No, agents are not typical readers. Why? Because, unlike a typical reader, they know the ins and outs of shopping a manuscript around to publishing houses. They know how to aggressively get them sold for a good deal. And they get PAID only if the manuscript they are trying to sell in fact SELLS. Get it? They can't just say "Here Mr. Publisher, read this inspiring book but I'm not going to tell you what it's about because I want you to be surprised." They need to PITCH it, just like commercials and movie ideas and toothpaste ads need to be pitched to the people in charge of selling the idea.
The agent will work without getting paid until the book sells, and they will do that because they have to believe in the manuscript, wholeheartedly. Will an average reader sell your book? Try asking. You can be the crazy person at Barnes and Noble who runs from consumer to consumer saying "Will you buy my book? It's really good." After a few days of this they'll say "Oh look, it's crazy Jane!" Maybe it'll even become a nice sitcom.
The agents aren't going to waste time leisurely reading every manuscript to see if the ending tickles them. They need to know what it's about first, to see if it's something they will be able to represent. When they read your manuscript, they are taking time away from their other responsibilities as an agent (working with already-signed clients), so they want to know that they aren't wasting time. They aren't going to just hand you a contract and cross their fingers hoping you're willing to change what needs to be changed. They're doing what they feel is best, to decide whether or not they believe in a story enough to sell it. Because if your pitch won't sell your manuscript to an agent, I guarantee the agent wouldn't be able to sell it to a publisher. Unless that publisher is Publish America.
If you can go door to door peddling your manuscript to publishers, and get it advertised, and you're so above the agent's approach, then why on earth aren't you on bookstores near me?
The agent will work without getting paid until the book sells, and they will do that because they have to believe in the manuscript, wholeheartedly. Will an average reader sell your book? Try asking. You can be the crazy person at Barnes and Noble who runs from consumer to consumer saying "Will you buy my book? It's really good." After a few days of this they'll say "Oh look, it's crazy Jane!" Maybe it'll even become a nice sitcom.
The agents aren't going to waste time leisurely reading every manuscript to see if the ending tickles them. They need to know what it's about first, to see if it's something they will be able to represent. When they read your manuscript, they are taking time away from their other responsibilities as an agent (working with already-signed clients), so they want to know that they aren't wasting time. They aren't going to just hand you a contract and cross their fingers hoping you're willing to change what needs to be changed. They're doing what they feel is best, to decide whether or not they believe in a story enough to sell it. Because if your pitch won't sell your manuscript to an agent, I guarantee the agent wouldn't be able to sell it to a publisher. Unless that publisher is Publish America.
If you can go door to door peddling your manuscript to publishers, and get it advertised, and you're so above the agent's approach, then why on earth aren't you on bookstores near me?
