Agent news
I’ve been on the hunt for an agent but not talking about it here because I didn’t think any agent would appreciate being live-blogged but I’m going to go ahead and talk about it now.
I got the names of several agents through editor/writer friends and decided to just run through the list. I’ve made it through four now and think I’ll stop. This was the feedback:
- First agent had no comment about the proposal but said a couple of snide things about open adoption. Obviously she passed on the project.
- Second agent LOVED the project, thought it was terrific but also thought it would end up on parenting shelves and this is not really what he represents. He was very encouraging and gave me the names of four other agents who have represented complementary projects. Note: these weren’t referrals but still, his response made me happy.
- Third agent sent a form rejection.
- Fourth agent wrote me several times over the course of the last month or so expressing excitement over the project and letting me know that it’d gotten over each hurdle. Last response came on Monday: they really love the proposal and think it has legs. BUT. It’s a memoir. They think I need to write the whole book before they can pitch it. If I’m willing to do that, I should get back to them. (In other words, there’s no guarantee that writing the whole book will get them as my agent but it will help.)
And this is probably true. I probably do need to write the whole book. Yes, people get book deals on a narrative, memoir-ish book without writing the whole book first but it’s a harder sell.
I’m processing this need to write the whole book. I was wringing my hands about it when I got the letter. (Ok, actually I was crying.) I don’t exactly have a lot of spare time to write a book because of this whole need to pay the bills thing but then who does? I know a lot of writers and most of them are writing books they don’t have time to write. I mean, it’s not impossible. And it might be fun. So I’m feeling better about it.
I figure I’ll work on the book and maybe look for markets to place some of the chapters as I go. I’m thinking smaller lit magazines to cement a stronger creative nonfiction reputation. I want a respectable career that lasts. I can always make money writing about socks for fashion purveyors so I’m less worried about trying to make money in my creative writing life. Yes, it’d be nice but for the kind of career I want, it’s not really about money.
I thought about going to the next name on the list of agents I’ve still got sitting here but I’m going to try this on now. I’m going to try writing some more. It makes me alternately excited and exhausted to think about it. I’ll let you know how it goes.
I wish it were easier to get a book deal without finishing the whole thing first. But you’re right, it’s not impossible. Wishing you luck. I, too, hope to write a book about our experience of adopting. But that’s after I finish grad school while working full time.
Dawn - You don’t know me from adam but I’ve been a reader/lurker for awhile. I just thought I would pass on this agent’s name. I used to work with her in Publishing a lifetime ago but she is good, effective and progressive. Barbara Rosenberg is her name - the url is http://www.rosenberggroup.com/index.htm . Just thought it might help to have more resources.
Best of luck.
Dear Dawn, would it help a show of hands from those of us that are very impressed by your work and have learned tons from your posts and would buy your book (even to give to friends) in a hear beat?
Write the book, Dawn! Madison and Noah need it regardless of whether it ever feeds them. *I* need it regardless of whether it ever feeds them too, but I don’t want to make it all about me and my needs.
You’ll find the time. It’s in you and wanting to come out — it’ll find the time FOR you if you let it.
Hi - I have no idea if this is even something that people ever do for books as my experience is in documentary filmmaking but is it possible to look for a non-profit fiscal sponsor and maybe apply for some grants and donations to get some money to write the book? I’m sure there are some adoption reform minded parents who might be willing to make donations towards getting the book out there if they could get a tax benefit for the donation. And maybe some adoption reform/education minded nonprofits would be interested as well. This is a pretty common way to get documentary films funded since, unless you have an established relationship with someplace like PBS it is hard to get all the $ up front to fund a documentary and most people end up funding them themselves and seeking donors in the early stages.
Anyway, just a thought. Feel free to email me if you want info on how it works for films. Again, I have no idea if it is something that anyone does for book projects. But maybe they should! Good luck.
Oh… I would have cried too. And having just finished a dissertation that did give me a Ph.D. but which has no guarantees whatsoever of ever being published as a book (although I hope it will, at least in Brazil — after I take months and months to translate it into Portuguese), I can totally sympathize with your perspective of writing the whole book and not knowing whether the agents will take it or not. Very scary. But if you do write it, you’ll *have* a book (like I have my degree — of course it’s not the same thing, but still), a manuscript that is completed, accomplished, and then you can keep trying to sell it for publication.
Whatever you decide to do, I’m sure it’ll be an awesome book. I’m sorry you had to feel disappointed even before you’ve written the book.
I don’t think you want to get chapters to the book published separate because then those magazines will have rights to them and then you won’t be able to sale them. That’s my understanding of publishing.
Hi fellow writer! Actually it depends on the contract. The Salon piece was a lousy one and I sold the rights to them for way too long but they do revert back to me at the end of their exclusivity period. I know better now and I’d negotiate a shorter period of exclusivity next time. But most places will let you reprint your work with a “originally appeared in” credit. If you look in the front of some nonfiction books you’ll sometimes see a note that says something like “portions of this book originally appeared in blah blah blah magazine in slightly different form.” Or something like.