Agented submission question

[MKL1025]

When an agent sends an editor a manuscript after an initial pitch, is the editor generally already interested in the work? I'm just curious if editors initially filter out manuscripts which don't sound appealing before seeing the work.

I'm currently on submission so I have a lot of time on my hands these days to ponder random thoughts.

[Lauri B]

Hi MKL1025,
If an agent has contacted the editor and said (or emailed) something like, "I have a great book for you: it' s about x, y, z. Want to take a look?" and the editor says, "Yep," then the editor is interested in the work. Sometimes I received manuscripts or proposals from agents that were sent cold, meaning they just randomly submitted the whole thing without any initial pitch. So it depends on which method your agent uses (honestly, though, most good agents pitch first then send).

[Jamesaritchie]

It depends in part on who the agent is. Like writers, agents have reputations for delivering quality, or delivering crap, or for doing both on a random basis.

Where I work, half the slush is material sent by agents. But if the agent pitches first, and if the agent is someone I know personally or by reputation, and I say yes, then there's a definite interest.

[dantem42]

It depends in part on who the agent is. Like writers, agents have reputations for delivering quality, or delivering crap, or for doing both on a random basis.

Where I work, half the slush is material sent by agents. But if the agent pitches first, and if the agent is someone I know personally or by reputation, and I say yes, then there's a definite interest.

My own agent wouldn't dare send without a pitch and a nod from the editor. He told me that most agents who make a habit of sending manuscripts without contacting editors first are quietly blackballed, at that publishing house and eventually at others as word gets around.

[Jamesaritchie]

My own agent wouldn't dare send without a pitch and a nod from the editor. He told me that most agents who make a habit of sending manuscripts without contacting editors first are quietly blackballed, at that publishing house and eventually at others as word gets around.

That's about right, though I don't think "blackballed" is the right term. Relegated to the slush is the way we handle it. The manuscripts are simply treated like any other unsolicited material.

[Don Allen]

A quick related question: If an agent with a good reputation in fact offers representation, an author could assume that the agent believes enough in the marketability of the material to call upon a select group of editors in which they have a relationship. In other words a quality agent dosen't just send out a bunch of unsolicited ms to publishers.

[Jamesaritchie]

A quick related question: If an agent with a good reputation in fact offers representation, an author could assume that the agent believes enough in the marketability of the material to call upon a select group of editors in which they have a relationship. In other words a quality agent dosen't just send out a bunch of unsolicited ms to publishers.

Right.

Though to clear one point, a top agent that the editor knows is certainly free to send almost anything along at any time, with or without a pitch. There are a few agents out there who have stellar reputations for always delivering quality material, and if such an agent thinks an editor she knows needs to see something in a timely manner, she can send it sans pitch.

[rickalexander]

Last week I submitted electronically to the WLWritersAgency.com. They exchanged emails with me and much to my surprise...they wanted to represent me...but of course, there would need to be an edit which would only cost between $70 and $90.

Of course, I checked them out and as I have read...they stink. What I am concerned with is not the fee, but rather theft of my work. I am registered with the WGAE, so does anyone know of them ever stealing anything? Also, since I have not responded to their request for the fee, how should I respond? I don't want any slack, but just want to be dropped from their files ASAP. From what I have read, I would guess that they have read absolutely nothing, including the synopsis...and I hope it stays that way.

All thoughts greatly appreciated.

Rick

[stormie]

Hi Rick! Glad you found out before it was too late and you paid their editing fees. And you didn't sign anything. So just say, "No thanks," and that should be that. They're too into themselves to steal your work. I wouldn't worry about it. Once your name is on your work, it's yours, not theirs.

Stick around AW. Great people and great info here, as you know!

[Will Lavender]

Last week I submitted electronically to the WLWritersAgency.com. They exchanged emails with me and much to my surprise...they wanted to represent me...but of course, there would need to be an edit which would only cost between $70 and $90.

Of course, I checked them out and as I have read...they stink. What I am concerned with is not the fee, but rather theft of my work. I am registered with the WGAE, so does anyone know of them ever stealing anything? Also, since I have not responded to their request for the fee, how should I respond? I don't want any slack, but just want to be dropped from their files ASAP. From what I have read, I would guess that they have read absolutely nothing, including the synopsis...and I hope it stays that way.

All thoughts greatly appreciated.

Rick

As stormie says, just tell them, "No thanks, I think I'll look elsewhere."

And you should be more concerned about the fee. It's HIGHLY unusual for anybody to ask for money up front in this business.

I hear writers on AW talk all the time about the fear of someone "stealing their work." Listen, there are so many ideas floating freely out in the world and in cyberspace that to think that anyone's going to steal your ideas is a bit of self-flattery, IMO.

[Sophia2]

Last week I submitted electronically to the WLWritersAgency.com. They exchanged emails with me and much to my surprise...they wanted to represent me...but of course, there would need to be an edit which would only cost between $70 and $90.

It is probably a million to one that a manuscript does not need editing, especially new authors.


Also, since I have not responded to their request for the fee, how should I respond?

Just tell them you will use a professional editor that you know.


I don't want any slack, but just want to be dropped from their files ASAP. From what I have read, I would guess that they have read absolutely nothing, including the synopsis...and I hope it stays that way.

All thoughts greatly appreciated.

Rick

Well so far I have read a lot of accusations about this company but have not yet seen any evidence to prove they are scammers.

Sophia2

[Roger J Carlson]

Well so far I have read a lot of accusations about this company but have not yet seen any evidence to prove they are scammers. There are multiple threads about Robert Fletcher and his often re-named company. Stylus Literary, ST Literary, New York Literary, Childrens Literary, Christian Literary, Writers Literary, Literary Agency Group, Poets Agency, Screenplay Agency, and so on. Whenever the heat gets turned on, he changes names.

Here are links to them:

Writers’ Literary Agency & Marketing Company (formerly The Literary Agency Group, Inc.) AVOID
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13517
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56488
WL Children’s Agency (aka The Writers Literary Agency – Children’s Division) (formerly The Children’s Literary Agency) (Dorothy Walker, Robert West)
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8312
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8286Christian Literary Agency, The
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13514New York Literary Agency, The (Sherry Fine)
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=729WL Poets Agency (formerly The Poets Literary Agency)
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19104WL Screenplay Agency (formerly The Screenplay Agency)
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20359Stylus Literary Agency (formerly ST Literary Agency, formerly Sydra Techniques) (Robert Fletcher, Jill Mast, Mark Bredt)
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=929
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=529These threads are not baseless acussations. They ARE evidence. Please read them before saying you've not seen any evidence.

But to my mind, the most convincing evidence is that after being in business for several years (under various names), they still cannot document a single sale to a reputable publisher.

[eqb]

There are multiple threads about Robert Fletcher and his often re-named company.

I pointed out one of those threads to Sophia elsewhere on AbsoluteWriter. So have others.

Sophia, I'll ask again. How long have you been a client? And has Fletcher made any sales for you?

[Jamesaritchie]

It is probably a million to one that a manuscript does not need editing, especially new authors.





Sophia2

There's a 100% chance that when the agency says this, it's a scam, and you can't believe it.

[Toothpaste]

Well my MS needed editing. But you know what? It was my agent who offered the suggestions for free and everything! And then when my editor got it, I got more suggestions, for free and everything! I guess I was just lucky . . . but then again my friend when she got her agent her agent made some editorial suggestions . . .for . . .free. . . and . . .everything . . . okay maybe it was just us two . . . but then I have this other friend . . .

Sorry, slightly sarcastic, I know. Lowest form of wit and all that. Still. Dude. It's a friggin scam already.

[stormie]

Listen to Toothpaste. She knows what she's talking about. (Love that user name.:D )

And listen to the others, too. Roger, James, Beth, Will.... They also know what they're talking about. Never, ever pay.

[Lauri B]

It is probably a million to one that a manuscript does not need editing, especially new authors.


Hi all,
I have edited a lot of manuscripts over the years, and they all need an edit when a publishers accepts them. Some need more editing, some need less. The manuscript's potential is what most publishers look for; they can look beyond the typos or the slightly saggy middle if the whole book is generally really solid, exciting, informative, fun, whatever.

My feeling is if you can't manage to write a sellable manuscript on your own, with the help of some dependable (free) readers or critique groups to help you make your manuscript as good as it possibly can be, then you shouldn't be submitting to publishers in the first place.