Comments on: Yes, Virginia, you need an agent

By: DeidraK

DeidraK — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:04:39 +0000

Keeping up with the comments on this post by emails has been quite interesting to say the least.

By: Mikaela

Mikaela — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:08:41 +0000

I don’t need an agent, at the moment. Mainly because I write novellas, and plan to submit to e-publishers. If, I started write novels long enough to sell to big print houses, I know I would get an agent. Since in the long run, it would be better for my career.

By: Stace

Stace — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:10:17 +0000

Looking forward to it!

By: Drama Mama (aka Mama Nice)

Drama Mama (aka Mama Nice) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:17:03 +0000

Thanks for contacting me via my site, I def. have some questions for you and am grateful for the offer you have extended to give me some info/insight.

You’ll be hearing from me soon…after Nov when NaNo is over

By: Jeff Rivera

Jeff Rivera — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:42:39 +0000

Hi Stacia,
Thank you so much for your feedback on my GalleyCat post as well as from your readers. I really appreciate hearing people’s responses because this creates an important dialogue.

I posed a question that many had been asking me, but never once did I ever state in the GalleyCat piece that that was my personal position on whether one would need an agent. For the record: in my personal opinion, of course you need an agent but that’s not my job. My job is merely to pose the questions and invite readers to react.

I invite you and your readers to re-read the GalleyCat post with an open mind.

I also wanted to share with them an open letter from me that Dystel & Goderich were gracious enough to post on their blog. It might clarify some things: http://dglm.blogspot.com/2009/11/open-letter-from-jeff-rivera.html

By: BernardL

BernardL — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:42:56 +0000

I don’t see any other way an author can move forward other than getting an agent. The article arguing for agents not being needed ignored the reality of publishing completely. You made the point for an agent very well, Stacia.

By: Tyhitia

Tyhitia — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:24:28 +0000

Great advice, Stacia! Thanks for posting this. Hopefully some folks who were confused about what to do will know it from your advice.

As far as agents, I have my list on my desk, for agents I plan to query to. I’m participating in Nano and I’m at almost 18,000 words. And this is the WIP that I’m hoping to get an agent with. Long time coming.

By: Jamie Harrington

Jamie Harrington — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:51:55 +0000

Perhaps the question people need to be asking themselves is: “Do you need a sucky agent?”

The answer there is no… you’re better off without one. But my agent is a badass, and my book is ten times better off ALREADY because of her.

Sounds like Galley Cat poster is just a little bitter. Probably got a bunch of form rejections on his query.

By: Stace

Stace — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:13:33 +0000

I think people really tend to forget that last part, Stephanie. If all agents did was make sales, I could see the debate. But they don’t. They do so much more. I love my editor(s). They’re fantastic people and I’ve had a blast talking to and working with each one of them. But they are not solely on my side; they don’t work for me, they work for my publisher. My agent is solely on my side. He does work for me (although I think of it as a partnership). Having someone who is totally on my side–someone who, yes, will fight for me–is so important I can’t even put it into words.

By: Stace

Stace — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:03:02 +0000

Right, Deidra, it’s about money, but it’s also about AUDIENCE, and about craft, and about making it easy for readers to find good books.

I do believe, however, that there are some very good self-published books out there, and some very smart people who believe in what they’re doing. It’s just not the way I think works best for writers or especially for readers.