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MWA Annapolis Chapter October Meeting Discussion

MWA Annapolis Chapter October Meeting Discussion. Agents and ePublishing … How do Literary Agents fit into the brave new world of ePublishing ? More importantly: Do You Need One?. What is an agent?. 1. 3. 2. Author. Publisher. AGENT.

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MWA Annapolis Chapter October Meeting Discussion

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  1. MWA Annapolis Chapter October Meeting Discussion Agents and ePublishing… How do Literary Agents fit into the brave new world of ePublishing? More importantly:Do You Need One?

  2. What is an agent? 1 3 2 Author Publisher AGENT The agent is a middleman between authors and publishers. Being one of a few ups visibility Slushpile Submission quantity LOW Submission quality HIGH

  3. What does the agent do? Edit and polish Identify viable markets Choose potential publishers Approach and sell Negotiate Sell additional rights (foreign rights/film rights/audio) Champion an author’s work in the marketplace

  4. Do all authors need one? Maybe Not.

  5. What is your goal? If your goal is to submit your book for consideration to one of the BIG SIX FIVE publishing houses, then yes…you need an agent. • Simon and Schuster • HarperCollins • Macmillan • Penguin Random House • Hachette

  6. You still might not need an agent. But even if that is your goal…

  7. Some examples to consider: • Amanda Hocking signed a four-book deal with St. Martin’s Press (Macmillan) valued at over $2M. • Hugh Howey signed a six-figure printonly deal with Simon and Schuster. • E.L. James signed a six-figure deal with Random House. • Colleen Hoover signed a deal with Simon and Schuster that allows her to continue self-publishing.

  8. How Do Agented Authors Feel About Self-Publishing? Is a “hybrid” career feasible? • Laurelin Paige • ShaleeMacArthur • Suzanne Van Rooyen • PK Hrezo

  9. Remember your goals… They determine YOUR path. Do you need an agent to: Publish a book and hold it in your hand? Sell your book to a publisher and let them do the cover design, marketing and promotion? Make money on your book? Get inquiries about foreign and film rights? No.

  10. How Do AgentS Feel About Self-Publishing? It depends on the agent…

  11. Agents – and clients – are still figuring out where agents fit. One approach – taking the “self” out of self-publishing… Argo Navis – “agent-curated self-publishing”- Distribution- 30%- Other services? – cover design, editing, formatting…at a premium And that’s BEFORE the agent’s 15%...

  12. Agents – and clients – are still figuring out where agents fit. A variation on the theme… Agent-assisted self-publishing: agents upload files in their own name, take their 15%, manage the account. In many cases, authors still pay for editing, cover design, etc. And if the author leaves the agent, they need to upload again, assigning a new ASIN to the book.

  13. What do agents have to say? • Jayne Dystel of Dystel & Goderich Literary Management on her biggest challenge acquiring new authors: “That we can help them do better than they’re doing themselves – and that is a huge challenge because many of these self-published authors are doing phenomenally well.” • Agent Clare Alexander on a panel at Bookseller’s FutureBook 2012 Conference stated that it was wrong for agents to take a cut of self-published work (and other agents on the panel agreed). • Neil Blair on what role agents will play in the future: “…hard to find a word that doesn’t have manager in it…I think the author is going to want help, and to be hand-held…to provide advice and services in lots of different areas…”

  14. If you DO need an agent, how do you get one? Go to www.agentquery.com. Attend conferences that offer pitch slams. Study the market – see what agents are repping what authors/deals. Learn to write a proper query (check out http://queryshark.blogspot.com)

  15. Thanks! Questions? Find me here: nancysmay@gmail.com Find my work: http://delanceystewart.wordpress.com www.facebook.com/delancey.stewart

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