Looking for advice regarding literary agents

[Tobin S.]

Should I submit a query letter or just walk through the door manuscript in hand? If I submit a query, should it contain some of my material?

I live in a small town in Indiana and we do have one literary agent here, but they don't have a web site and I know of no one who has worked with them. All I can find on them on the web is a listing in a directory. If I contact this agent, what are some things I should look for? Do you think I should try to contact an agent in a larger city?

What I have is a manuscript of short, short stories about 500 to 2000 words in length each. They are about my time on the road as a trucker and are, of course, non-fiction. I have about 50,000 words together.

When I was in college the last time, I was in my early 30s and I took a creative writing course for which I wrote a short work of fiction about a trucker. I'd been a trucker for about 8 years at that point. The professor loved it. He took me aside and told me that I should write more about trucking. He thought that some people would be "enthralled" by something like that. I didn't make it through college, but I took that professor's advice and now here I am with all of these little stories.

Another person who has been a source of inspiration for me is oneighty. He was he a wonderful person and a great writer, and I wouldn't be honest if I said he did not influence me.

[HopeHoops]

1. If you haven't discovered "The Writers Market", get it.

The "deluxe" edition comes with a one year subscription to their web site - with a search engine for damn near everything. Amazon has really good deals on all of the "Writers Market" guides. And yes, they do have a "Guide to Literary Agents" as a separate book.

[Tobin S.]

3. Thank you. I look for it. n/t

[DavidDvorkin]

2. Do NOT walk through any agent's door

They hate that. If they don't, be leery of them.

Also be leery of that local agent who has no Web site and no clients that you are aware of.

Here are some excellent resources. Use these to draw up a list of agents who represent what you've written -- and have a book complete and ready to submit before you even start this search. Then query the agents on your list, using the approach they specify; nowadays, that will usually be e-mail, although some still insist on snail mail.

http://pred-ed.com/

http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/ (not for adding to your list, but for removing agents from it)

http://www.agentquery.com/

http://www.querytracker.net/index.php

[Tobin S.]

4. I appreciate the info and the links.

[Andrew_Writer]

5. hard to sell

Sorry but short stories are REALLY hard to sell unless your a known author. I hope u can enjoy writing them even if u make little money from it.


Andrew

[McCamy Taylor]

6. Watch out for "agents" who want to charge you money.

Examples that I have encountered---

1) agents that ask for postage money that would cover express delivery to the far side of the galaxy

2) agents that really love your book and they really want to represent it---but first you need to fork over hundreds of dollars so that their editor friend can edit it.

[Tansy_Gold]

7. Keep in mind, whether you're still looking for an agent or you already have one,

that your agent does NOT work for you. She/he works for her/himself.

1. Do not expect your agent to take your side against the publisher/editor in a dispute. While your agent MAY take your side, she/he also wants/hopes to sell other works for other clients to that publisher/editor and is not going to cut off a potential market.

2. Do not assume the contract your agent negotiates for you is the best possible deal. See #1.

3. Do not assume your agent knows all the legal ins and outs of the contract. Even if your agent is an IP lawyer or has one on staff or at her/his beck and call. . . see #1.

4. Do not assume having an agent absolves you of any/all responsibility for your career. There are such things as unethical agents and incompetent ones. See #1.