Customer Reviews

Agents, Editors, and You: The Insider's Guide to Getting Your Book Published (Writer's Market Library)

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This collection of articles tells writers what they need to know about many of the most important business aspects of writing a book: what agents do and don't do, how their tasks differ from those of editors, how to choose and attract the interest of an agent, and why you are likely to need one. Unlike many other books published on these subjects, this one discusses recent changes in publishing with bigger conglomerates and e-publishing. Readers will get answers to questions they didn't know enough to formulate, such as specific advice about approaching editors and agents, the value of an agent who belongs to AAR (including their not charging reading fees!), information on book promotion and who does it, and some of the issues involved in self-publishing.

The information here is current and clear.

~review by Joan Mazza, author of six books, including Dreaming Your Real Self.

Writer's Digest Books Agents, Editors, and You (edited by Howry) is a full of important information for writers about the publishing business.
This book is crucial to those who want to follow good submission procedures, avoiding preventable mistakes that could cost a sale.
There are many ideas related to contacting agents and editors. It is the "Miss Manners" of proper protocol... I'm glad I have this book.

If you've read many writing guides, this one will be of minimal help. It's a collection of old articles and interviews, most preceeding the 2002 publication date by 1-3 years. There's nothing here you can't find on-line or in a book with more specific help.

Every publishing experience is different. Each agent and each publisher operates in a different way--but the overall process has many of the same principles. These principles are captured and explained in this excellent compilation of articles from various F & W Publications.

In one concise volume, you will learn about preparing and submitting your manuscript. How to determine if you need an agent, then how to find the right one and what does an agent do anyway? The answers are in this volume.

After you locate an agent or determine if you need one, what are nonfiction editor looking for? What are fiction editors searching for? Or what are children's editors searching for? These questions are answered in these pages.

Finally what is that process after your book is contracted? How do you work with your editor? What expectations should I have after my book is published?

Publishing is constantly changing and there are no permanent answers but I found the wisdom in these pages worthwhile and something I recommend to writers who are looking for solid answers to their questions.

As editor Michelle Howry writes in her introduction, "Getting a book published is an arduous task. It often seems as if the publishing industry itself was structured to make it as difficult as possible for a first-time author to figure it all out. It's challenging, but there is hope. As you'll see throughout this book, agent and editors really are still searching for talented new writers. Use this book like a road map, inside you'll find the information you need to navigate the unfamiliar publishing landscape and find publishing success. Rely on the advice of these "publishing mentors"--along with your amazingly well-written book--to target an agent, wood an editor, and earn a book contract."

Sound words are in these pages. I recommend it.

If you have not read Writer's Market, this book will be of help.
I find only two dog eared pages after reading the book. I had either read the information in it years ago in other books, or it did nothing for my main desire when I bought the book. Which was a list of reputable agents.
I dog eared "zero in on potential agents", and that Literary agents are the exact same as an editor of days gone by, with the same heavy work load. That electronic submission was not an in thing.
I live in Germany and do not have a used book store to get rid of it in. Any good book I have is full of dog ears no matter what it is. If it has no dog ears it is not a good book. I do not recomemend it.

If you every wanted some inside information on the publishing world, Read Agents, Editor and You by Michelle Howry. First, the book gives the reader a realistic look into the publishing world. Moreover, Ms. Howry provides strong arguments for authors needing agents, they know what publishers want. Not only that, the book lets you talk to editors- interviews provide the editors prospective on the book publishing process. Most importantly, this book is for you, it informs you what you need to do in order to get your book onto the selves of the bookstores or online in e-book format.