Enjoy your time off. Happy holidays!

Happy Holidays!

This is actually nice for me, because it gives me a deadline to send my work in to you. I wasn't sure what editors did over the holidays -- if they kept reading or shut up shop until Jan. Thanks for letting us know! =)

To clarify - I'M STILL READING - I'm just reading the hundreds of things I already have to read, not taking NEW things.

Oh I'm not taking time off. I've got hundreds of queries and dozens of fulls to get through! :-)

Hope you'll still find time to update the blog amidst the onslaught of work!

Do you realize the date on this post - 2014. :D

I do indeed. I purposely dated it forward so it would remain on top.

So cute! And great you did that! I had forgot to ask you how it went!

I would have said we need books because it is so fun to cuddle up and read a book, and if there is no iPad or electricity we still have books. But I think you took care of it well. I used to get thrown off by those questions. I loved the knee hugs though.

Too funny…as they were orderly exiting, I tried to say that about ‘power’! not sure they heard. cute cute kids….

Hurrah for the latest book! I've been recently recommending his others to my friends. Looking forward to reading this one soon.

"Best thus far"? That's a big claim given how good the last two were. Looking forward to it! :)

It might be pointed out that none of those books would exist were it not for a particular Sharkly Agent. And too Juliet and Bronwen.

Thank you all, Ladies!

I had never heard of an "erasure" poem until I read GATSBY SUMMER NIGHT. I like the idea; it reminds me of Janet's title-poem contest. So using the first page of "The Pericles Commission" -- I have Gary's first two books in my to-read stack -- I 'wrote' an erasure poem.

Here's the poem:
A dead man at my feet
lay facedown in the dirt
shot through the heart.
The body was warm to my touch
his wound, slippery and wet
I heard the footsteps of someone coming
perhaps the killer
I stepped backward to take cover

OOHHHHHHHH, Kitty!!!!! LOVE this!!!

J

Kitty, you just made my day.

Would it be okay with you if I copied this to my web site and credited you in a blog post? I'd love my blog readers to see it.

Be my guest!

Done. You're now as famous as it's possible to be on my web site. Thanks Kitty.

A nice testament for biographies, and also for libraries! :)

I will be excited to see this book, I had the pleasure of meeting Melissa last year, I love her work.

oh good Susan… yes it’s fun, as is she! how are you?

Putting this one on my list!

Great looking cover art Melissa! I’ll be buying this one – way to go!

Is it faster to do the online copyright filing versus the paper copyright filing?

Before I send in my manuscript I am making sure that I am knowledgeable about the publishing industry. There are so many resources out there (they're free at your local library).

One doesn't actually need a publisher to register copyright. The copyright office permits registration of unpublished work (and requires only one copy of the typescript, assuming it's a book, in that case).

But Ms. Reid's larger point stands.

ray, even finling online you need to print out the registration form and mail with the books.

Steve, true, you can. But honest to god, why?

Doesn't it also protect you if someone else tries to pretend they wrote your book/song/script, and you get into a who-is-the-originator-of-this-work dispute? The copyright would prove a date, which would be earlier than anything the plagiarist could show, so no one else could claim credit for your work. Is this correct?

(Hmmmm, "finling" online ... something only sharks can do, right?)

PS I don't mean I think an agent would try that - but isn't it a good idea to have some sort of prior protection if you're showing it to beta readers and for-hire editors (where we wouldn't necessarily know the honest ones from the predators). From this lowly end, one can't always tell who's who.

Bonnie, I would think that's where research helps - if I was going to hire someone to go over my manuscript before querying then personally I'd want to find some good feedback about them from others who'd used their services, and I'd definitely be looking at things like the Preditors & Editors sites online. If I had any doubts about someone, I wouldn't be sending them my work.

Here's the bottom line: NOBODY IS GOING TO STEAL YOUR BOOK. If it's published and popular, piracy might become an issue, but plagiarism of unpublished work is rare enough that I doubt anyone could come up with an example (there are plenty of cases of plagiarism of published work, but that's a whole other can of beans).

As a lawyer who just got out of 6 years of intellectual property litigation (yes, I won, but it was exhausting), here are a few points.

1. The copyright registration is not concrete proof of anything. It can be rebutted by diligent evidence. It just sets the line in the sand. I beat the other side over the head with their own certificates.

2. The registration is not magic. It allows you to seek statutory damages and legal fees rather than having to prove actual damages. Without a registration, you can still recoup lost profits from a pirate.

3. Copyright and plagiarism, while connected, are not the same thing.

4. It has been said over and over again, nobody is going to steal your book. As one editor said, "there are way better books to steal from than yours." If you truly think a beta reader is going to run off with your idea, you have all sorts of time-stamped files in your computer.

5. If you insist on filing a registration, it is flawed the minute you make the first edit to your golden words. It only covers the exact words you filed with. How many times will that draft change in the 6 - 12 months you are waiting for the copyright cert?

6. If you self-pub, then file the registration. Otherwise, wait until the publishing house does it. Any questions, talk to your agent, your editor, or a lawyer.

Terri

It's not just books where this happens. I've seen it in game development too. People refuse to talk about their plot and characters in fear that someone could steal it.

I can only point at what Don said and expand it to NOBODY IS GOING TO STEAL YOUR PLOT. Especially not if you proudly proclaim it to be your first.

What do you do in the case of a self-pubbed book that you released, for example, May 1st and then the print book comes out with Createspace three months later. You have to send the print copy somewhere? I never heard the copyright required a print copy. I would want my copyright to show May 1st. Amazon would show that. The book has the year only.This makes the $35 pricetag a lot higher, too.

Ah...I would be flattered if someone liked my novel enough to want to claim it as their own,hell with the rejections I've gotten,and no requests for a full, I don't want to claim it.

I'm with Don...and ellipsis... because, anyone who is writing/has written their own book, thinks theirs is better than yours anyway. Right??

Nancy, I'm sorry, I'm not well-versed on the requirements for self-publishing or e-only publishing. My knowledge is limited to trade publishing.

Terri, that was a great review and wrap up! Thank you!!!

I'm not copyrighting anything. I figure if someone steals my work and passes it off as their own, Janet might finally be tempted to read one of my manuscripts.

I mean, just because the entire industry has singled me out to suffer in obscurity doesn't mean my words should be doomed to the same fate.

In fact, to anyone willing to plagiarize a complete manuscript of mine, I offer the first two five star reviews (from me and mom).

The ebook/print copy question intrigued me, so I went hunting. Generally, when you file online, you attach an electronic copy of the book.

Here are the acceptable file types:

http://www.copyright.gov/eco/help-file-types.html

You want to send it in the format you are publishing it, with the cover, end papers, etc., not just the text.

The wonderous Circular 7d on page 2 deals with the mandatory deposit with Library of Congress with respect to online-only ebooks.

http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ07d.pdf

However, for deposit at the Library of Congress, when there has been multiple editions (in this case print and ebook) you should send the "best edition." For more info on what constitutes the "best edition." check out handy dandy Circular 7b:

http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ07b.pdf

However, notice that the text must be the same. If you did significant edits (beyond very basic SPAG), it is a separate version and must be copyrighted separately. You have 3 months to supply the hard copies.

I love the Copyright circulars, if you have the question, they have the answer.

New stuff is easy. The law is clearcut. It gets stickier with assigning copyrights on older works. As in, grandpa wrote a book back in the 1940s that enjoyed some success and someone wants to buy the rights and put it back in print. Well, if grandpa or his heirs didn't do their work correctly, it may have fallen into the public domain. A lawyer friend asked me for a consult and that was exactly what had happened. The wrong form was filed back in the day and while the newly written forward was protected, the text was in the wind. I found a first edition of grandpa's book online. I could have purchased it, scanned it, and put it on a webpage and the family couldn't have stopped me.

That can't happen these days, so relax.

Terri

Before anyone poo-poohs plagiarism, there are some famous writers who are guilty of just that.

Having said that, I wouldn't judge a writer too harshly for adding a copyright number to their manuscript when they contact an agent. I would sooner think the writer was naive and wouldn't take it as an insult.

While I'd trust a lit agent, I don't think I'd trust anyone else. Writer says HBO's 'Carnivale' copied his idea

Are you still going to do updates on Query Shark?

yes. The Shark has been quiet of late, I know. Busy gnawing on her clients!

But we can still snail mail you queries as long as there's glitter in the envelope, right?

9/31? Did September get another day?

Maggie, well it should. It's a very nice well-behaved month. It should get bonus days instead of that stupid March with all that snow and blowy wind.

(Thanks for pointing out...fixed!)

Joelle, that sound outside your door is flying monkeys. No, really.

Enjoy your time off from us sucker-fish.

I wanna know 1. who brought a BROOM to this party and 2. Why the mace is on a yo-yo string instead of either the thumb-guage chain or louisville slugger club where it could do some good?

NotA,
That's MY broom. The mob stole it so I couldn't flee. That's not a mace, it's a cutting thingie, last seen in Octopussy starring Maude whatsis and Roger Moore. (Don't judge me for actually having seen that movie more than once ok??)

You saw I finished a new book, and that was it, huh? Three months in hiding. Don't worry, I wouldn't have sent it to you, anyway. You terrify me! OK, all joking aside, we all know how hard you work and we all know everyone needs time to come up with new strategies in this changing marketplace. Enjoy the vacation. You will be missed. Unless you keep blogging. In which case you won't be missed, because you'll be here. Queriers and "fictional authors" (heh heh) will miss you

"fictional authors" --them, I won't miss. The rest of all y'all...yup.

I hope you'll still be blogging, even if it has nothing to do with publishing. You're a fun read.

Yours is the second post today about being in a fog. Hmm… Great post.

Well, it's also important to note that you cannot, from a legal sense, copy your personal address book into your new fancy mailing service.

I like to think that this is one of those rare instances where the gov't ineptitude is actually saving us from bulk email.

So, what you're saying is that mass emailing "HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW?!" and an attached file of the Toby Keith song along with your sales states is a bad call, right?

:-P

i dunno Josin, I kinda like Toby Keith.

Thank you for the post regarding email lists. (I hope it goes through this time because I've tried three times now and Blogger keeps picking up a client's account) I work with authors for websites and marketing, through http://authors.barjd.com. When there is an opportunity for readers to continue contact with the authors, the forms are connected to either Aweber.com or MailChimp.com. Both require an opt-in confirmation before the reader is added to any list. We still plan to email only news because there can be too much, coming close to spam. We know how spam feels due to the spammy commenters on the websites. Fortunately I keep moderation in place on them.

Valerie Haight recommended your blog at a Facebook group, Writers Harbor. mr. Haight and several FB commenters are personally acquainted with you.

Thank you again. I like the way you think and will enjoy reading your blog.

JudyAnn Lorenz, Mansfield, MO

Well...actually...ah, I don’t know how to say this without watching you splash around in shallow water looking for limbs, but well, I’ll just warn you now because when my book gets published I AM SENDING YOU AN EMAIL. And, because you will spam me I will not only send you a signed copy of the book but also a can of Spam...so there, you son-of-a-shark.
Hey, calm down, don’t get your fins all uppity with me Missy. Why wouldn’t I want to share my success with the big fish who taught me how to swim in this very scary sea?
Wry

Wry, there's a HUGE difference between "Dear Shark for Brains, thanks for your help" and "Dear Friends, Family and Everyone in My Address book" emails.

I get the first kind sometimes and they always warms my cold dark heart. I don't mark those emails as spam. I code them as "authors to buy."

Thank you for your great post. This blog is great

publishing books

I'm always astounded by some of the behavior I read about when it comes to writers/authors. Someone ought to put together a book on etiquette, i.e. the do's and don'ts with agents, editors and publishers, titled "Don't Be An Idget; How To Act Like A Mature Adult In The Publishing World."

The best dos-&-don'ts manual out there is Janet's "Annoy Me" posts. Read them and quake.

Yes Bonnie, that was a subliminal hint...to Janet. She could write the book for sure and all she'd have to do is take those posts, maybe add in a few "Rants" and "Suck It Up" sections = Best Seller IMHO. :>)

Actually think 'Annoy Me' would be a great title...

It would be a brilliant title. I love the idea of a Suck It Up chapter too -

Okay Janet, the beach ball is in your corner.
When is YOU'RE A WRITER YOU ANNOY ME going to be published in book form.

Well, I'd have to find an agent and of course I've heard that's really hard; you have to know people; you have to already be published; and it's really better to self-publish first. I'm sooooo confused.

IF YOU’RE A WRITER, YOU ANNOY ME
A how-to book, about swimming with the big fish.
By
Janet Reid

Ms. Reid’s debut ‘you annoy me’ manual on how not to act like the much-maligned anchovy, while seeking fame and fortune via the tidal-page, is a must Reid.

Fathom One - “Find an agent”, they live in silt and are real beaches.

Fathom Two - Know people, always be formally introduced to your next meal.

Fathom Three - No need to be published, you have a week named after you.

Fathom Four - Self-Publish versus traditional. Sharks are solitary creatures self-gratification has its place.

Fathom Five - You think you’re soooo confused...think about us krill.

Fathom Six – If it’s all about the platform than why are you lurking under it?

I wouldn't imagine a busy agent has time to read my book. I'd guess you'd be too busy with your own clients.
And it does seem a bit like the "how do you like me now!" crap.

Well, that was fun. I'd buy ANNOY ME; And Other Things Writers Shouldn't Do.

(I took liberties with the title)

Good morning Janet,
I'd like to tag along with another question about credentials. My published work is all academic stuff and I never wrote a novel before the one I'm querying. How specific should I be about those publications?
Thank you!

Hi drw! I'm in your same boat. The way I put it was "I'm an academic. I have published articles with colons in the titles, in journals read by about seventeen people. But really SMART people."

I think the description of the actual plot of the book in that query was more important than listing pubs; if an agent is interested enough in your novel to want more, she will google-stalk you eventually and find those gems of academic death-prose all by herownself.

I remember a statement from QueryShark, about academic writing being the opposite of creative writing in terms of style. So I don't think that academic writing is that important for a creative writing query, since being good at one doesn't indicate anything about the other.

NotAWarriorPrincess wins the Internet today with the first paragraph of her comment. I, too, have written for that audience of 17, and dang it, at least two of them liked it!

Terri

Terry, maybe we have two readers in common? :)
Well, somebody told me that if you've published in academic journals you must know about editors and about respecting deadlines. so adding those credits could be a point in your favor.
I'm still not sure...

First, these questions and answers are helpful.

I do have a followup. I've not had luck double-spacing emails. When querying, I've included my writing samples with the same formatting as the email, single-spaced, no indent with a space between paragraphs.

Could this be a strike against me when agents are reviewing my query? Should I stop doing it this way?

Thanks!

I belong to an online writers' group where we only submit via email - no attachments. So clean text is very important.

First, copy and paste your 3 to 5 pages into a new Word document. Then alter the format per the submission guidelines - some want double spacing, no indents, some want single spaced paragraphs with an extra line in between each one, etc.

Then google "Jonathan Hedley convert word to text." The link you should look for will include "jhy.io/tools/convert-word-to-plain-text" (I figured links might be blocked here!)

You'll see two boxes. Copy and paste your 3-5 pages into the top box. Hit the "clean" button. Your original text will be stripped of all formatting and will appear as plain text in the bottom box. Copy and paste that version into your email.

I don't know this man, but he created this and offers it free to use. He deserves a huge gold star!

May I offer a suggestion to Windows users? If you don't want to re-type your pages into the e-mail, but you want to be sure copy-and-paste doesn't pick up unwanted formatting from Word (or whatever you're using), copy-and-paste to Notepad first. Perhaps to be double-sure, save your text in Notepad as a .txt file. Then make any changes you need to in terms of double spacing, removing indents, etc. Then copy-and-paste from Notepad into the e-mail.

That usually does the trick for me.

Eric, you're sending a Big Block o'Text that is close to impossible to read.

This comment has been removed by the author.

Forgive the typing...working from a mobile and don't have my readers on! :-D

Ugh! I didn't mean to delete the prior comment. I was trying to tell you thanks for addressing my question so quickly. You rock!

When I query, I send a 'test' email to myself first. The copy/pasted pages (some agents want to see the first THREE chapters with query) seem to transfer appropriately--albeit minus headers and page numbers.

Are you saying that format doesn't correlate to what an agent receives in her inbox? Well, crap.

Thanks for the advice on Notepad and the conversion website. I'm sure there is an agent somewhere who thanks you, as well.

-T

TD, Try sending the email to someone else, preferably with a different email platform as well. You'd be surprised what you might find.

So it would be safest to send plain text. What about umlauts and other special characters?

What a laid back crew, she's to be commended on her training. (The bully and the cat's licking made me nervous, though, like it could all be one second away from mayhem.)

That's the blog title of the week!

Where's the duck's shark costume?

It's not fair that the cat and the dog got wear a shark costume. Equal rights for ducks.

Have to tell you my cat came running when he heard the vacuum noise! He watched the whole thing with me! Thanks for the laugh.

How in the world did you get the cat to stay on? My cat runs as soon as I take the vac from the closet. Too cute.

I saw the title and thought you would be reviewing really bad queries.

Saw this on GMA and I knew, I mean I really knew, it would end up in your pond.
Hahaha, it is about the most dumb-ass awesome thing I have ever seen and it...made...my...day.
Thank you oh great finder of sharkish things.

Cats around the world have just voted that cat off the island. I mean, you can expect that kind of behaviour from a dog, but a cat?

I'm really glad you were on fine vaulting form that day, Janet. Stephanie's books are so good! :)

Ha, contests love‘em.

I have entered the WD prompt contest a bazillion times. Gave one of my awesome entries to my daughter to read, to get her opinion, she’s smart and was going for her second Master’s Degree in something-or-other. Actually I was showing off, wanted my kid to know what a brilliant (and humble) fiction writer I am. She loved the story and asked if she could enter the contest.
She had never entered before, never even written fiction.
“Go for it”, I said. She didn’t have a chance. I was hoping my winning entry wouldn’t upset her and make her feel her talent was in any way inferior to mine.
Out of almost 1000 entries, she came in second. I have never been happier for anyone else in my entire life. I don’t even remember who won; all I know is...it wasn’t me. I never entered the contest again. She hasn’t either. She has not written a single word of fiction since.
Me? I'm still querying my women's fiction. Go figure.

Shark vaulting...I got a visual of an Orca flying out of the air to grab a little seal. Yikes.

The Malice Domestic contest sounds great, but is specific to the traditional mystery genre.

"Awww...dalmations only."

If it's a contest for unpublishrd mss, does the agent (if she wants it) then wait to see if it wins before shopping it around - ? - because if someone buys it in the meantime, it will no longer be unpublished (???) and would therefore be disqualified from the competition. In which case, shouldn't one wait before querying until they know the results?

I should also think that a contest winner or runner-up would be an extra attraction to publishers so it's worth waiting for that reason too. But do agents DO "waiting"?


How does that work?

I deleted my post above because it wasn't very clear (typing one-handed on an iPad in the dark when you're supposed to be sleeping didn't help either). But it's something I've been wondering about with regard to querying and contests which accept unpublished manuscripts, so I'm trying again.

If you've submitted a ms. to such a competition, and you then query an agent with that same project before the results are known, and the agent takes it on, would she then wait to see if it wins (which would give her added bargaining clout)? Janet says to keep querying, but what happens with regard to the contest? If a publisher buys the book in the meantime, presumably it's then no longer "unpublished" so it could get disqualified (which could mean losing out on a chance of a decent cash prize as well as prestige).

How does the "wait and see" factor sit with regard to agents? Or does it? Do they ever hang on until competition results are announced before trying to market a novel?

Love it Love it Love it…thank you for ….”Middle grade and realistic fiction is “hot.” Lightly illustrated middle grade…often stand-alones again, and more contemporary in feel… are wanted.” ….I am wondering if you would please give us a pictoreal example of the type of illlustration you are describing so that may see where y style of illustrating fits. Thank you Anne Michelle Johal, The Talking Cat Art Studio NZ

……’Should bring more work to the ‘realistic’ artists’ Oh yeah? Hip hip horray!

It's good to hear there is at least one situation where a debut novelist has a better chance than someone else. The way I've heard it, "we" (debut novelists)are the proverbial snowballs in hell when it comes to getting published.

Donna, that thinking comes from wrong vantage point. It's hard to get published, yes indeed. BUT it's MUCH harder to STAY published than it is to get published. This might be a good blog post come to think of it.

Regarding your comment to Donna, "...BUT it's MUCH harder to STAY published than it is to get published."
I get it.
Losing over 90 lbs. was easy, keeping it off has been a bitch.

Not meaning to demean today’s question at the Emporium.
The impact of being pitched as a ‘debut’ in fiction, (at my age being debuted in anything is a plus), is as exciting as my sexual ‘debut’; I lost my virginity to a boy named Danny in the stockroom of a marine supply store, so pardon that this comment is off-subject.
The Question Emporium:
Where is it and do you serve tea and biscuits? I’m a coffee and donut kind of girl. Every establishment I have frequented, which has Emporium in the title sells jewelry, shark teeth necklaces are a specialty. They offer gifts and trinkets along with exotic items like hemp bracelets and Lilac soda. Usually new-age music is playing and the sales clerks wear long skirts with tiny bells sewed on their hems, and that’s just the guys. Emporiums I have known reek of patchouli, the incense choice of the day, and the floors squeak...old buildings. Customers weave down the aisles discussing global warming and the benefits of breast feeding. So Janet is that what your office is like? I mean really imagining your question emporium as a huge shark tank just doesn’t compute.

Yes, Janet--I think that would be an excellent blog post. It's easy for those of us aspiring to be published to believe that once our first book hits the shelves, that's it--we've made it. It's a bit of a scary thought, that it's harder to stay published than get published. I, for one, would love for you to elaborate on this.

Do you think it's detrimental to self-publish and then attempt to get a traditional publisher for the next book if the first one hasn't done anything? Would I still be considered a "debut" novelist at this point, having one book under my belt, even though I put it out there myself and have yet to do any serious marketing/selling?

So would I!

Rats, cross-posted! My comment related to Colin's message.

I'd love to hear your perspective on getting published and staying published. What little I know (from my trusty sources - ha!) is that a two book contract means the publisher really expects to make back their money on the second book...in most cases. And if they don't, out comes the chopping block.

What is this staying published business? Like are you talking about being able to continue publishing books once you've been published, or that the book that you have put out keeps on selling? Or am I completely off subject? I'm confused. Someone please explain this to me.

Glad you're back, missed ya a lot.
See...I spelled a lot correctly.

Missed you much and I got busted rearranging books at the flea market. I told them it was all your fault.

So, to expand on the question, what is a typical print run for a debut novel? Or is typical a hilarious choice of words?

Terri

Good to have you back, Janet. Interesting question, indeed. One I've always wondered about, too.

Teri, there is no typical print run.

Good to see you're back.

This is... interesting. I didn't know it worked like this.

Welcome back...!

So happy you're back.

Thank you Christina, I always learn something new from reading your blog. Spare and Fresh is my new mindset. Very interesting.

glad you like this… it’s like writing poetry… only what is necessary to tell a better story.

Love this and love Patrice’s work….spare and fresh, YES!! Oh and a happy belated Mama’s Day to you, Christina and all you fab creatives. http://illustrationjunky.wordpress.com/2013/05/12/happy-mothers-day/

Bwahahaha! "schmagents"!

I'm partial to the term 'god-tier' over rock-star. There is some selfishness in that term, though. The hope is that an amazing agent in that echelon will = an amazingly successful career for the author. It's not worship, it's aspiration.

Yes! I wish more authors realized this. I wrote a post about researching agents recently too. I always use Absolute Write's Background check section and Publishers Marketplace. Not just interviews and agent websites (though I use those too). Thanks for posting this!

Good to keep in mind as we newer writers learn the ropes. "Due diligence " will pay. Thanks- rob

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Awesome post!

What if a writer doesn't want to be a rock star, just a quiet spinner of yarns for others to enjoy? Is that a problem?

A good fit is everything. Some like rock, and others jazz. I personally prefer classical... a classical agent would be better than a rock star any day.

To me, a dream agent is one who, through his or her online presence (both blogs and Twitter), comes across as knowledgeable, funny, and responsive. Those are qualities I look for in all of the people I want in my life.

I tell querying writers to get a one (or more) month subscription to Publisher's Marketplace. They can compare agent sales records side-by-side (not that all sales are reported), look for number of sales in a time period and over a career, and a list of clients. It's well worth the $20.

The point is, your agent should help you be successful at the career you want. And they should put your interests above their own. You are the public face of your work - your agent is behind the scenes crew.

Well, what I meant is that YOU should be the star. If we're going to go classical analogy, the author is the conductor, the books the orchestra, and the agent is the theatre manager or some other person who helps everything go smoothly for the conductor behind the scenes, not the person who shoves the conductor out of the way.

Funny. I have on my twitter description that my agent is a rock star agent, but she really is, so there's that.
Also, if you've researched an agent thoroughly and know she or he would be the best one in your corner, then it is perfectly legit to call him or her your dream agent, correct?
I think you're point is extremely valid -- online presence does not make an agent a rock star agent. In fact, some of the REALLY popular agents on Twitter who tweet all day long should make potential clients wonder how on earth the agent ever has time to be out there selling books.

Fair enough!

For the record, I don't think there is anything wrong with thinking your agent is TOTALLY AWESOME IN A THOUSAND WAYS... if you actually work with them. And I hope I am my clients "dream agent" as they are my dream authors!

I am a bit more dubious about crowning an agent you don't work with and don't know yet as a rock star or dream, when you're still in the querying process. They very well might be terrific, but not turn out to actually be a fit. I'd just encourage authors who are seeking agents to keep a bit of an open mind (not enough to take on just anybody, but.)

Absolutely! And just for the record, I'm quite sure your authors do think of you as their "dream agent!" ; )

Last year, I met an agent at a conference, and she loved my pitch and the sample pages she read. She even swooned a bit over the non-fiction manuscript I'm working on (in a genre she doesn't represent) and spent the entire conference pulling me over to various groups of editors and other agents to introduce me and gush about how talented I am. That's my "dream agent." I want someone who is so excited about the things that I write that she/he can't wait to tell everyone in the world about my manuscripts. So even though it hurt like crazy when this particular agent ultimately decided not to offer representation, she helped me define my dream agent. I know exactly who I want as my agent... except for those tiny details like the agent's name & agency! (I'll figure that part out when we meet.)

Terrific and important reminders and guidelines in this post! Thanks so much. Am sharing with my drydenbks clients.

This post rocks.

i also believe no one knows who their "dream agent" truly is until they begin working with them.

This is good advice. As the creative person in the mix, I would like an agent who has strengths in areas I may be weaker: cool head in negotiations, nurturing when I am down on myself, tough love when needed, and savvy preparedness with contracts and rights. Conferences are great experiences and a chance to meet agents. I watched some agents give great talks, then dash off to check their Blackberries and generally act aloof the rest of the time (the wannabee writers and artists didn't earn their attention). I've met two agents who absolutely blew me away: intellectual, articulate, kind, yet honest and direct. People who think long term. Those are my agent crushes. They would make me better at what I want to do.

Agree. A good agent, these days, should not only broker the deal, but foster its success after publication by boosting the signal about the book and supporting the author's efforts online; just as a good author, these days, should not only write a good book, but collaborate with the publisher to promote the book by every means possible.

I do, however, agree with Jennifer that writers should consider the agent's credentials and track record first and foremost. Consideration of track record should far outweigh consideration of the agent's online charm when choosing the best person to represent your work.

But... some agents have both—ability and charm online—and that combination is golden. Because an agent shouldn't just be a deal broker, but a career nurturer, and nobody wins if the great deal the agent brokers for a client doesn't earn out because the promotional efforts were drowned out by more energetic online support teams.

Some things: I love the term "schmagent." Did you just coin that? Second: Anyone who's met you knows that you sport some very humble galoshes over those blue suede shoes. You could not be accused of trying to upstage your talent. And lastly: You make an excellent point. Thank you. This really can't be overstated. Followers does not necessarily equal fantasticness.

I was trying too be too clever by half. But we both made the same point- it is about fit.

Great advice. I hope to someday soon have a dream agent, but in the meantime, I'm doing my research and developing my craft, submitting, writing, waiting until that right match comes along.

I often think of "dream agent" as a term which refers to an aspiring author's FANTASY of what it means to have an agent, but when you get down to brass tacks the important thing is to find an agent who best suits your own individual reality as an author. Reality agents are immeasurably better than dream agents.

totally.

aw, thanks!

I didn't coin "schmagent" I don't think -- it's one of those things that sprung up in conversation, as friends and I noticed more and more fly-by-night... well, SCHMAGENTS, popping up every day.

Great post. My agent responds to client emails quickly and thoroughly rather than maintaining a presence on Twitter (not saying there's anything wrong with Twitter).

I think sometimes, authors say "dream agent" because that person represents other authors they admire. At least, that's how I used the phrase in the past.

Thanks for posting. (And let me know if you'd ever consider being interviewed for RateYourStory.org, a site that helps budding children's authors).

Great post, Jenn!

Great post! My agent has a small web presence but is absolutely a rock star. In fact, I've speculated on my blog about the possibility that many literary agents actually started out as secret agents (http://bstaveley.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/of-agents-secret-and-literary/) and discretion is definitely a hallmark of a good secret agent...

The term "god-tier" bothers me even more.

An agent is not a god, but a business partner. To view one's agent as "god-tier" is to put them high above not only other mortals but above oneself, which seems likely to create some very unbalanced agent/author dynamics.

But ... many of the knowledgeable, funny, responsive people in my life are all these things offline, and their blog and Twitter presence is not an indication of their having these qualities. :-)

This. My agent has no online presence at all: I knew her reputation from both researching and talking to her clients before signing.

Thank you for this post. Sometimes writers are eager to search for an agent before they are ready, and sometimes writers are so eager to get an agent that they don't consider these important points.

Agreed, agreed, agreed.

I'm always hesitant about agents who seem to spend most of their time tweeting about trivial stuff to people they'll never meet, as well as agencies who are so impressed with their own latest facebook comments that they post them as blog entries!This is one of the better blogs, or I wouldn't participate...By the way, I just log in as Anonymous so I don't have go through all that URL interface stuff. Kevin A. Lewis

Last year I had a schmagent send me a friend request on Facebook. His disco-shirt cut down to there was a big tipoff that he might be more interested in "romance" than "romance titles".

Thanks so much for this. You make so many valid points!

You personify the best kind of agent - funny in person at conferences, informative online keeping a huge fan club of followers on their toes, yet self effacing and genuine. And always working toward good relationships with authors and editors. If there was an agent hall of fame...

How can you find out what their sales records are? How do you track it from Agent to Sales? Could you touch on that point? Thank you.

As a four-book author, I'm ready to plunge into the agent pool. After learning how to format (yuck) market (barf), and losing the trail of vanity publishers that hounded me for three years,(awhooo) I realize that a good agent deserves every dollar of their fees.

Thanks for the insightful tips, which for me, are perfect timing.
C.S. Poulsen

Very nice post. It's so easy for writers to get "caught up" with the wrong agent. We all have to be diligent with who we're working with. It's basically like any other relationship. You have to kiss a few frogs to find your prince, and be cautious so you don't get warts.

I just finished the blog. Really very helpful. Thanks for sharing such an amazing blog.
Stone Split Face

This makes me smile.

I've had this on pre-order at Amazon since January. What can I say? I'm a fan! :D

Having chosen to do a classics degree based on enjoying stories set in ancient Greece & Rome, I think I should check this series out :) It sounds like fun!

They make me smile too!

Seriously, that's some beautiful artwork.

Why don't i have a copy?

huzzahhhhhhh :)

Way to go, BPo!!!

woww ... This is the real picture? ..
I imagine being in it ..


Greetings from far away Indonesia.
asked permission to follow you ...
If you have time, please visit my blog and follow course .. .. thank you.

Hooray for you, B2!!!!!!!!!

Way to go, Ms. Slither!

Still have NO idea how that nickname applies. She's the flat-out kindest person I've met on the e-webs.)

Smart women rock.

This is wonderful. Sparse, and strangely lyrical.

Very, very cool.

I (Robot)
Love (Story)
These (Happy Golden Years).

Terri

HARPO SPEAKS...ABOUT NEW YORK (Harpo Marx)
ELLINGTON BOULEVARD (Adam Langer)
THE BEST PLACE TO BE (Lesley Dormen)

~~~

CONFESSIONS OF A FORMER CHILD: A THERAPIST'S MEMOIR (Daniel Tomasulo)
I REMEMBER NOTHING (Nora Ephron)

This is like poetry!

It makes me want to go into my home library and start rearranging books.

(Which I did... You can make an entire story from just Grisham titles)

The Client: The Innocent Man,Calico Joe
The Firm: The Litigators
The Summons
The Confession
The Runaway Jury
The Appeal
The Chamber

Completely off topic, but I thought you would appreciate this: http://i.imgur.com/ZwLtozI.gif As you squee with pleasure, just try to remember me when my query eventually gets to you.

Just curious... Is it me or has Janet been gone a long'ish time now, with no new posts...?

Donna (and anyone else wondering), been down with the galloping crud for a while. Doing the on-fire, must-do stuff only. Back soon! Thanks for noticing!

:))

I figured something was up...I'm sorry you've been sick. Looking forward to you coming back...when you feel better!

Nasty, that galloping crud. But thanks for letting us know. Checked every day and was starting to worry.

Ms Reid,

*sigh of relief*

There's a lot of curative properties in wood cured alcohols.

GBS

I'm glad I wasn't the only one checking in and wondering/worrying. I hope you feel better soon, Janet!

I'd send cupcakes, but saw on Twitter that even chocolate doesn't sound good right now. Feel better soon!

Terri

PS: In my off time between your posts, I've been rearranging the books at a local flea market.

I've been checking every single day and hoping Janet was not going to pull a Jessica or a Betsy on us.

Donna, so glad you mentioned something. I was going to to but frankly, as I have told Janet before, she scares the shit out of me.
Feel better soon, we miss your bubbling salt water mouth full of very sharp teeth self.

This is so interesting. Now I want to go play with all my books. :)

Sooo cute! Congrats to Priscilla!

Congratulations, Priscilla and Christina! Nice to see good things happening for good people.

Kathy

I love the illustrations, wonderful.

Thanks for spreading the word!