So far I have put out two book proposals. The first one received major interest from a major publisher but eventually fell through. The second proposal
has turned into my first book – Almanac Of The Infamous, The Incredible, And The Ignored, published by Weiser Books – and is due in your
bookstore October 1, 2009. I didn’t use an agent, still don’t have one. I don’t believe you need one, either.
Let me explain. Years ago, my husband and I wrote a novel together, and decided to find an agent to represent it. We gathered a list of around 20
agents who might be suitable, called them up to ask if they were interested, and assembled a detailed proposal for a number of them. We got no bites,
and that project hit the shelf.
When the ideas for two non-fiction books came to me I thought about trying to get an agent again, but the work of doing queries and proposals seemed to
be the same that I would have to do for any publisher my agent would find, too. Why duplicate my efforts? I decided just to approach the publishers
directly and see what happened.
First, I wrote out the detailed proposal for the book I wanted to write. Then I searched libraries, databases and bookstore shelves for publishers that
handled similar books. Then I sent those publishers a brief query letter, outlining the book and asking them if they wanted to see more.
For the first book, 6 out of 10 publishers wanted to see the proposal. I already had it prepared, and fired it off immediately. (Publishers like that,
it shows punctuality and professionalism.) For the second book, 2 out of 10 responded. I never even checked to see if they stipulated ‘no unsolicited
manuscripts’ – after all, I wasn’t sending them a manuscript, just a brief letter. If they wanted to see more, why then, it was solicited, wasn’t it?
I always wrote that it was a simultaneous submission if they took it to the second step.
As I mentioned, the first project received major interest from a major publisher, but ended up not working out. The second proposal has turned into my
first book, and will be on the shelves by the time you read this!
Why do authors think they need an agent? First, to prove to publishers that you’re worthwhile. I think your own query letter can accomplish that.
Second, to handle the business aspects of book contracts and publishing, to make sure that you’re not signing your work away for a pittance. I thought
about that one long and hard. I realized that the publisher I was dealing with, Red Wheel-Weiser-Conari, was a reputable company with a long history.
They couldn’t have lasted if they treated their authors badly. And when I did receive my contract, I ran it past a friend who edits for a small press.
She assured me it was a standard contract with no surprises. That was that.
I even approached an agent I know once I had the contract in my hand. She remarked that I had already done all the work, and there was no reason for
me to pay her to do nothing.
I may require the services of an agent someday – hopefully someday soon. If my business matters get complex, if someone wants to make one of my books
into a movie, or if I just get really busy, then the services of an agent will make good sense. But to provide credibility for my work? If I present
the publisher with a good idea from an original point of view, they will see the value of my work. That’s their job, and publishers are smart people.
Agents are useful, but not really necessary at the beginning of it all.
