How Does One Become a Book Agent?

We all need one--how can we become one?

I'm not sure if I'd trust my book with an agent, Alice. I believe you'd be safer being your own agent...

Ahad,

If we want TWELVE for out publisher, we need an agent.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2121717_become-literary-agent.html

Who lives nearest Chicago or New York?

Forgive my genius--but, Zada can be our agent she can roll between Chicago and New york.

Sometimes I am so smart, I scare even myself.

It isn't as easy as that, Alice, and we don't all want one or would choose Twelve as a publisher. A good agent for me would not be a good one for you, Carol, Marie, and on and on. In the distant past I had two agents (not at the same time) and could still use the last one if I chose to write mystery novels, which I do not. A worthwhile agent must not only know the editors in his field but be trusted by them. Anyone can call himself an agent but the title alone is meaningless.

By starting at the ground floor at an agency. First an administrative assistant, then a junior agent under a more senior, experienced one. Then finally you are you are an agent.

It's like being a doctor, but without as much blood. You need training before you begin.

My agent rose through the ranks just like this. She as B.A. in English and started by shuffling papers at one agency, then became a junior agent before being hired as a full agent at another agency. It took her five years.

Not all agents become one like this. Some were editors at a house first.

The point remains that experience is what counts in this profession, hands on with the nut bolts of the industry, the counter intuitive nature of publishing.

Dick is correct. An agent that is good one for author may not be good for another author.

These days it is just as hard to get an agent as it is to find a "traditional" publisher.
Everyone is looking at money. An unknown author who writes an amazing informative book on toe nail clippings is not going to be an attractive proposition. No matter how well written the book is. Agents have to "sell" the book to a publisher. The publisher has to trust the agents recomendation. In short the agent has to be the salesman's salesman as it were. They have to be ten times slimier than an insurance or car salesman. They need the ability to be able to sell icecream cones to eskimos. It is not an easy job.

It costs money to sell books, plain and simple. To sell our work someone somewhere has to put money into the process.
Nobody wants to risk a penny unless they can be certain of at least breaking even.

So it is down to us authors to work harder at getting our work out there. It is our money that will be put up front and there are many people out there who are counting on the fact that we will hand our money over in the hope of making it as an author. Many of these people run what I call semi scams to get our money.
You buy a web site from these folks and follow a set out procedure all laid out but never get anywhere.

It seem's to me that we have in fact created a market ourselves, it is the wanna be a successful author market.
There are loads of products out there.

I have these pills that if you pop one in your mouth you become instantly successful.

How about the instant sports writer and mystery writer tobacco pipe??? We have a most successful client who uses one of these! Buy one from our website and you get a free false beard to add that distinguished touch.

"I have these pills that if you pop one in your mouth you become instantly successful."

Book marketing's answer to viagra: pop one in your mouth and see your sales rise.

KDU I'd start first as a news agent then move on up to a travel agent, letting agent, estate agent, secret news agent, secret travel agent, secret agent, theatrical agent, politician, lier, lawyer (sorry I already mentioned lier). Then move over to administering a writers forum with all the skills I'd learnt from the previous mentioned jobs. There I'd learn all about the biz and after twelve years of pissing everyone off I'd become an literary agent.

Sounds like a good plan, dmondeo. Let me know when you reach the level of estate agent.

Forum administrators piss everyone off? Boy you learn something new every day ... or are you suggesting that I should become an agent? Only if I receive 60% of the advance. Take it or leave it.

Those pills probably aren't covered by my health insurance company, Shelagh since they're probably expensive.

Malcolm

Shelagh, I was merely indicating that if I were to become a forum administrator I would end up pissing people off.
No disrespect intended to yourself. Now if I do my sums... 60% of no advance is .......... nothing! ............ boy you are cheap I think I'll snap up that offer.

I give up. Abandon all hope, ye authors. First of all impossble is the entire task.

Once you spend you last drop of energy writing a book, no one wants it.

No one wants to touch it, or you with a ten-foot pole. Why? because no one has heard of you and they don't want to hear of you.

IF you cant't find an agent you can't find a publisher.
Sounds like a vicious circle.

Most people have a hobby. I never had one. I worked too many hours and was just exhausted. I don't knit; I don't sew; I read; I don't collect things; I don't do crafts; I am not social. Where would I put my passions if I didn't have writing?

I have learned so very much from this experience. I have made new acquaintances and learned about many people across this country and even other countries. I learned a lot about the Internet and its complexities. I have read great books and blogs and posts on forums that challenge my thinking and enrich my life.

I have also sold books published by the much-maligned Publish America and sought out other small presses to take a different approach. Fate steps in sometimes and whisks an author to great heights as it does for other artists. Sometimes, a little following is built of those who enjoy the way you tell a story or twist a word or share your heart; but you never become famous or wealthy.

I am just going to enjoy my book signings and book festivals in which I have five titles of which I can be as proud as any author, regardless of my lack of fame and fortune: Arirang: The Bamboo Connection, Ghost Orchid, The World Outside the Window, and two Romance of My Dreams Anthologies (not counting the Amazon Shorts that are still good reads at Amazon.com).

I will keep writing and submitting to agents and others who might take me to those heights of wonderment; and I will continue in awe that I published even a single word. It was a lifetime goal accomplished. Wow!

I had another goal: I always wanted to be a school principal. Many times I approached that goal but was whisked away into some different administrative role. I am a School Director (principal) because I took a chance in a down economy and changed my secure job for a risky one. So far, the decision was correct. A second goal accomplished. Wow!

And I guess that's how I'll keep plugging along, a goal here and there that I still work on and sometimes actually reach.

Alice wrote:

I give up. Abandon all hope, ye authors. First of all impossble is the entire task.

Once you spend you last drop of energy writing a book, no one wants it.

No one wants to touch it, or you with a ten-foot pole. Why? because no one has heard of you and they don't want to hear of you.

IF you cant't find an agent you can't find a publisher.
Sounds like a vicious circle.

It's not that bad Alice.
This is a new era for the publishing world.
New technology abounds, the internet has now become the new high street or Shopping Mall. We, the writers, must learn to exploit it use our little grey cells that we have left and invent new strategies for this medium.
We shall overcome and break that stubborn barrier of writers dispair.
I say balls to the old rules lets rewrite the rule book and give the B**ards a shock.

I am all for it.

Ok then here is a couple of idea's.
Have you done a press release for you book?
Go here sign up for free.
www.fastpressrelaser.com
The more content you have on the web, the bigger your internet footprint will be and the more likely and easier you will be seen on a google search.
Sign up for as many free publicity sites as you can.
When they ask for tags for your book use as many different words as you can. In your case Alice I would use peas, pills, parkinson, parkinsons, medical, humour, humor,funny, comedy,
depression, laugh, disease.
That's for starters. You can be as ruthless as you want with your tags. If your website contains say the word recipe in a phrase then use that word as a tag. That way when any one does a search for any of those words in google, your book website comes up, everyone else uses tactics like this to get noticed and so should we.

Dmondeo, not sure if your post was tongue-in-cheek or not, but millions of people are already doing that stuff, and it's just a lot of howling in the wind. "Free" is generally worth what it costs.

Oh I like your book cover Alice!
Get it out there do a book trailer put it on youtube and add the link to it to your email signature.

David,

My book has a great cover.

The trouble is who in their right mind wants to relax by reading a book about a disease?

Furthermore it is an obscure boring , rare disease. it is not a real inviting topic.

LC yes you are right but it is a starting point that puts you on a more level playing field. I'm sure there is more we can discover together to do. Free is all we have when we dont have a vast financial budget at our disposal. If howling in the wind is all I can do then I'll take my chance and howl till the moon sets.
That way at least I can say I did everything I could.
This is the fun part seeking out new ways to crack the old egg.

I have had the most success by personally visiting independent book stores and having signings there. Also, doing readings at assisted living facilities, libraries, local book clubs, etc. and having press releases for every event.

The "experts" at the forums who think there is only one way to be an author, to be picked up by a publisher who does all the promoting, are the ones out of touch. No celebrity or product gets action without maximum promotion, and that includes work by the author. Geez, Jay Leno started a prime time show and there was nothing but Jay Leno on the air waves for months ahead of it. Doesn't everyone know Jay Leno? Why does he need to promote a new show?

President Obama certainly has a staff to do his agenda promotion; yet, he's spending his Sunday morning on a promotion blitz.

I also recommend local radio shows and magazines; some have national connections.

I just keep plugging away. They say, the only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. When I lived on the sailboat, intense planning went into the travel route from A to B; yet, the thrill was in the ride; reaching the destination was the bonus.

alice,
you have an interesting story. I don't think the title does it justice. Perhaps you should brainstorm the title that will cause people to "want to know more."
Even without re-publishing the book with a new title, a byline that creates curiosity may help. People on this forum are full of ideas.