karaokecrush
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big kiss
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« on: December 03, 2008, 11:17:06 PM » |
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Like I was just saying in a reply to another post, I'm really frustrated. Recently fired my agent for being a bonehead (I said "Idiot" in the reply ... but I felt that was a little too brutally honest.) I'm new to blogging so please forgive me. I was with this agent for almost eight months. In my contract it said that I was expected to research publishers where my book might be placed ... which I did and I asked my agent to submit for me. She told me that the "department" that handled that sort of thing was too swamped to get to it in a decent timeframe and asked me if I'd lend a hand. She emailed me a package to send on to the company and asked for names where she could follow up. Bonehead forgot to sign the proof of representation and wrote down wrong contact information. Company wrote me back and basically told me that I needed a real agent and they'd be interested if I can find one. So embarrassing!! So, now that I'm agentless, I'm back to the drawingboard to find a new one. YUCK! Anybody else frustrated looking for an agent?  |
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Larger than life and twice as freaky!
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archetype
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« Reply #1 on: December 03, 2008, 11:34:45 PM » |
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Hi KC -- Yes, I think the agent search is a tough deal. The good news is that Pat is really careful about which agents are listed on Query Tracker (the main site), plus he includes the links to AgentQuery, Publishers'Marketplace, and Preditors & Editors so you can double check. So by using QT you should be able to find someone good. The fact that a publishing company is interested in seeing your work if you have good representation is a good sign, I think! It does sound like the agent you had was...well, an a bit of a bonehead. Oh, PS -- WELCOME!  |
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Now Available! THE WRITER'S GUIDE TO PSYCHOLOGY: How to Write Accurately About Psychological Disorders, Clinical Treatment and Human Behavior (Quill Driver Books) Get more info at http://writersguidetopsychology.com/ |
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ChristineF
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Ahhh Aydan!
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« Reply #2 on: December 04, 2008, 01:18:37 AM » |
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Hi KC -- Yes, I think the agent search is a tough deal. The good news is that Pat is really careful about which agents are listed on Query Tracker (the main site), plus he includes the links to AgentQuery, Publishers'Marketplace, and Preditors & Editors so you can double check. So by using QT you should be able to find someone good. The fact that a publishing company is interested in seeing your work if you have good representation is a good sign, I think! It does sound like the agent you had was...well, an a bit of a bonehead. Oh, PS -- WELCOME! Welcome KC - I would have to agree with Archy....The agent deal is very rough...but there are good, reliable sites (like this one) through which you can find agents |
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AshK
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Above all else: PERSEVERE. =)
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« Reply #3 on: December 04, 2008, 06:40:53 AM » |
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Hiya KC--don't be frustrated. Just think--having an interest from publishers makes your query a reader already!
Sorry about the agent you canned.
Silly people frustrate me alll the time. I should get out of retail but. . . stress keeps me feeling young, I guess. Agent querying doesn't frustrate me, but I have a sad obsession with checking email.
What are you writing (sorry if I missed it elsewhere)?
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AshK
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« Reply #4 on: December 04, 2008, 06:42:08 AM » |
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PS WOOHOO!!! I gave yer first karma! (  ) |
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newday11
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« Reply #5 on: December 04, 2008, 07:14:12 AM » |
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 I feel for you. Like archetype said, Preditors & Editors is a good fall back screen. I only seleted agents to query if P&E had a $ by their name. newday11
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« Last Edit: December 04, 2008, 07:16:46 AM by newday11 »
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SECRETS OF THE COLD WAR. In the Libraries of West Point, Air Force Academy, Naval Academy, Pentagon, FBI Academy, DIA, Yale, Cornell, Harvard, Princeton, Vanderbilt, Rice, Alabama, Lancashire Library Service, Derbyshire Libraries, Dorset County Libraries,The Heidelberg American Regional and many more.
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Aiala
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« Reply #6 on: December 04, 2008, 10:14:27 AM » |
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In this racket, the opportunities for frustration are never-ending. Oddly enough, I'm almost nostalgic for the days before I had an agent, because even with one, trying to land a publisher has become more problematic than ever due to the economic turmoil. Yesterday, for instance, I found out that an executive editor at troubled Harcourt, who'd had my ms. for 31 weeks, was summarily fired. End of the game on that one...  Nonetheless, I'll remain optimistic. I've long believed that the publishing industry has to completely reconstitute itself for the 21st century. Maybe this is what's happening, and when the process is done, all of us hard-working writers will find homes for our work. I hope so, anyway. ~ A~ |
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karaokecrush
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big kiss
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« Reply #7 on: December 20, 2008, 02:54:17 PM » |
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Thanks. Lawyer is still investigating ... I'll keep you posted if it actually goes to trial.  |
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Larger than life and twice as freaky!
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MaryL
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« Reply #8 on: December 28, 2008, 11:46:03 AM » |
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Most agency contracts have arbitration clauses. Does yours have one?
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SHATTERED SOULS (Penguin) available now. ASHES ON THE WAVES (Penguin) June 2013 FRAGILE SPIRITS (Penguin) 2014 THE UNDERVEIL SERIES (Entangled Publishing) Book 1-2014 Website: http://www.marylindsey.com |
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karaokecrush
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« Reply #9 on: December 28, 2008, 04:27:49 PM » |
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Yeah, there is ... but my agent was in breech of contract, according to my lawyer. I'm not allowed to get into the details, but let me just say ... the person being investigated operated her business under an assumed name so the contract isn't worth the ink it was printed with. (Don't ask ... it's a really bad situation.) UGH, it's all Greek to me ...  My head hurts. Like I said, I looked out for you guys and reported the whole thing to P&E, Writer's Beware ... BBB |
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Larger than life and twice as freaky!
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JeanneT
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« Reply #10 on: January 08, 2009, 11:41:30 AM » |
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Sounds like a painful situation and I'm sorry you went through it.
It's a lesson for the rest of us. CHECK OUT agents before even querying much less signing with them. Pat does a great job of keeping questionable agents off QT but I wouldn't even depend on that. It's your career. Do your own checking. WAY better safe than sorry.
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karaokecrush
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« Reply #11 on: January 08, 2009, 06:25:14 PM » |
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I did, that's what makes me so angry. Where there is a will there is a way ... and a loophole (she'd changed her name and I won't go into it.) I exhausted all of my resources to dig around on her and she came out looking OK . I found nothing bad. ... it wasn't until a little down the road that things weren't smelling right. That's when I found out the truth. Unfortunately, I hadn't heard of QT at the time. Live and learn right? Don't worry, I'm working with my lawyer to try and come up with a way to make it tougher on scammers like her ... for all of our sakes.
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Larger than life and twice as freaky!
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AshK
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« Reply #12 on: January 09, 2009, 06:49:27 AM » |
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Wow. Just--wow. So unfair. Glad to know you are fighting the good fight!
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