Customer Reviews

How To Be Your Own Literary Agent

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book has a lot of interesting info and "real world" statistics. Also useful information on what you can negotiate for in a book deal and what's standard and what isn't, etc. But all in all, it is totally discouraging. His first chapters are so depressing that you might never overcome having read them if you haven't finished your book yet. For example, he says that stats on unsolicited manuscripts sans agents are at least 5,000 a year per publishing house and he says it is simply not economical for them to hire readers, because less than one in a thousand amounts to something the house might want to publish. They all get sent back without being looked at. That is, if you send a self-addressed stamped envelope.

And he says agents don't want anyone who is not already published. Next to no chance of getting one unless your cover says something like "I invented the submarine and have written a book . . . " So--you can get a loan if you have money in the bank. And you can get a literary agent if you've been published. The same old story. It sounds very certainly impossible.

From what Curtis, an agent of 20 or 30 years says, there're tons of manuscripts that can't even get read and it has no relation whatever to what is good and what isn't. I'm ready to quit the entire idea and I'm only 1/3 of the way thru the book.

According to Curtis, it takes an agent. Period. And if you have no way of finding one of those without the same blind mailings you'd send to publishing houses, you may as well put the "grand novel" away and hope in 4 or 5 or 10 years, by some luck, you run into someone who is connected.

So I'm left wondering, why does anyone bother to write at all, much less buy Mr. Curtis' depressing book? There must be SOME way to get through, right? He offers precious little hope, I'm afraid.

I don't know if this writer-editor-agent meant to be so discouraging, but wow! Completely! Avoid this book if you want to keep writing.

Don't buy this book if you're still trying to sell yours to a publisher. Though it does have invaluable information on how to negotiate a contract, it spends the first chapter or two telling you how hopeless your attempts at selling your own book without an agent are. More agent propaganda and self-aggrandizement.

I've spent my life getting fired from jobs, then my agent even fired me in the middle of selling my fourth book. I had too many questions... wanted to be a part of my own career. I was so annoying. But agents and gallery dealers hate for us to know and want too much, because then they'll be at OUR mercy instead! Ha! TAKE BACK THE POWER AND READ THIS. It's not one of those fluffy, inspirational "you-can-be-a-writer-too!" books. It's filled with information you might have to read three times with a highlighter in hand.

I'm a writer and I've been so busy making books for the last three years, this is the first book I've READ in a long, long, time. I'm sure glad I didn't choose BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY instead, I'll tell you that much. This one's saving my life. Know what they're talking about when they say "sub serial rights," or whatever (I'm STILL figuring that one out). It's your work, your sexless life you're selling... know the stakes... stop being apologetic and GLAD they return your calls. Be a Viking while kissing their butts from here!--- Good luck to you all. If you're a cranky, bitter writer and read one book in this year, make it THIS one.

And if you don't choose to go it alone, at least you'll be more of a partner to your agent. I guess.

I found the book informative, but it lacks the current information--like the fact that publishers of fiction now want at least 70,000 word manuscripts before they will even look at it. Curtis's book is discouraging, I agree, but the fact is that it really seems to be like he depicts. If it were more up-to-date, I would've added two additional stars to my rating.

If you're a writer considering publishing a trade title, an agent wanting to learn from one of the best or someone just interested in an insider's view of publishing - this is simply one of the best books you can read. Consider it both an introductory and a graduate level course rolled into one. Curtis is one of the top agents in the business today, but his modest, engaging style will make all readers feel welcome. Highly recommended.

Richard Curtis' book was recommended to me by a number of other published authors. After reading it, I understamd my book contract(s) and I feel much better prepared to negotiate with editors and publishers. pyhuff

If you're a writer considering publishing a trade title, an agent wanting to learn from one of the best or someone just interested in an insider's view of publishing - this is simply one of the best books you can read. Consider it both an introductory and a graduate level course rolled into one. Curtis is one of the top agents in the business today, but his modest, engaging style will make all readers feel welcome. Highly recommended.

I found the book very well written and informative. Apparently, author knows his business.
However, as a new author and writer, this book scares the hell out of me! I can't imagine how some of the books that find themselves to the shelves of bookstores ever get published, let alone find agents that will "waste their time" pushing them on publishers.
I am a retired senior, doing what I have also hoped to do, but put aside in order to facilitate rising my family. Am I wrong to even consider offering my manuscript to a literary agent? After reading this book, I fear the avalanche of rejections.

I don't intend to get a literary agent or grovel any more to
conventional publishers to read my work. I intend to publish
my own stuff as ebooks, print copies and POD, marketed by me.
I needed some good advice about the business side of it. This
book is the best I've seen. There's nothing I need to know
that's not in it, including the movie deal end of it, which I
was interested in. I'd describe this book as an author liberation
Bible. It gets him out of the master-slave relationship that
publishers have enjoyed for too long. Any writer who believes
in the value of his work will need this book sooner or later.
It'll get him out of the bear trap 95% of writers labor in to
no avail. I give it five stars because there aren't ten to give.

G.James Hamilton
author
Thunderbolt: Scourge of the Ranges

I speak from the voice of experience. Let's say you can't find an agent willing to represent your work; and for whatever reason and you don't intend to go the self-publish route with your material. If instead you prefer to find a "standard" publisher willing to buy and publish your work, consider this book required reading. Though dated, it covers the bases you absolutely must know to successfully navigate these waters.