Several Questions Concerning Publishing?

Question

I have a few questions concerning publishing a book.

First off, how do you know when you're sending your work into publishers and agents that they won't rip off your idea? I know you're only sending in a chapter or two, but it still may be only enough to get a good idea from.

Also, I've read in several places where it's impossible to score the attention of a large publisher without an agent. My question is where do you find agents at?

Finally, I was on Arthur Levine's website, and it has an address where you can submit samples of your work. If I just sent my work in, without an agent, is there a chance it'll be read? It says on there they should respond in 6 to 8 weeks, but I don't believe it.

By the way, I DON'T want to self-publish! :)

Answer 1

Here's how to get an agent:



Visit http://www.agentquery.com or, at the library or website, look for Jeff Herman's Guide to Literary Agents, Bowker's Literary Marketplace or Writer's Market 2010. Look for agents that handle your genre, and are looking for new clients. Read, and follow, their submission guidelines.



Those books will have something about writing a query letter, which is what you send to the agent, first. It's part synopsis of your book, and part explanation as to why your book deserves to be published. You have only that one-page letter to wow the agent, so take the time to make it a good one.



Expect the whole process to take lots of time, and plan on lots of rejections. When you are accepted by an agent, they will send your book to publishers, not you.



Except for postage, the entire process of getting an agent is FREE, until your book is bought by a publisher. That is when the agent gets their cut, usually 15%, of the money that goes to you. Run away from any agent that asks for money upfront.



Good luck!

Answer 2

Bob, the answers are easy: You do your homework.



You research a publisher or agent before you ever query them. You determine if an agent has made legitimate sales and plenty of them, and who their authors are. You determine if a publisher is legitimate, pays royalties, and seeks nothing but the manuscript from authors.



How do you research? Visit large bookstores. Note titles, authors, and publishers of the books in your genre.



Get online and try to determine which agent sold each book. (Search “Full Title” + agent. Also try “Author Name” + agent.) You can find other agents seeking work in your genre through “Writer's Market” and “Literary Marketplace” (US) or “Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook” (UK). Check the publisher listings, too, which will include “agented submissions only” or not. (Maybe you don’t even need an agent.)



Research each agent. Find websites with career history, sales, personal bio, blogs, AAR membership, etc. Determine whether they prefer email or regular mail for queries. Figure out who’s a good fit for you. Don’t be afraid to aim high. The worst that can happen is they say no. Your research should include a visit to Preditors and Editors.



Write a one-page query letter, tailoring it to individual agents or publishers based on the information you got from research, and send it to the few agents you'd most like to represent you. If the query letter is really good and you've done your homework well, at least some will ask for a partial or full manuscript. If none does, rewrite the query before sending out the next batch.



Remember, reputable agents charge the author NOTHING up-front. Some agents may deduct the costs of doing business (copies, mail, phone) from your first check, but nobody legitimate needs any money to get started.



Legitimate agents and publishers who stole your work would face charges which would drive them out of business in short order. They would not risk all that money-making potential to steal the work of an unknown writer. It would cost them way, way less to buy the rights to the book and offer you royalties.



BTW, Arthur Levine is legit, as far as I can tell. As J.K. Rowling's American editor, he's undoubtedly getting every fantasy-and-magic wannabe, so the competition may be daunting.

Answer 3

Why would a publisher or agent rip off your idea? Their job is selling and publishing completed books. What would they do with an incomplete idea? Abandon their good name for honesty, throw away their current job, and start writing instead on the offchance they could turn it into a bestseller? I don't think so.



If they'll read work sent in without an agent then they'll read work sent in without an agent. Why would they bother publishing an address otherwise? I wouldn't count on "reading" meaning more than "ten second quick glance", though. There will be a LOT of manuscripts competing for their attention with yours. If you have an agent, they're coming at it from the angle of "a professional in this industry thinks this is good" and they're likely to pay it a bit more attention.

Answer 4

If you are sending your work to reputable agents etc then you have no need to worry...it just doesn't happen to new writers. As for where to find an agent that depends on your whereabouts...in the UK we have a directory called "The Writers and Artist's Yearbook" all the agents are in there and alongside their listing is what they specialize in...some only do romance...others non-fiction...you choose the ones best suited to you and send to them only.