If agents do take you on it could be another year or more before your book sees the light of day.
Getting an agent is not necessary job done cos they might not find a publisher.
Publishers should be faster as bypassing agent, but don't seem to be.
It's not that I think I am going to kick the bucket any time soon, but I think I will self-publish my life story book. Or should I wait to see if I can find representation?
I have had 5 rejections so far.
I have just got loads of free publicity from doing a Buzzfeed Interview which went on Twitter and Facebook. I received loads of very positive feedback and potential book buyers..
If you are interested in reading the article, be warned it has driven some readers to tears.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/patrickstrudwick/this-gay-man-was-given-repeated-electric-shocks-by-british?utm_term=.jeJaEKgwB#.dfqP6AEq0
That is very good news.
Now is the time an agent will prove their worth in dealing with contracts and legal matters - not to mention negotiating financial affairs on your behalf.
Call a number of agents telling them you have two film studios 'on the hook'. I think you will find they could be very interested!
Good luck with this, and please let us all know how you get on.
Maybe your life story was mundane, I have no idea.
My life story can't be too bad though. Today I heard, via the writer of the article mentioned, of a couple of film studios wanting to talk to me about making a documentary about my life.
No trouble with agents – they are people doing a job of work, just like you and I. Sometimes they succeed, sometimes not, it is the way of the world.
A life story has very limited appeal, and you can probably count on the fingers of one hand just how many people will purchase a printed copy.
Recently, and at the request of an organisation I belong to, I wrote a book about my life from the age of fifteen through to twenty-seven; it ran to over two hundred pages and contained dozens of photographs. With all the advertising power of the organisation behind it, only three hardback copies and six CDs were sold. It was much as the organisation expected, people were interested – until asked for twenty-five pounds (hardback) and five pounds (CD).
If you want your life story to be read, then I suggest you put it onto a CD and send it with your Annual Letter – you may even be surprised to see how many are returned or rejected (from people you once thought of as your friends!).
To my mind, the best thing to do with any life story is to scan through it and find material for novels. You may even find an agent willing to deal with you, and magazines are always interested in ‘true’ short stories.
But back to your own effort; any life story is an important historical document, and as such should be preserved. Print off several copies (I know that is expensive on ink and paper), and give a copy to your wife, children or close relations (for ‘family archives’), and ask your local Public Library or (even you old school), if they would like a copy. Do not be upset if everyone says no. I repeat the ending of my first paragraph, ‘it is the way of the world’.