In case you didn't realise, I hacked the title from Raye's song, WHERE IS MY HUSBAND? The point of song being she doesn't actually have one, but she's ready and waiting for one, so where the hell is he?
And that's how I feel about my agent.
I did have one once. I learnt many useful things from him. Like how to cook simple Italian dishes, and where to find great fossils on British beaches. Basically he was fun to hang out with as a friend, but being an agent really wasn't his priority. He spent far more time diving with sharks.
He genuinely couldn't cope with the increasing pressures of the publishing world. In the end he disappeared in a cloud of mental health problems, leaving his entire business behind. He'd definitely chosen the wrong career path for someone with chronic anxiety, and I hope one day he'll resurface as a marine biologist or something he'd really enjoy. He's certainly clever enough.
But meanwhile, what about me??
What have I done about finding another agent?
Not a lot, to be honest. I tentatively tried a couple I liked the sound of, and they were very kind and gave me positive feedback, but sadly... (Another thing I learnt from my last agent is that they have to not only really love your work, but believe they can sell it. Which they didn't.)
I also tried a couple of publishers, whose websites informed me I didn't need an agent to be considered. Result? They simply ghosted me like they were online dating or something. Which seems unnecessarily rude when it's easy to email back a standard rejection from a template, but sadly that seems to be the publishing industry's attitude towards writers. We're all totally dispensable. I ended up feeling like a piece of used clothing, destined for the charity shop.
I guess all publishers need to see the potential for commercial success in your writing - unless you're celebrity so they know your books will sell anyway (they can always find a ghost writer to actually write the books). Publishing is an increasingly competitive market - and getting worse. Don't even get me started on books being written by AI...
However, once a writer, always a writer. I told myself I simply needed to change direction for a while. So I've been writing a non-fiction book about Somerset dragons, which will come out sometime before Christmas. Seems there's not so much stigma attached to self publishing local books, as no agent or traditional publisher would consider the project anyway. It's kept me busy and I love research...
But unfortunately, what I like writing best is teen fiction. And any writing for children involves gatekeepers like parents and teachers, who need to know the book is good (preferably traditionally published and well reviewed) before they buy. Which means you still need the publishing industry to back you.
And for any publisher to even consider your book, you need an agent to present it to them - practically no publisher takes unsolicited manuscripts. (Ignore all those stories like JK Rowling's sending out to zillion publishers and how it only takes one, blah blah - that simply doesn't happen any more.)
So I'm stuck with a hole in my bucket syndrome and there's only one way out...
WHERE THE HELL IS MY AGENT?
Lu Hersey
6 comments:
You do just occasionally wonder why it all has to be so (substitute swearword of choice) difficult, don't you?
Exactly!
Yep! Sounds very familiar. I had an agent once too. You're right, some agents do seem to prefer working with celebrities. Good luck! Helen xxxx
Absolutely! It’s soul-destroying at times. And why does celebrity rubbish get priority over something like your powerful, compelling writing, Lu? Life is so unfair. Where is that agent?!!
I hear your howl and echo it back. Apparently, there are part-time agents these days as they can't make a living, either. Sad to hear direct submissions are as horrid as the agent thing. Once my C17th witches have flown, I might look at shameless south Devon dragons.
Good luck with your C17th century witches, Rowena! May they fly well. Then maybe dragons is the way forward - though I'd probably recommend fairies in south Devon :)
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