The original version of this page can be found at : http://forum.sfreader.com/default.aspx?f=19&m=24660
| Posted By : Skylard - 10/5/2006 2:14 AM | Hi there,
I know this might be a stupid question and probly everyone wants to know this answer but here it is.
I just finished my first book and I really do not want to do that self publishing thing and I was wanting to findout how everyone else is getting in contact with these big publishing companies and getting their work out there.
Do you have any ideas on how that is done? Or who do I need to see?
Skylard |
| Posted By : Skylard - 10/5/2006 2:27 AM | Regards to my last post:
I just got a email from someone explaining the need for a agent for my manuscript (Thanks Dan)
Skylard |
| Posted By : nathan - 10/5/2006 11:08 AM | My only advice would be to submit to DAW first. Their turn around times are incredibly fast for a big house. Crazy, like 3 months compared to the normal 6-18 months.
Either you'll have a first sale or your first editorial feedback.
VIEW IMAGE"Writing the wet dreams of teenage boys" - Lindsey Llyod, Tangent Reviews
Tarantino himself has been forward and unapologetic about his influences. In a 1994 interview with Empire magazine, he said, "I steal from every single movie ever made. If people don't like that, then tough tills, don't go and see it, all right? I steal from everything. Great artists steal, they don't do homages." |
| Posted By : Skylard - 10/5/2006 12:03 PM | Thanks so much for the info there Nathan I really do apreciate it 
Skylard |
| Posted By : darkbow - 10/5/2006 3:04 PM | I've not submitted to DAW yet, but I've had pretty quick response times from Tor ( about 4 months) with some good feedback.
Baen takes forever, a year or more, but I've heard they're a great publisher to work with.
As for an agent, is there any rule you can't submit to both publishers and agents at the same time?
http://tyjohnston.blogspot.com |
| Posted By : Jeff Stehman - 10/5/2006 11:51 PM | Take the time researching publishers and agents--months if that's what it takes you to feel comfortable. Put together lists of who you think is the best match for your book. Be sure to include Writer Beware and Preditors & Editors in your research. Agents typically have a much faster response time than publishers, and you can query many at one time. With the big publishers, you usually have to submit one at a time. However, some agents are unlikely to rep a first-time novelist unless you already have an offer from a publisher.
Assuming your book is publishable, it can still take years to find a publisher, so write while you wait.
If you start finding yourself with hang-ups about the submitting process, I recommend Miss Snark's blog. She's an agent by day, and while she generally doesn't handle SF, she is very good at explaining what writers should and shouldn't get hung up about. Her archives also provide an excellent cat-vacuuming opportunity.
--Jeff Stehman |
| Posted By : Skylard - 10/6/2006 5:52 AM | Thanks alot guy's I really do appreciate the help anf information.
Skylard |
| Posted By : Skylard - 10/29/2006 8:09 AM | Hey guys and gals I got a question have anyone of you ever heard of NY Literary? They said that they are a agency for writers and basicaly wanted to be my agent. They said they are free agents but get 10% from selling my book to a publisher. I am not really sure if I should trust these guys or not because I can't call them they said they only deal with email untill they get a guarentee sale of my book. Any way they now want me to send them the rest of my novel and I was hoping for a little insight from you guys.. Should I do it or not???
Thanks Skylard |
| Posted By : darkbow - 10/29/2006 4:55 PM | I don't know anything about NY literary, but your post brought a couple of things to mind.
10% was the norm 20 or so years ago, but that seems kind of low for most agent's today, though I guess there are exceptions.
But my real question is ... if it's a guarantee sale they want, then why do you need them? Sure, agents often don't take on first-time novelists unless the novelist has already sold the book, but if you have sold the book I'm guessing you potentially would have your choice of agents to pick from. So why choose them?
I'm not saying you shouldn't choose NY Literary, but once you sell a book, I'd suggest taking at least a day or two to look around at other agents. See which one works best for you.
Plus, once you've sold a book, I'm thinking some phone time with potential agents is crucial. You want to get a feel for them, and to see if they agree with the path you've decided to take. Last thing you want is to sign with any ole agent, especially one you might end up hating down the road.
http://tyjohnston.blogspot.com |
| Posted By : carnifexpress - 10/29/2006 5:56 PM | Darkbow hit the nail on the head... once you have a potential contract in front of you, the agent has to work for you to get every last dime, clause and idea into that contract that you need and every last negative out of it, which is crucial.
An agent that is enthusiastic to work with you from the get-go is so important... I hear horror stories from writers I talk with all the time about that. An agent that doesn't want to have a personal conversation might just look at you as another contract and nothing more, althouhg I surely can't speak for NY Literaryor even claim to know who they are.
Armand Rosamilia
Visit Carnifex Press for more information!
Freehold short stories:
"Dew Scented" Stalking Shadows anthology
The Freehold site is now up!
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| Posted By : Skylard - 10/30/2006 4:22 AM | Thanks alot guys, I am not really sure what I am going to do yet I guess I do need to continue looking around for an agent. I'm just scared of this because it is so new to me and I just don't want to get messed over.
Probably the scareist is that they don't accept phone calls they always call the writers and thats why I really wanted to see if anyone had ever heard of them. It just seems strange to me is all.
I am not quite sure how to protect myself from lossing my novel, do I need to contact some kind of lawyer or should I go and get it copywrited? Or do I have to have a ISBN # first? Oh god I just don't know anything about this stuff. Thats why I asked yall, I figured you have been doing this for a while and might know what I need to look out for.
Thanks again,
Skylard  |
| Posted By : Jeff Stehman - 10/30/2006 10:53 AM | The New York Literary Agency (newyorkliteraryagency.com) has a "strongly not recommended" listing on P&E. If that's who you're talking about, run away. If that's not who you're talking about, I'd run away anyway. The nonstandard commission and not being willing to talk to you by phone are red flags. At the very least, approach with extreme caution and investigate thoroughly.
Your novel is already protected by copyright--it was as soon as you wrote it. There's no reason to do more.
--Jeff Stehman |
| Posted By : BethS - 10/30/2006 1:32 PM | Definitely hunt for an agent first. A good agent knows who among the publishers is the most likely to want your book. When you approach publishers yourself, you're shooting blind--and once you've been turned down by a publisher for a particular book, you can't shop that book there again. At least, not without waiting a few years and substantially revising it.
Before submitting to an agent, make sure your novel is as good as it can possibly be. Get feedback on it from other writers.
And finally, do careful research before contacting to agent to make sure he or she is legitimate and has a good record of sales. Watch out for scam artists! Here's a good place to check on an agent's reputation: http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/
Good luck!
~Beth |
| Posted By : BethS - 10/30/2006 3:28 PM | The New York Literary Agency is not a legitimate agency. You can read more about it here.
This is what I meant by doing your research on agents and agencies. If you read agent blogs (particularly Miss Snark) and listen to what published writers have to say about the subject, you can save yourself endless grief. The Writer Beware Blogs is a good place to start.
~Beth
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| Posted By : BethS - 10/30/2006 3:33 PM | | Darkbow said: Sure, agents often don't take on first-time novelists unless the novelist has already sold the book,
That's not actually true. Most agents will take on new writers if the writer has written something the agent loves and thinks will sell. It's as simple as that.
~Beth |
| Posted By : ErylRavenwell - 10/31/2006 5:26 AM | Thanks for warning us. I was taking an unhealthy interest in this agency. Look like my star is shining bright and high again.
BethS said...
The New York Literary Agency is not a legitimate agency. You can read more about it here.
This is what I meant by doing your research on agents and agencies. If you read agent blogs (particularly Miss Snark) and listen to what published writers have to say about the subject, you can save yourself endless grief. The Writer Beware Blogs is a good place to start.
~Beth
Beware of words, for they hold a power that can alter the fabric of our minds; intangible words that can summon the dormant predator from the dank recesses of the mind.
~Eryl Ravenwell (a.k.a Quetzalcoatl)~
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| Posted By : Skylard - 10/31/2006 2:35 PM | Oh my god, thank you guys so much for this new information. I will definatly be checking out the blog (Miss Snark) for extra information. I am so glad I did not send off my entire manusript to those people now.
I really do apreciate this eveyone  I don't know what I would have done if they would have stolen my work (worst case senerio). I guess I need to be more careful from here on out. You all are full of information and I can not thank you enough for everyones help.
Skylard |
| Posted By : BethS - 10/31/2006 3:05 PM |
Skylard said...Oh my god, thank you guys so much for this new information. I will definatly be checking out the blog (Miss Snark) for extra information. I am so glad I did not send off my entire manusript to those people now. I really do apreciate this eveyone I don't know what I would have done if they would have stolen my work (worst case senerio). I guess I need to be more careful from here on out. You all are full of information and I can not thank you enough for everyones help. Skylard
They're not out to steal your work. They couldn't care less about your work. All they want is your money, without giving you anything in return.
Good luck with your search!
~Beth |
| Posted By : Skylard - 10/31/2006 4:09 PM | Alright I have a new question for you all.
I have a freind who has been writing for years and never got a traditional publisher to publish her work so almost six months ago she went and published through one of those self-publishing companies and now realized she made a huge mistake. She has droped like $4,000 dollars in her own marketing program and although it is really a teriffic novel she is not getting the sales she had expected because no bookstore wants to carry her novel because the publisher she went through does not have a return policy for non-sold items and a crapy discount program.
Anyway she had asked me if their was some way she could pull her work off the market and revise it and try sending it out again but this time to agents and traditional publishers.
I did not know what to tell her because I don't know if their is some kind of copywrite law that will prevent her from doing that. Or does she just need to chalk it up as a bad experiance learned and forget about her first novel, and just persue better contacts for her next novel she is working on?
Like I said I did not know what to tell her so I wanted to ask you all if anyone here ever had or heard of this situation before?
Thanks guys (and gals) 
Skylard |
| Posted By : Dragon Angel - 10/31/2006 5:50 PM | First of all, it's not self published if she has a publisher. Self-published books are done by hiring a printer to print your books, then you are in charge of everything else. She got what is more commonly referred to as a scam, which is much worse.
Anyway, what matters is the contract she signed. What does it say? It might very well say they own all rights to it.
Now that I think about it more, she's in even worse shape than that. She has already paid someone to use up her first publication rights. No traditional publisher is going tobuy second publication rights unless the first publication had some good sell through. Sorry. She'd do best writing another book. Fortunately, the second book is often better than the first.
read free fiction and poetry at http://www.geocities.com/davidolson22/index.html
Part dark, part light. And gooey in the middle. |
| Posted By : Skylard - 10/31/2006 8:26 PM | I'm not sure what her contract say's but I'll ask her. I do know she has all rights but thats all I know. I'll have to find out for sure.
Skylard |
| Posted By : Robert M. Blevins - 11/1/2006 1:31 AM | Oh, no...
NOT the New York Literary Agency again!
I thought I had heard the last of them. They are not legitimate at ALL!!! My sympathies to their latest victim.
Now, I do want to add a few notes here, and not to plug Adventure Books of Seattle, the small press I run up in (guess where)  I only mentioned that so you'll see my opinion has some credibility.
Okay, take a deep breath and consider these options. Remember, when a company such as NYLA scams you, there are options. First one is this:
Send a registered, insured, return receipt, full-blown notarized letter to the scamming publisher. In the letter you must claim that the company has misrepresented your book, and their marketing efforts. You say also that you are finding them in default of the contract and view them as dishonest. Be frank. Don't be nice. Threaten legal action. Threaten to turn them in to the Federal Trade Commission. (Believe it or not, this is one agency dishonest publishing scam outfits DO fear.) You are not the first person to be scammed by these guys. They are sharks, but even sharks can be outwitted and beaten. The FTC loves to come down hard on these people, and this what the FTC can do to dishonest publishers...put them in Federal Prison. And they have...after they notify the IRS to check their tax returns and make them appear in front of a Federal magistrate. Not fun. Due to the number of complaints against NYLA already out there, they would have no credibility with the judge. Think of NYLA this way: They are criminals, cut and dried. They practice fraud, and are well-known.
You must state that you are taking back the rights to your book. And don't ASK them, TELL them you are taking back the rights. Be harsh, be firm, don't swear or make empty threats. If you do this right, they will never bother you again. Tell them to stop publishing your book AT ONCE or you will do the above things I mentioned.
Then take your ms. and submit/publish it elsewhere. Don't worry, 99.99 % of dishonest publishers will be happy to be rid of you. The noisy wheel gets the grease. You have rights. It's YOUR book. Be brave...be tough.
Trust me on this...it works.
Robert M. Blevins
Head Editor and bottle washer
Adventure Books of Seattle
"Don't give up reaching for the stars...
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| Posted By : Skylard - 11/1/2006 4:28 AM | Thank you Robert,
I really do appreciate the great information and advice.
Skylard |
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