to get inside the mind of an agent.
Thanks again
James

Great James, I look forward to hearing about it in more detail.

As to Jubbly's question, my problem with auto-biog/memoir stuff is that most of what I get in that genre is from people (often of a 'certain age' who've had some fascinating experiences but can't always transfer them onto the page in a way that would make them publishable. I must have racked up a load of bad karma turning down material from 90 year old ex-servicemen, but what can you do?!

However, if you're involved in this site I'm assuming you have the writing talent and knowledge of the industry to back up the fact with the fiction, so to speak. In which case feel free to send in the details if you'd like me to have a look. 'Faction' often provides some great material so I wouldn't rule it out completely.

James - was just thinking over what you wrote about agents' responses to your work, and I can understand your frustration. I suppose a 'gay' story automatically pigeon-holes it for some people, and therefore they might worry about its commercial success. But as you say, the genre wouldn't exist in the first place if people didn't buy the books, so there's obviously a market for it. In any case there's a huge market for thrillers.

I think it's another example of the importance of matching a writer to an agent. Reading is so subjective and any agent's view is bound to be affected by their personal tastes and experiences, just like any other reader. It can take time to find the agent who matches you and your writing, but if you've got the material and the talent then you'll find a way!

Oh, and thanks for the encouragement. I think it's helpful to have discussions between the different disciplines, and it's great for me to be in contact with writers - it's why I love my job!

Hi Katie!

Thanks for the very positive, encouraging mesage- a very rare thing in this field! I'm personally getting very weary of hearing people "who know" say how impossible it is for new writers to get a look in.

I've been toying with the idea of sending some work to an agent, but I've been putting it off because I'm scared of writing a terrible preliminary letter and putting them off my work before they even get a chance to read it... Do other people have this problem too, or is it just me?

A question, if you haven't had enough of those: Do you generally consider novels-in-progress, or only finished manuscrpits? I'm working on something at the moment and I was wondering if it would be worth sending you a synopsis at this stage...

Thanks again for the encouragement, hope you find your new writers!

Daphne

Hi Daphne,
Thanks for the encouragement and I'm really glad everyone's feeling so positive.

As to your questions, you're right to be aware of the importance of your preliminary letter, but don't let that put you off submitting your work. From the many I read every week, I'd say it's hard to really put people off. Don't be too 'identikit', call the agency and ask for someone's name. Try to show a little of your own style and personality so that you stand out. Keep it fairly concise and be direct. The only thing I find off putting is arrogance (as opposed to confidence)so don't be too pushy, but be proud of your work.

New writers get agents and publishers all the time, but it's true that it can be a lot harder and take a lot longer, but don't give up before you've started!

As for your novel, I generally only consider finished work. Having said that, you always hear stories of people who sold a book on the basis of the first page, so my word's hardly gospel. I think Monica Ali found successs after six chapters. So if you want to practice your introductory letter, feel free to send in some details about your book.

Thanks Katie!

I think I might start writing dummy preliminary letters so when it finally comes to the real thing, I'll have had lots of practice...

As for my book (which is currently only about a fifth of a book), I may just hold onto it for a little longer. You probably have enough work on your hands (and your desk, and probably all around it, too) for me to add to it by sending in something that is nowhere near completed. It's a great insentive, anyway, to get my head down and finish it sooner rather than later. So you might just hear from me in a few months' time. With a superb preliminary letter, of course!

Thanks again for your reply and all the advice.

Best of luck, take care,

Daphne

Last June I went to the Writers' Conference at Winchester. Teresa Chris did an extremely informative talk on what agents want from writers and someone asked her about submitting a novel before it was finished. She made this comparison: Supposing you were a painter and you were doing a picture you were really excited about. You got it three-quarters finished and sent it to an art gallery with a covering letter saying it will be great when it's finished. Can you imagine a gallery showing any interest in an unfinished painting (unless, of course, you were already famous and had obligingly died at your easel). No, of course they wouldn't let it over the doorstep.
We should consider our novels in the same way. They are our paintings and we should save them until we can present them, fully formed, to a waiting audience.
Dee.

A good point Dee.

Apart from anything else, you want to make sure that you only submit your work when it's at its peak. It's to the writer's advantage to finish it and then get crticism on it, go back, re-write as needed, fine tune, adjust and scrutinise every sentence - basically utilise the many facets of this website!

Work that's been 'polished' stands out a mile, and even if it's a work I ultimately reject, the thoroughness is something that I appreciate.

I understand Theresa Chris's viewpoint entirely. For most writers, you don't really know what you have until you've reached the last page, and then that's only the beginning of rewrites, editing and revision.
I think it's important to send out work you're the most happy with - if accepted, there'll probably be more revison and editing to be done, but at least you're presenting your best side as it were.

Hell Katie

How do you get into your line of work then?

ftgirl

Hi ftgirl - good question.

In my case, it was luck. I was looking for work experience just when Elspeth was looking for a new assistant, so it was a matter of good timing.

There isn't a specific route into being a literary agent. Some people are involved in other aspects of writing before they join an agency; maybe with a publishing company, a newspaper, theatre etc.

A lot of people start off as an asistant, like me, where you learn about the contracts and so on whilst makng your way through the slush pile. Gradually you acquire clients of your own and move up the ranks. But different companies work in different ways.

Work experience is the often the best way as it's a small world and you'll meet a lot of people. You'll also hear about any jobs that are going; one thing tends to lead to another. Not all agencies offer work experience though, so have a ring round. The work may not be very exciting, but some places will pay you, or cover travel expenses, and you can learn a lot.

Let's see . . . you're interested in material that makes good use of politics and current events?

Take a look at some of this material.


If you like what you see (style wise) we should talk.

Thanks.

I followed the link, but I wasn't really sure what I was reading. It seemed to be non-fiction, and a case of reporting various events to do with religion.
Although it was interesting material, it's not something that strikes me as publishable in its present form.
I'm afraid you're going to have to give me a bit more to go on.
If you want to submit something you've written, then by all means, send in a letter and synopsis and I'll get back to you.
Katie

gosh, i wouldn't read that link even if someone paid me!

You wouldn't read it? Why not?