Agent horror stories

aruna · Mar 10, 2006

Wasn't sure where to post this; it's not exactly an Ask the Agent thing!

This poor writer is now on her sixth agent. What a story!

http://bookangst.blogspot.com/2005/06/misadventures-in-misrepresentation.html

triceretops · Mar 10, 2006

Aruna, that's a great story and worth reading. I can certainly identify with the movie option deal floundering, in almost the exact set of circumstances. My agent failed me because she was afraid of Michael Crighton (sp?), and was convinced that my book was too much like Jurrasic Park to continue lobbing it out into the market place. My book preceded his, and it was unlike his in every respect except for the dinosaur theme. I eventually quit writing for 15 years as a result of this flopped deal. I should have remained stubborn and non-pulsed, as witnessed by the young woman who went through five agents.

Tri

banjo · Mar 12, 2006

I found the story very enlightening. I do wonder what type of agreements she had with her agents that were so easily dissolved.

It would seem that it is very difficult to find a good and comatible agent. It would also seem that though often opinionated and claiming to have their finger on the pulse of the industry, some agents' judgement isn't as good as the writers they represent. And if you feel very strongly about your work, it is worthwhile to overrule your agent and submit it yourself.

Irysangel · Mar 12, 2006

Is it just me? Some of those agents totally dropped the ball, mind you, but some of the time...I get the impression she wasn't willing to give them a chance to prove her assumptions wrong. No doubt she was already gun-shy and bailed at the first sign of trouble, but I somehow get the feeling that if you're running through six agents that fast, not all of the problem is on their end.

Or am I the only one that feels that way?

triceretops · Mar 12, 2006

I certainly think that she might have been difficult to work with. I sense an underlying over-expectation with her attitude. I would like to hear the agent's opinions on just what went wrong and why. This needs two sides. I've never heard of anyone going through such a slew of agents before, nor in that amount of time.

Tri

icerose · Mar 12, 2006

A bit off topic but I'm very confused. I've heard these terms used in writing lots of times, I just don't get them.

Marriage, baby, divorce, union??? I mean these are business deals and creative works, not people or life altering deep personal events. Perhaps I'm just strange in the writing world, but I'm married, I've had three kids and nothing in writing comes close.

I love my writing and all, but come on. Am I the only one who thinks this way????

Irysangel · Mar 12, 2006

I think it's just for dramatic flair.

I certainly don't feel married to my agent. Heck, most of the time I wonder if he's a real person or if I'm just imagining things. *g*

As for my books, they're not my babies. Books are just stories, no more, no less. Some people DO get extremely attached though. I know several people that cry every time they put their characters through trauma. I know one that cries when she finishes her book because she's done with those characters. I do neither -- I gleefully treat them like crap and then I'm relieved when their stories are done.

banjo · Mar 12, 2006

Irysangel said:
Is it just me? Some of those agents totally dropped the ball, mind you, but some of the time...I get the impression she wasn't willing to give them a chance to prove her assumptions wrong. No doubt she was already gun-shy and bailed at the first sign of trouble, but I somehow get the feeling that if you're running through six agents that fast, not all of the problem is on their end.

Or am I the only one that feels that way?

Actually, I didn't get that. I thought she was just on top of it, and she was correct. After all she placed all those books where her agents failed.

I don't think they will hesitate to take their full commission. They should be just as diligent about submitting their clients work. Professionalism is a two way street.

Although I did think the three month relationship was short. That agent did require 4 revisions and then suggest she return her MS to its original form. And she never submitted it to a publisher for her client. That's just plain incompetence.

icerose · Mar 14, 2006

Irysangel said:
I think it's just for dramatic flair.

I certainly don't feel married to my agent. Heck, most of the time I wonder if he's a real person or if I'm just imagining things. *g*

As for my books, they're not my babies. Books are just stories, no more, no less. Some people DO get extremely attached though. I know several people that cry every time they put their characters through trauma. I know one that cries when she finishes her book because she's done with those characters. I do neither -- I gleefully treat them like crap and then I'm relieved when their stories are done.

I am so happy I am not the only one! And for some it isn't dramatic flair, its really how they feel.

Some moments in my writing touch or effect me more than others usually because I have some relation to that event in my own life that was very difficult, but I am usually relieved when the story is over and do not regret the passing.

ljcblue · Mar 16, 2006

Hmmm--I went to the blog and it seems to be off line.

LightShadow · Mar 16, 2006

I had an agent, to get back on topic, that thought she was an agent, and convinced me that she was an agent, but unfortunately the rest of the industry saw her as nothing more than a pain in the you know what. So, I fired her.

Ronda · Mar 16, 2006

Interesting that some folks thing you're a big deal if you have an agent. I think it's probably about like anything else. Some are great and some not so great. Same with writers, doctors, etc. Thanks for sharing so we can all learn.
Ronda

aruna · Mar 16, 2006

Miss Snark talks about exclusives today, very interesting:

http://misssnark.blogspot.com/

Agent horror stories

aruna

On a wing and a prayer

triceretops

banjo

Irysangel

She of Many Names

triceretops

icerose

Lost in School Work

Irysangel

She of Many Names

banjo

icerose

Lost in School Work

ljcblue

LightShadow

defender of the blahs!

Ronda

aruna

On a wing and a prayer