List Of Top Literary Agents
Friday, February 25th, 2011 at
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Question for a literary agent, author, or professional writer?
In the literary world, lots of agents get query letters that they like. They like the story. The plot sound good. They send a letter to the writer asking for a partial. They get the partial. And if the partial is weak in any places. . .it’s straight to the trash. And, of course, a rejection letter is on the way to the writer.
Exactly, what is considered a weak partial? Or plot? The top things that I know of is literary agents, and readers, don’t like “information dumps” in the first few pages. Or a “run down” list description of a character. You got to take these descriptions, use them like sprinkles, and scatter them all across that lovely manuscript instead of dumping it in one spot.
But a weak plot is what I’m worried about. What exactly is consider a *weak* plot?
You start by querying literary agents. This is done with a one page letter describing yourself and your book. Sometimes the agent will request you include the first few pages or chapters, but that is an individual preference.
There are several websites out there that will help you find an agent, my favorite is QueryTracker.net at http://www.querytracker.net/ . It is free and has a list of literary agents and also tools to help you keep track of who you already queried and who you haven’t, plus more.
They do a good job of keeping the crooks off their lists, but it is still a good idea to double check at http://www.sfwa.org/beware/twentyworst.html.
There are a lot of crooks out there. Never pay anyone to read or publish your book. A real agent will never ask for money except as a percentage of your royalties.
Keep in mind that finding an agent and getting published is not an easy process. Some people have to query hundreds of agents before they find one who will accept them (sadly, some never get accepted), but be persistent and keep trying.
You should also visit http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums one of the largest forums for writers. They can be very helpful.
Good luck.
A weak plot is one that doesn’t appropriately conclude itself. It is one that confuses the reader or leaves them lost and unfulfilled. The plot doesn’t justify why the characters are reacting so harshly to the point where the plot and characterizations seem random and flimsy.
– A plot should introduce a conflict to the established characters. Your setting and scenes and secondary characters should either be adding to said conflict or attempting to help your main character get to the resolution of the conflict. In the end the conflict should be satisfied to some degree. A happy ending or a temporary truce, or even the immediate end to a battle or other problem.
– A weak plot is unbelievable, one that does not touch your reader in any way. Plots are based on good and bad, love, hate, indecision, family, lust, greed, freedom, something that your main character is passionate about that draws the reader in because they too have been in that moment and in some part of them are now rooting for the main character to see his/her way through. If your character appears to always know exactly what to do your reader won’t like them very much because there is no conflict nothing to tempt them, no reason for your reader to care because your reader is not perfect and your main character won’t inspire any type of connection if they are nothing alike on such a primative level.
Harry fights his battles with magic and yet we cheer for him because we have all felt like outcasts, we have all wanted to beat the bully whether it is in school (Malfoy, Snape) or on a large scale (Voldemort).
Ideally, you should try to find a freelance editor in the city where you live, so you can consult easily. You might try the writing department of your university or college.
For a beggining writer, how do I get the attention of a publishing company?
Obviously, I’ve written a book, and would like to publish it. However, I don’t know where to start. I don’t expect my work to rocket straight to the top of New York Time’s Best Seller list; that’s wishful thinking. (But I can still hope!)
My book is called BOB(The Book of Bumology). It is a fictional piece that explains the history, reasoning, and principals of anyone or anything bum-related. It is a rather funny book.
What is the process to submit a work of literature? I have a gut feeling that there’s more to it than wrapping the pages in brown paper and shipping it off. From my own attempted research, I’ve heard of literary agents. Are they similar to Hollywood agents?
I am seeking a list of freelance literary editors who are editing quality books that are being published.?
I have written my book, ninety six thousand words, have been through each chapter at least fourteen times. I have already been through a lot as for what “to and not to do” as for getting published. Now I am hearing from the best literary agents it is best to have a qualified free lance editor pre-edit it before it even goes to them, the agent. I have heard this even from writers who are and have been published. I trusted John Paine because several good authors had already recommended him in their books. However my work is not his style. And I have had trouble finding other free lance editors with top credentials, actual top works that have in deed been published, and even more so those who have been published recently. There are free lance editors that have had one work published, or those books that were of lesser quality, or even had at one time edited for someone that became extremely popular but the book they edited was not one of them.
Is there anyone out there that can help me in this direction? I am not looking for an opinion, just facts.
Thanks,
David