Writing Agent
Writing A Memoir: Do It Yourself Or Hire A Ghostwriter?
By Lisa Silverman
Some time ago, I was hired by a woman with a harrowing family story to tell. She desperately wanted to share her tale, believing that it would expose truths and help other people, but she recognized that her writing was not at a professional book author’s level. So I agreed to ghostwrite the manuscript.
I had never done such a job before–editing books was my thing, not writing them–and I soon came to regret it. The woman lived far from me, so I never met her, and she had a difficult time understanding the level of detail I needed from her to effectively turn the events of her life into a potential book. The experience led me to ask: Can a deeply personal story be told in a deeply personal, affecting, true way–by someone who didn’t live it?
A recent poll showed that 81 percent of Americans believe they have a book in them. I’d bet that at least half those people have a memoir in mind. The genre has exploded over the past decade or so (though I’m still not sure how it differs from a good old-fashioned autobiography… Does anyone write those anymore?). But, of course, not everyone with a poignant story to tell has the writing skills to tell it effectively. So many turn to a ghostwriter for help.
If you fall into this category of aspiring author, keep this wisdom in mind that I gleaned from my own experience:
* Shop around. Make sure your prospective ghostwriter understands your story, not just knowing the events, but really getting what you want to say on a deeper level. To achieve such a connection, you must be completely honest and open with him/her. Hire someone in your geographical area if possible, so you can meet in person.
* Draw up a contract. Essential every time you work with another writer, even if it’s your best friend. Especially if it’s your best friend. Avoid any future conflicts about credit on the book jacket, whether the ghostwriter gets royalties or a flat fee, what happens if you decide it’s not working out, etc. Then you can focus on telling your story together.
* Tell your ghostwriter everything–and I mean everything. Reveal even things you don’t want to reveal in the book. Just as a character needs a back story, the ghostwriter needs context to make the story feel true. Trust is essential between you. Think of your ghostwriter as your therapist. Nothing leaves the room (except what goes in the book).
* Distance yourself from your story. Get into your ghostwriter’s head and realize that he/she doesn’t know what you know. Details are essential to effective writing, so while your daughter may not be a major character in your memoir, and while you may know every detail about your daughter, the ghostwriter doesn’t. Every character in a good book is richly drawn. So even if she’s in only one scene of the book, talking on the phone, tell your ghostwriter the color exactly how she acts when she’s on the phone–not to mention the color of her eyes, her best friend’s name… you get the idea.
The bottom line is that Brechtian, emotionally distanced memoirs don’t sell, unless you’re a literary genius on the level of Brecht. So if you decide to seek ghostwriting help to create your manuscript, make sure your ghostwriter can feel close and connected to you and your story. Make sure the book in your head can be channeled through them onto the page.
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Probably nowhere. That is a very unrealistic time frame for finding an agent. For some it takes 4-6 years. You can count on 1 month or so for every agent who reads it and taking into consideration rejections (and yes, there will be some) your goal is very unrealistic. Why are you in such a hurry? Pax-C
First of all, your age doesn’t matter.
What matters is that you have real talent (i.e. something worth publishing..i.e. something that the publishing world thinks will make them money).
You can go to any bookstore or online and buy the 2011 version of Literary Agencies.
Then you go through the entire book (it’s big) and find those agents who choose to represent your type of story (make sure you know what kind of category it falls into).
Then from that list you’ve found, you send off a query letter and follow the instructions that each of them has according to their insert in the book…..some want only a query letter, some want that plus the first 5-10 pages, etc…
You send a letter with a self addressed stamped envelope so they can answer back, otherwise you won’t hear back from them.
Or
If they accept emails, you send one with what they require.
Then you wait.
Over the next few weeks, you’ll get letters back or if you sent enough postage to send back your 5-10 pages (I’d recommend you let them know they can throw them away if they want)…..you’ll get the whole package back….
Most of them will reject you, but if you’ve got talent that catches the eye of at least one of them, then you will get called/emailed/or a letter…..asking to see more or the entire manuscript…..or to see a synopsis/outline of your story….
Then if they like what they see, they’ll usually call and tell you they liked your story, and you go from there….they tell you to make a bunch of copies of your entire manuscript so they can send it to the publishers they think might be interested….
How does a teenager get a writing agent?
I’m almost 15 and I really want a writing agent. But I don’t really know how to get one. Help, please? 🙂 Thanks
Ya, I meant literary agent… Forgot the name 🙂
The best way to get an agent is to write something really worthwhile.
All of it.
Then revise it, rewrite it, make it even better, and then, when you’re confident it’s the absolute best it can be, start querying agents. Ideally, you should do some research (either via the Writer’s Market or one of dozens of agent resource sites on the Internet) and target your manuscript to an agent who represents similar material. Make sure they’re accepting new manuscripts, and then (unless their guidelines say otherwise) write a query letter.
A query letter is a one-page (NO more), businesslike letter in business letter format that does the following:
1. Explains what you’ve got
2. Explains why it’s really great/different/cool
3. Says who you are and what your credentials/publishing credits are.
Keep it succinct, brisk and businesslike. Make sure you send the query letter *to* someone. Not “Dear Sir/Ma’am” but to a real person, whom you know actually is at that agency. Hopefully that’s someone that you’ve researched and know represents whatever it is you’re peddling.
This is a *snail mail* letter, usually accompanied by an SASE. Do *not* email query unless the agent specifically requests that in their guidelines.
Then you wait.
Some time later, either the agent will reply asking for more (usually three chapters and a synopsis), or you’ll get a polite form letter saying anything from “this doesn’t sound like something we’d be interested in” to “we’re overstocked” (which means they have too many manuscripts right now) or some variation on that theme.
Send out a lot of queries. Keep sending them.
Meanwhile keep in mind that representation is more easily gotten when you have prior publishing credits, and I realize that sounds like a chicken and egg sort of thing, but most of us start in short fiction or essays. Try selling some short stories. There’s a wide, varied market for short fiction, and your chances with a short story are far better than for a novel. If you can get something published and well-reviewed, it’s an excellent start. At that point, finding an agent becomes much, much easier.
Good luck.
Writing Agent?
I need an agent because I want a book published. Where could I find one in 4-6 months?
How does one go about getting a writing agent?
“No unsolicited material” is a common phrase. So I need a writing agent right? How does one go about getting one? Thank you!
Check http://www.writersmarket.com for great advice on how to send a query letter and the names and addresses of a few agents. I also like http://www.agentquery.com. You can do a search by genre there. Good luck!
How do i find a writing agent?
A few days ago i asked how to get a book published and somebody suggested getting an agent. This sounds like a good idea but i have no idea how a 13 year old is go about getting one?
Hello ! First of all, congrats on being such an intelligent 13 year old : ) I sense a future author in the making ! And I am actually a college student that works in the NHWP = New Hampshire’s Writing Project. Each year we hold a conference, and in those conference you meet different writers, whether it’s poetry, fiction, non-fiction…ANYTHING ! I would recommend getting in touch with my supervisor, her name is Kathy Boss and see if you can become a member. Basically each month you will receive a newsletter with different writers’ opinions and stories; interactively members get to answer the question of the month and several answers can be published so everyone can see : ) ! Her phone number is 1-603-498-2834. Give her a call and keep me updated ! : ) and GOOD LUCK ! you are going to make it far, keep using that brain for good instead of for drugs and other useless things teenagers do these days !
how do i send my work to a writing agent?
i wanna get my stories up for market but i have no idea how. I know that a writing agent can help me along the way, are there any links of agents websites or emails i can send?