Authors Guild Of America

I'm going to have to recommend that you learn a little bit more about how publishing works before you waste any time on this project.

Hi there. You might want to look at the number of similar attempts out there and why they didn't work. A search on this board should bring up a few examples.

Writer's Bewares and several other free services make it fairly easy to identify real agents. That and their record of selling books.

to AW, Andrew.

ltd.

Welcome to the cooler, Andrew.

Cool! Will you give me medical insurance?

Welcome to the Cooler, Andrew, but I can only second the advice the others gave you. Trying to build up such an organisation is very, very difficult!


Nickie

Welcome from Scotland



Willie

Andrew, I think it is wonderful that you want to help fellow writers, but you are still at the beginning of your writing career. There are many ways to sort the bad agents from the good ones, and you can find some of them right here on AW.

I'm afraid your guild idea conflicts with several realities of the publishing industry. Good agents don't need to find clients, because they are already swamped with query letters as it is. In fact, any agent that is advertising for clients is almost certainly a scammer or inexperienced.

Agents don't need the writer or an organization to help them find publishers. Agents have contacts in the publishing industry, that is what makes them good agents to begin with. They work in an established agency, building up a client list and making their name known in the publishing houses, before starting their own agency.

And publishers, like agents, don't need to go hunting for manuscripts. Even the ones that only take manuscripts from agents are hip deep in offers.

I'm not sure where editors fit into this, because I'm not sure what kind you mean. Acquisition editors work for publishing companies. If you mean freelance editors, people who want to edit manuscripts for a fee before you send it into an agent or publisher, then they aren't really part of the process. Part of being a writer is learning to write. It is better to become skilled enough to do your own editing.

But as I said before, I applaud your desire to help others. You will find that the people here have the same attitude. There are many pro writers and publishing professionals on this board ready and willing to answer questions. There is a true gold mine of information at AW.

Welcome!

Welcome, Andrew! I agree with some of the other sentiments. Work on your writing and conquer the issue of bad agents one step at a time as you go.

A really good piece of writing, along with a good agent, might very well lead you down the path to achieving your dream of a Guild someday.

Welcome to AW... and listen to the folks above. Good advice.

Welcome to AW! Andrew!

LeslieB said:

Andrew, I think it is wonderful that you want to help fellow writers, but you are still at the beginning of your writing career.

Click to expand...

Thanks for spelling out the long version for me, Leslie. That's what I meant to say.

Welcome to the Cooler!

Authors Guild said:

Thanks too all that gave me advice, I know it is not easy to do what I want to do and I have not even worked out the finer details but I will not give up no matter how hard it might be right now I'm working on a book so that might take me away from this for awhile but I shall not give up, As some people might say that it wont happen but maybe some day you all will see me at the top. Maybe I shall eat my words I should hope not well thanks agian for all the advice.

Click to expand...

Welcome and let me just say this...the sky is the limit..and anything is possible. Those on this thread telling you how difficult to do what you want to do are in fact correct. However, that doesn't mean you won't be successful in your hopes and dreams and in fact you just might find a better way.

So you keep writing and planning and working towards your goals. Believe in yourself and what you feel is right and in the end..no matter how it turns out...I am sure it will be amazing!

Again Welcome to forum

Andrew! Welcome to AW.

I have no advice that you don't already have from the good people from AW. I do have a to the cooler for you and know if you keep coming and reading and searching you will learn a lot.

Authors Guild said:

Thanks too all that gave me advice, I know it is not easy to do what I want to do and I have not even worked out the finer details but I will not give up no matter how hard it might be right now I'm working on a book so that might take me away from this for awhile but I shall not give up, As some people might say that it wont happen but maybe some day you all will see me at the top. Maybe I shall eat my words I should hope not well thanks agian for all the advice.

Click to expand...

I think your uphill battle here is just about verticle, but I would happily see you at the top. People saying you won't be able to is great motivation to turn around and do it.

I will smile wryly if I'm paying you my membership dues in twenty-five years.

Good luck!

Andrew, welcome to AW, and these guys are all right. Good advice for you. You will love the people here.

Well, that's good, because I barely pay my Netflix memberships every month.

Anyhow, good luck, and definitely hang around here and take in what these forums have to offer. And don't be afraid to contribute, either. You can learn a lot by sheer osmosis from hanging out around here.

I'm glade that you have drive. Maybe it will help new writers see a scam right away, and to not fall for it. (sorry it's positive )