I have just completed the seventh draft of my memoir. Those who've read it [mainly other writer friends and one ex-CW tutor turned to a reputable editor] they kind of like it. How do I find a literary agent to represent me in the wild publishing world I'm afraid of. Help. Arun Debnath
I am just asking, has the world become a club whereby you don’t belong you are not just there?
From sports and to virtually everything if you don’t have an agent or broker no matter how good you are at what you do! You are NOT JUST GOOD?
@ Adrian Sroka ("I don't understand how Lorraine and Jimmy each got a thumbs down.")
Having read all (to date) of the Q&A which follows this, I reply:
In the case of Lorraine, somebody seems to think that what she MEANT was:
"You bloody stupid, lazy so-and-so! WHY do you ask this question when you can find the answer for yourself by searching the red banner???"
Anybody who has paid ANY attention to Lorraine's posts in the past knows that the idea of her meaning this is utterly preposterous. But there you go.
In my case, I seem to have made a few enemies through my vigorous criticism of The Lord Of The Rings. Perhaps I can expect small-minded, revengeful Hobbit-fanatics to "thumb down" every single comment I ever make in the future.
Or it COULD be specific to this actual comment of mine. Allow me to make 2 GUESSES:
a) I was being arrogant in relating that some people think that my book is brilliant.
b) One should NEVER discourage a would-be writer.
If the reason was b), I can only defend my original comment by stating what all of us surely should know:
There are HUNDREDS of books rejected by agents and publishers EVERY WEEK! Many of these are VERY GOOD books. Some - not JUST mine (heh heh) - are EXCELLENT.
These days, agents seem to be fishing for "what will almost certainly sell" instead of real quality. There may be some holding out for quality. In either case, a book has to be very, very special to stand a CHANCE of their going for it.
All new writers need to get used to this fact. If the best that your FRIENDS can say is "I kind of like it", be prepared for rejection after rejection from agents who don't CARE about your feelings.
Am I a brutal monster for pointing that out? Perhaps not a brutal monster, but I certainly deserve a "thumbs down"!
I don't understand how Lorraine and Jimmy each got a thumbs down.