One of the resources that has been incredibly helpful in this process is Publishers Marketplace. I joined there about a year ago and have been enjoying reading the updates and deals news ever since. It's especially exciting when I see friends' books listed. I actually have been known to squeal out loud when I've seen their names--even if I already know about their deals.
The things that I have found most helpful lately? 1) The searches that show what agent reps what author or a particular book. It's been nice not to have to scour the house for the books I love (especially since some of them are lost in the black hole that is my daughter's room) and hope that the author gives a shout out to his/her agent. 2.) The individual agent pages that show what they are looking for with links to their own websites and what publishers they are working with mostly. 3.) The top dealmakers page has been really helpful too.
I could keep going. I've been up and down and around the PM site finding what I could. Not everyone updates their deals regularly, but that's a good thing to know too. It goes to personality.
Some of the other sites I've found particularly helpful are AgentQuery and QueryTracker, but there is no substitute for agent interviews in knowing what they are really looking for and what they are like. A special thanks to Cynthia Leitich Smith at Cynsations for all the marvelous interviews and Casey McCormick at Literary Rambles for all their fabulous agent info and links to interviews.
17 comments:
Thanks so much for the mention, Lois! How exciting to be on the cusp of your agent search. I hope you get some great responses to your query and a resounding Yes very soon!
When I say "search" I really mean "hunt." Ha!
I just joined a month ago and find it very addictive.
Yep, PM and Querytracker are daily haunts for me :) Excellent sites!
Great links! I've heard good things about PM but and Querytracker, though it does seem more of a challenge to get info on agents if you write inspirational fiction. The big names are out there and easy to find but I've had to dig hard to find the lesser known agents.
This is all so exciting. Good luck! I hope it all works out! :)
Check you out - being all research-y and thorough. How wonderfully exciting!! I'm totally addicted to PM, so worth the subscription if you are near/at the query phase or beyond. You've got a great novel and I have no doubt it will find the right home. Kudos to you for all the hard work you've put in.
Congrats on all your productivity and welcome back. :)
And thanks for the update on PM and Querytracker.
OMGosh! Good luck! i'm so excited for you! just remember I queried 50 agents in the month of July to get 6 interested. So just shrug off the "no thank yous" Eeh! I can't wait to hear about your success!!
Jenni
Casey, You're welcome. Your blog is invaluable for those of us researching agents.
Patti, It can be very addictive. There's so much great info.
Michelle, I'm glad you think so too.
Cindy, I can see where some genres would be hard to find the right agents. Some seem very secretive too.
A, Keep your fingers crossed for me.
Tess, *bows* I know. I feel very professional. I hope you're right that I'll be able to find the right home.
Sarahjayne, It's good to be back.
Sarah, Thanks for the reminder not to get discouraged if at first I don't succeed.
I love PM too. Totally worth the money. :)
Great links - see what some time off can do?!!
wishing you the best of luck with the agent hunt! Crazy as it sounds--try to have some fun with it. :)
I need to check out PM. I really want to be educated about more agents who consider my kinds of novels. I really can only think of two I'd love to represent me and I know for a fact that's just not realistic. I'm glad their online! God bless the Internet. ;)
All excellent places to find exactly what you're looking for when agent-hunting. Great post!
I love PM. It is a fantastic resource and totally keeps you up to date on the latest going ons!
Good luck!
Ooh, thanks for the links. Like agent candy.
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