Blogs, newsletters & e-zines, oh, my!
As I mentioned a couple of entries ago, after you have polished your novel, it's time to find an agent. Sounds easy, right? Nope. Tough as all get out. First, the publishing field is like a river. It is flowing and changing course constantly. Agents come and go. Editors become agents, agents become editors, publishers close and open and merge. Vampires are hot, but are they overdone? What exactly is urban fantasy? There are conferences here, there and everywhere. There is a lot to keep up with. How do you pick through and decide what to keep?
You have to stay on top of the news, and you need to know what agents are looking for - and not looking for. When I first got into writing, the internet wasn't really part of the landscape, so I depended on Writer's Digest and reference books. Now we're lucky. We can do this with the internet - and information travels as fast as someone can type it. Start with a subscription to Publishers Lunch (the free ezine), and Writer's Digest free email newsletter.
There are several agents out there with blogs that are well worth reading. There are several that I either subscribe to or read regularly: PubRants, BookEnds, LLC, Nathan Bransford, Jenny Bent and, of course, QueryShark. Another blog that is, sadly, no longer being written is Miss Snark - but go back and read the archives. It'll be time well spent.
Now, go forth and read!
Elle
You have to stay on top of the news, and you need to know what agents are looking for - and not looking for. When I first got into writing, the internet wasn't really part of the landscape, so I depended on Writer's Digest and reference books. Now we're lucky. We can do this with the internet - and information travels as fast as someone can type it. Start with a subscription to Publishers Lunch (the free ezine), and Writer's Digest free email newsletter.
There are several agents out there with blogs that are well worth reading. There are several that I either subscribe to or read regularly: PubRants, BookEnds, LLC, Nathan Bransford, Jenny Bent and, of course, QueryShark. Another blog that is, sadly, no longer being written is Miss Snark - but go back and read the archives. It'll be time well spent.
Now, go forth and read!
Elle
Posted by Elle Robb at 7/3/2009 6:03 PM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: jenny bent miss snark queryshark agents literary agents writing blogs literary agent nathan bransford agent
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: jenny bent miss snark queryshark agents literary agents writing blogs literary agent nathan bransford agent
Great post. And that, m'dear, is one of the most intimidating issues to me - sorting the wheat from the chaff. HOW do you know which ones will help and which are fluff?
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Right you are, Lynn! The best way to separate is to be discriminating. Nothing beats advice from someone you trust (links pages on good websites, for instance). Don't be afraid to subscribe to feeds . . . and if you don't find something you like soon, don't be afraid to unsub because your time is way too valuable to waste with someone who doesn't give you what you need. (and a personal pet peeve of mine is someone who posts too often - I don't have time to read 10 posts a day from someone!).
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