Do you hate me yet? Am I becoming a cyber stalker? You opened the window where you actually answer all the crazy notions in me wee noggin. I feel like Corey Haim in Lucas sometimes....(don't say if you've never seen that movie, I am dating myself here.)
Do you believe it's feasible, in the age of computers and cool things like the internets, for agents to go to a place where they could peruse authors and their work as opposed to only waiting for queries to come to them?
Like [URL of site like this that exists]?
Strangely, I've thought a lot about this. Wouldn't it be cool if there were writers posting things on sites, and then agents could browse by genre? Then authors would, theoretically, only get Yeses--and they could do this in addition to the old-fashioned, query-sending method. They also wouldn't have to worry about not hearing about an agent that would be perfect for them.
But GK believes (can you tell I love writing about myself in pseudonymous third person?) there's something to be said for the human element of it. It's chemistry, after all, and though I suppose one could find chemistry while browsing manuscripts, sorted by objective criteria, online--wouldn't it be so much better to meet eyes with one across a crowded slushy (like the piles, not like December) room? I would think so.
I'm not sure. Frankly, I have so many submissions directed at me, it's already hard to keep up. But is the idea appealing? Yes. Yes it is. But where would it end? Suddenly I'd be in the middle of, say, dinner--and I'd start thinking, "Oh gosh! What if someone just posted something brilliant? What if another agent gets to it first?! Oh noes!"
So, that could totally interrupt my social life.
GK prediction: there will eventually be one mega-site that's really, really easy to use. Agents can secretly rank works, and the computerized system (like e-manuscript-harmony?) will adjust to find things that each agent is more likely to like. Perhaps there'll be drag-and-drop or one-click requesting, with a form request email that we specify. Then there will be a flurry of articles in places like Writer's Digest about using a two-pronged system and how to negotiate between agents on one and agents on another.
Do I think it's a component of the future of the submissions process? Yes. Do I think it's going to replace writing to agents directly? No.
6 comments:
Wow -- Lucas. Somehow I don't picture you wearing glasses and climbing through a sewer drain to watch the symphony play in the park. But I could be wrong.
What the heck was the name of those giant bugs he used to catch . . . cicadas???
Wow -- Lucas. Somehow I don't picture you wearing glasses and climbing through a sewer drain to watch the symphony play in the park. But I could be wrong.
What the heck was the name of those giant bugs he used to catch . . . cicadas???
Sometimes you have to crawl through the muck, collect oddities, and be somewhat clingy to accomplish your goals. He got the football jacket at the end. Didn't he? LOL. Love this movie and love watching it now to see Charlie Sheen, Jeremy Piven and Winona Ryder way back when.
Cicadas, aka locusts. Yup, that was it.
On the topic, I agree that direct agent contact will never be replaced but I believe this idea holds serious merit.
I think that sometimes it's easier to look for a connection than wait for one to come.
Writers do most of the searching, it's a bit one sided. Here agents have a say in finding that next great book.
Thanks, AG.
There are already sites like this out there. I think one of the biggest is only for screenplays though and not novels.
Does it work for writers?
Maybe some, but personally I hope it never replaces the direct contact method.
I think authonomy and webook were created on that idea, but I don't think either site has caught on as well as they creators hoped.
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