SUPERFRUSTRATING

[Mankixote]

This is only my second post so, I suppose I’m still a relatively new.

I have a historical novel I have written and want to get published. I mentioned it in the last post. On the advice of several websites I gleaned various insights into exactly how to go about procuring an agent. One of the most important “bits” of research necessary to ensure that little piece of business is to research exactly which agencies specialise in the particular genre of your book.

So, first port of call was the initial list of agents who specialise in historical fiction. The first big, recognisable name I came across was The Madeleine Milburn Agency. Me and Madeleine are old friends, as she’s refused more of my novels than any other agency on both sides of the pond, and beyond.

Second port of call was to go into Madeleine’s site and check out her agents and research exactly which ones specialise in historical fiction ergo, the agents at whom I should be aiming. Now, here’s where we hit a slight grey area…

Out of their 180 advertised published authors (only 31, incidentally, being male. With a couple I wasn’t sure about) some with several books to their names, there was only one which I would say was a bone fide historical novel being set in 1643 during the civil war with a relevant storyline. Just because a novel is set in the 12th century, that doesn’t make it a historical fiction.

There were also half a dozen novels set in both world wars, plus a couple before and after with no real connection to the era. There’s a curious book about two cats running around The Great Fire of London, but I don’t think I’d call that a historical novel either.

The point is: Why are these agencies allowed to waste writer’s time with bogus credentials. Sifting through all nonsensical hoops through which unknown writers have to go is bad enough. Publishing one book out of several thousand in a particular genre does not make one a specialist. Is it they who are falsely advertising or the internet being its usual wildly inaccurate self. I wasted well over an hour on the above useless research and that was only one agency.

Getting published is nigh on impossible as it is without the extra aggravation.

 

[lizmonster]

1) Welcome to the forums! Although as this seeems more like a vent than an introduction, I'm wondering if you posted this in the wrong place.

2) If you and Madeleine are genuinely friends, I'm sure you could ask her some of your questions. If that was sarcasm, and you simply meant you'd subbed unsuccessfully to her agency many times...I dunno, but it sounds to me like maybe this isn't the agency for you.

3) Yes, finding agents to submit to takes a lot of time and research. Sites like QueryTracker can help you compile lists, but you've got to do your own legwork. My experience with a particular agency might inform your decision a little, but my book is not your book. You really do have to take the time yourself, and yes, it can be hours per agency.

4) I don't know what the point of your demographic comment is.

 

[Sophia]

Have you tried finding published books that are similar to yours, in terms of content and genre, and submitted to the agents who represented their authors? It might be more efficient than the method you've described here.

 

[Brigid Barry]

Hi, nice to meet you, welcome to the boards. I strongly recommend reading the stickies at the top of each board before posting. This particular board is more for you to introduce yourself (ETA: I thought?). There are other boards for complaining, with a giant caveat that you should be cautious about doing so and naming names. We have agents peeking in every now and again, or so the story goes, and I've seen publishers pop in to contribute to the Bewares and Recommendation threads and answer questions.

Everything you looked down on as not qualifying as historical fiction, looks an awful lot like historical fiction to me. Obviously the agents and the publishers agreed it was historical fiction, so I don't think it was false advertising or wildly inaccurate as much as maybe needing to recognize that the genre is wider than you originally believed. There is more than one right way to write historical fiction.

No one forced you to do research into the agents, you could just shotgun 10 queries to the first results on Google, or Query Tracker or whatever you're using. You do the search and the research to increase your own odds of not getting a form rejection right out of the gate. That has nothing to do with the agent. The "nonsensical hoops" the agent makes you go through would be having a complete, polished manuscript, within the expected word count for the genre, a query letter and synopsis, and follow basic instructions on how to submit to them. All of those things help them when they have to jump through hoops to sell your work to a publisher. Imagine how aggravating it is to be an agent. I subbed to an agent who opened on 9/1 and was already sending responses. By 9/3 she had already received 500+ queries.

There is a wide range of authors in different places in their writing and publishing journeys hanging around here and they are a wealth of knowledge for anyone willing to listen.

 

[Mevrouw Bee]

Apparent

Just because a novel is set in the 12th century, that doesn’t make it a historical fiction.

Colour me confused. What would that make it then?

 

[Woollybear]

The point is: Why are these agencies allowed to waste writer’s time with bogus credentials.

If you are looking for a different way to go about your research, I'd recommend scouring the historical fiction shelves at the library (inc new releases.) You'll quickly get a sense of the agency that caters to audiences who want what you are writing.

Some audiences crave what MadMil is selling--that's how this works. The market wants something, editors look for it amongst the agented manuscripts. That agency might then specialize in that 'kind' of historical fiction, for example. It's capitalism.

I promise, Madelaine Milburn is not trying to stymie your plans, and in my experience the best way to go about the research is by reading in the genre.

(I see Sophia has the same advice. Take it.)

 

[HeyImLex]

Me and Madeleine are old friends, as she’s refused more of my novels than any other agency on both sides of the pond.

I think any persevering-writer knows what this good man is talking about.

(only 31, incidentally, being male. With a couple I wasn’t sure about)

(This made me spill out my protein oats, dammit) (this shouldn't be funny)

 

[lizmonster]

Just a gentle non-mod reminder that the cardinal rule at AW is Respect Your Fellow Writer.

This includes writers represented by agents who have rejected you, and writers who have names you can't comfortably map to gender norms.

 

[Jazz Club]

I think the Madeleine Milburn agency is pretty well-respected in the UK. (Maybe she does rep more women than men, but I'm sure there are some agents who rep more men than women, if you want to seek them out.)

I didn't really follow how all those novels set in the past are *not* historical fiction. But I can appreciate your frustration. Welcome to the boards!

 

[Izz]

This particular board is more for you to introduce yourself

Just a gentle non-mod reminder that the cardinal rule at AW is Respect Your Fellow Writer.

Quoting the above two comments for emphasis.

This certainly isn't the right forum for this thread. However, I'm really not sure if this thread is a fit for AW at all. And honestly, Mankixote, some of the content of your OP is making my mod-senses tingle. So I'm going to lock the thread for now. Maybe it'll be ported and reopened in another room, maybe not.

In the meantime, Mankixote, read the Newbies Guide you were linked to when you registered, as well as the stickies at the top of each forum page. They will quickly help you understand the culture and etiquette of AW. Thank you.

Also, a good place to start if you want to see if an agent/publisher is legitimate is our Bewares, Recommendations and Background Check area. Please check the Index before starting a thread and, for the sake of emphasis, remember that AW's number one rule is Respect Your Fellow Writer.

 

[regdog]

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