tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post6899301724314031154..comments2024-03-19T05:28:00.356-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: Bluto's Bouncing BrainLeigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-49429889054343938242015-01-17T16:11:10.115-05:002015-01-17T16:11:10.115-05:00David, what you contributed WAS useful. Very usef...David, what you contributed WAS useful. <i>Very</i> useful! I've read quite a lot of your work, so I've seen how good it is. Therefor, the idea that you've written novels that were "unsaleable" would shock me. <br /><br />Instead, I think your comment serves to illustrate an issue that Fran alluded to in her comment, which I would verbalize as: "You've got to find the right agent for what you write, or s/he won't do you any good." These are important words to live by, I think -- words that, in my rush to land an agent, I tend to forget. <br /><br />I thank you for reminding me, and making the reason so clear. Much appreciated, buddy!<br /><br />--DixonDixon Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11220791609338404147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-39112244858187235582015-01-17T09:37:14.610-05:002015-01-17T09:37:14.610-05:00Dix, I parted ways with the only agent I've ha...Dix, I parted ways with the only agent I've had because he didn't want to represent anything I'd written. Whatever project I put before him, he dismissed as unsaleable (and he was probably right). The stuff he wanted me to write didn't interest me. Eventually I came to the conclusion that he had mistaken me for someone else, so I bid him adieu. A case of, I think, the agent only wanting material that some best-seller (Grisham, King, etc...) had already written. I could not be that writer.<br /><br />If, and when, I can contribute something useful as regards agents and writers, you will be the first to know.David Deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13005457506363262838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-38565420198903819492015-01-16T18:29:14.411-05:002015-01-16T18:29:14.411-05:00See, this is what I LOVE about our exchanges here ...See, this is what I LOVE about our exchanges here at SleuthSayers. Fran explains that she was prepared for the face-to-face, but found it didn’t come to that. Janice provides a long-term view of the situation, not only reminding us that agents feel forced to look for block busters, but also clearly explaining why they have to — in order to survive! Then Melodie drops a bombshell of true “insider information,” concerning the statistical results of pitching at a recent conference, and what those results spelled out. Priceless information — every last bit of it! Where else could I get this stuff—and rest so assured that the info came from reliable sources—except at SleuthSayers.<br /><br />And, Leigh, I’m looking forward to that post about the book, myself.<br /><br />--DixonDixon Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11220791609338404147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-43098164532789780212015-01-16T15:01:28.564-05:002015-01-16T15:01:28.564-05:00>That's the book my brain ran away with. B...>That's the book my brain ran away with. Because that book -- though others may not find it as wonderful as I do -- just reached inside my chest, scooped up my heart and soul, and took flight with them.…<br /><br />Damn, that's quite a compliment, Dixon. I can't wait for your follow-up!Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-54195930727948492642015-01-16T12:47:50.944-05:002015-01-16T12:47:50.944-05:00Dixon, I can tell you from my experience as an org...Dixon, I can tell you from my experience as an organizer of the Bloody Words Conference in Canada, that agents go to conferences to steal A-listers. They are less interested in picking up new writers there. We got a shock, when we actually saw the results of a survey we did a year ago, which gave us this info. The conference pays for the agents to travel there, hotel and meals, and we couldn't find a single new writer who actually got picked up by an agent at the conference.Melodie Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07870938103759179132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-26221818571244177032015-01-16T08:32:11.990-05:002015-01-16T08:32:11.990-05:00I've found that getting an agent is actually a...I've found that getting an agent is actually as hard or maybe harder than getting a publisher. I realize that part of this for me is my age- I still haven't been able to replace my last agent- but if you think about the economics of the business, very few writers are ever going to earn enough to pay an agent's bills even at 15%.<br />So, don't think of your manuscript as a terrible waste of time. It's probably pretty good but in economic terms, unless it is a big commercial property, chances are it's going to take a long time to find an agent.janice lawnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-23238774768819274082015-01-16T06:46:14.258-05:002015-01-16T06:46:14.258-05:00Dixon, I'm not so sure about the pitch session...Dixon, I'm not so sure about the pitch sessions because though I had one of those thirty-second talks about my first book prepared, I never got the opportunity to use it with an agent or publisher. What I do suggest is not being embarrassed to ask for recommendations from friends with agents and realizing that the whole agent business is subjective. A rejection doesn't mean what you're offering isn't good, just that it's not the right agent for that particular project. Good luck!Fran Rizerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08655783035179620991noreply@blogger.com