Customer Reviews

2008 Guide to Literary Agents

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Sadly, I've been searching for a literary agent for many years, and every year I buy the annual Guide to Literary Agents. The articles and listings have been very helpful, but the 2008 Guide by Chuck Sambuchino is the best ever. It contains many new listing and provides a plethora of useful information. (Maybe that's why I can't find an agent. I use words like "plethora.") New entries for agents are added every year, but the new entries in the 2008 Guide have been of particular value to me. The Internet is becoming increasingly helpful as a tool for locating the right agent, but I've found nothing more useful than Sambuchino's 2008 Guide to Literary Agents.

Two years ago I used the 2005 version of this book to cold call about 150 agents regarding a psychology book I'd written. I contacted most of them via snail mail and some by email. About 15 of them gave me a personal response, three showed serious interest, and one of these signed me up. She and I were eventually able to get my book published. So I had a positive experience using this book. The information seemed accurate and legitimate, and this book was at least as well organized and useful as other similar ones. Author of Adjust Your Brain: A Practical Theory for Maximizing Mental Health.

If you have had the pleasure and pain of writing a book, are proud of it and are ready to move ahead with publication, this is the book for you. It is easy to read and follow and gives you step by step instructions on how to "eat the elephant" one bite at a time. The included comprehensive list of literary agents, what types of literary works they are interested in and submission requirements are invaluable. Get the current version, study it and it is certain that you'll agree that this book is worth every penny you'll pay for it.

I really don't like doing this because it is so discouraging to fledgling writers, but the truth is the truth. This book and its companion books from Writers Digest are all but useless. The vast majority of agents listed here warn you they are not looking for new clients. What's more, most of those who are looking for new clients are looking for people who have already been published, or they want very specific kinds of material. It should occur to anyone spending their hard earned money every year on these books and others like them that the authors and publishers make THEIR living (writing) off people like you who want to make YOUR living off of the public. These books do serve a purpose, but it is more or less informational, i.e. who is out there and who's not this year.

Besides, 90% of the information in these books is right at your fingertips now if you're reading this. And, lest you think I'm a disgruntled, wannabe writer, there's a review on one of these books by someone who really knows what she's talking about, I wish I could find it for you, but she tells an interesting story about J.K. Rowling, that most of what you read about her success as a result of patience and persistence is BS. Her success was due to incredible luck.

All I'm saying is don't give up, but find a better way than spending your money on books that line the pockets of people who know how hard you struggle to get your name and stories in print and take advantage of that fact.

As an author...I have found this publication necessary in my line of business. I do so appreciate all the information that it would have taken me forever to find! In stating that; consequently, I would have never been able to find all such given data in the next thousand years. I do recommend "The Guide to Literary Agents"...to all individuals that are searching for an agent. Peggy Inez, Author, [[ISBN 978-159858-400-4

This is a good book that should be used as a starting point for finding an agent. I am currently using this book and there are a lot of leads in it, however many of them are out of date. You need to use this book in conjunction with the internet. You have to check out the literary agents' websites for up to the date information. Some are no longer accepting new clients, some are only taking email queries, some are only accepting snail mail queries. It is a good tool, but you will need the internet too.

I can't say that I am published yet, but I am going to use this book as a starting point. It appears to be very thourough and it has a lot of information in it. Pleased with the purchase!

It helps quite a bit with organizing my marketing and query letters. But many of the agencies mentioned within change policy and/or information too quickly to keep up with. Of course, this isn't the fault of the authors of this, but if you order this make sure that it's only to get the agency's contact information and not for their policy.

The book may be a little difficult to understand at times, but it's an invaluable source of reference material for any writer

This is a good starting point for finding an agent, but you will have to go online to get all the updated addresses and requirements.