A look behind the veil at what literary agents are thinking and some tips and tricks for writing.
What Makes Me Wary, What Makes Me Happy
I’m reading a manuscript and I forget that I work in the publishing industry.
What makes me wary:
* When a new writer looks me in the eye, holds my hand and says, “I really, really want to be a New York bestseller.”
* When an author says, “My last agent just didn’t know anyone in Hollywood and didn’t know how to make my book into a movie.”
* When a writer says, “I want to write in this genre type,” but then it turns out she’s never read the competition.
* When a new writer proudly announces that she knows exactly which literary editors I should send her book to.
* When a writer asks me if I’m interested in selling the new book in a series she is self-publishing.
What makes me happy:
* When a writer says “I’ve written five books and had two agents. But here’s something new.”
* When a writers says, “I like the books on your list.”
* When a new writer says, “First, let me tell you the story.” And then the story is so spooky strong that I just want to listen to what he has to say.
* When the first paragraph of a manuscript submission is just so strong that I immediately send it to my Kindle and then almost miss my train stop going home that night.
* When I’m reading a manuscript and forget that I work in the publishing industry and then I snap back to reality and start to compose a submission list.