Literary Agents: The Essential Guide for Writers; Fully Revised and Updated [Paperback]

Debby Mayer (Author), Rosellen Brown (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1998

Anyone who has faced the daunting process of finding a publisher knows what an asset a good literary agent can be. In this valuable guide Debby Mayer explores the characteristics of a successful agent-writer relationship, and explains the agent's role in: * matching the author with an appropriate publishing house and editor * interpreting legal papers and royalty statements * collecting funds and selling subsidiary rights * giving advice on market trends The latest edition of Literary Agents also offers information on the hows and whys of finding and working with a literary agent, and includes real conversations with authors and agents on such current issues as small presses and electronic publishing. With an updated annotated list of agents, this book serves as the ultimate resource for writers ready to embark on the journey toward publication.

• This fifth edition has a completely new chapter based on conversations with agents and authors and a foreword by Rosellen Brown.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"An agent," says Joe Regal (who is one), "is one-third lawyer, one-third editor and one-third schmoozer, with a little bit of psychologist thrown in." In addition to providing annotated listings for 120 of the 290 agencies that are members of the Association of Authors' Representatives (in which some agencies even admit to accepting queries by telephone!), this fifth edition of Literary Agents contains up-to-date information about the role of the literary agent in a writer's life. Author Debby Mayer cautions that it can be as difficult to sign on with an agent as with a publisher, but she also warns writers not to jump at just any offer. "A bad agent can be worse than no agent," she says. To help you find an effective agent, Mayer provides a list of questions to ask potential agents, a sample agent-writer agreement, information about how to approach agents, and examples of the many different roles agents can assume in a writer's life. Most interesting here are Mayer's interviews with a handful of agents, all of whom--lest we forget--got into the business in the first place for the love of reading. --Jane Steinberg

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics); Rev Upd Su edition (March 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140268731
• ISBN-13: 978-0140268737
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,374,178 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Without this book I think I would have given up !!!, February 20, 1999

By 

Freida Price ([e-mail]) (Morehead City, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Literary Agents: The Essential Guide for Writers; Fully Revised and Updated (Paperback)

I think that this book was one of the most useful books I have ever read. It is written so that you know exactly what is being relayed to you..I have just finished writting my first book and I was so lost. I did not know what direction to turn as far as getting it published. Everything was explained in such a manner that you did not have to second guess what to do next.. Thank you Debby Mayer for writting such a fine book...

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Lots of fluff that you can figure out with common sense., September 26, 2001

By 

Jason Hawkes (Clarence, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Literary Agents: The Essential Guide for Writers; Fully Revised and Updated (Paperback)

Lots of talk about what annoys agents. If you are smart enough to not call your prospective agent 5 times a day, and mentally healthy enough not to blow up at the slightest criticism, then you know the contents of this book. You are better off buying "2001 Guide to Literary Agents" and "2002-2003 Writer's Guide to Book Editors, Publishers, and Literary Agents." If you buy those two books, you'll get as much distilled info about lit agents as you need WHILE AT THE SAME TIME getting the contact information you need.