tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post5289058304219254033..comments2024-02-20T07:57:47.756-08:00Comments on Carol Hedges: Do Writers Need Agents?Carol Hedgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10359578624109905400noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-67300602363306135802015-02-02T06:33:37.161-08:002015-02-02T06:33:37.161-08:00I'm really sorry you went through all that, bu...I'm really sorry you went through all that, but it's great that you're sharing your story so others can learn from it. This is such a useful post.Suushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04483643218626622743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-57706082798465804502015-02-02T01:49:28.516-08:002015-02-02T01:49:28.516-08:00Very sensible attitude. You article explains the d...Very sensible attitude. You article explains the dilemma perfectly. Thank you. Gill Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-2583834774476642942014-10-15T05:52:48.696-07:002014-10-15T05:52:48.696-07:00Thanks for this. As I said, there are good reliabl...Thanks for this. As I said, there are good reliable agents out there...but in an area where the writer knows so little, it is hard to assess whether you have picked one.Carol Hedgeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10359578624109905400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-56154188532023375322014-10-15T02:07:24.231-07:002014-10-15T02:07:24.231-07:00Useful post. One reason people think they need an ...Useful post. One reason people think they need an agent is to negotiate the contract with the publisher, but it's not so. With advice from the Society of Authors I've just negotiated my contract with a small press – boy, was that small print tedious, but I have learnt so much I'd never have done had I had an agent doing it for me.<br /> Nevertheless, I'd still like to attract an agent for my next novel to have the chance of going to bigger publishers. But there are so many potential routes to publication, we all need to keep in mind this is far from our only option.Anne Goodwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04184575753612760952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-69505214716750348812014-10-13T00:11:23.743-07:002014-10-13T00:11:23.743-07:00A helpful post thank you. I decided to go the self...A helpful post thank you. I decided to go the self publishing route which has been a huge educational process. I had grown tired of waiting for the rejection slips to come back. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13518526165172884763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-27360305877866573112014-03-12T05:36:52.732-07:002014-03-12T05:36:52.732-07:00Carol - I have been reading them which is why I sh...Carol - I have been reading them which is why I shared mine! I realise that this probably isn't a thread for positive stories - and that may be because there are very few but it would be cowardly of me not to put some different views.I'll go away now and hide.Phillipahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15638591059241672256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-87752839181688649292014-03-12T05:33:26.495-07:002014-03-12T05:33:26.495-07:00I think you are very very lucky..if you read the c...I think you are very very lucky..if you read the comments, your agent appears to be a rare exception. Stick with them...if I had had one like this, I wouldn't be in the position I was in for so many years.Carol Hedgeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10359578624109905400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-14396617274385538112014-03-12T05:28:44.814-07:002014-03-12T05:28:44.814-07:00Carol - this is SUCH a difficult question and I ag...Carol - this is SUCH a difficult question and I agree with so much of what you say, although I will add that it depends on the agent and the circumstances. I expect I will not be popular for what I'm about to say but I feel I need to say it: my own agent has stuck with me through thick and think for almost ten years, pitching my work and offering editorial and career advice, not mention counselling and support! She does not take a cut if I sub something to my smaller US publisher and I consider her to be a good friend. She secured my latest deal with a Big Six - a deal I would not have had a sniff of otherwise - and in the past, introduced me to a screen agent who doubled the size of a film offer I was lucky enough to receive. That far outweighed her and the agent's commission. I agree that it is not all roses and Prosecco with an agent and I hear many horror stories, but on the whole I am so glad I met mine and that we have built a relationship of mutual trust and negotiation.Phillipahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15638591059241672256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-49718137934150927232014-03-11T09:17:27.009-07:002014-03-11T09:17:27.009-07:00Thank you for sharing Carol, you have given me thi...Thank you for sharing Carol, you have given me things to think about...as have all the other posts!Mariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05322234219197041788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-30703161962991076602014-03-07T04:03:23.605-08:002014-03-07T04:03:23.605-08:00Not in my experience. This was my first book and I...Not in my experience. This was my first book and I knew nothing and like you it was pre-internet. On my publication day I sat on my stairs and cried - hardly any distribution and no publicity. It was a no brainer that sales would not be ace. These days I receive more royalty from my 99 cents epub books than any print booksLindsay Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11513558547686982857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-27853869580035431092014-03-07T03:54:50.831-08:002014-03-07T03:54:50.831-08:00Thanks Lindsay. Indeed - I was told by OUP that th...Thanks Lindsay. Indeed - I was told by OUP that they were going to spend their marketing budget on writers A B & C , and not me. 3rd book totally backgrounded. And without the internet, it was nigh on impossible to generate interest. The other myth, which I have tried to dispel in former posts, is the happy notion that publishers will do all the work for you! Ha.Ha.Carol Hedgeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10359578624109905400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-46751242232959367552014-03-07T03:49:56.091-08:002014-03-07T03:49:56.091-08:00Very useful article, Carol. Thanks. I've had a...Very useful article, Carol. Thanks. I've had an agent and found it's not always ideal. I like being able to submit direct. And I was with one of 'big' pubs at the start. I found that unless you're a lead it's still very difficult.Lindsay Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11513558547686982857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-79514932298585958182014-03-05T08:25:43.452-08:002014-03-05T08:25:43.452-08:00The Kindness of Writers could be a book title. The...The Kindness of Writers could be a book title. They are, on the whole. And f you need any help, sing out on Twitter, coz someone will always come to your aid.Carol Hedgeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10359578624109905400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-26182262880236644492014-03-05T07:58:26.622-08:002014-03-05T07:58:26.622-08:00Thank you for this post and to all those that comm...Thank you for this post and to all those that commented. You have given this new writer much to think about. I'm a tad overwhelmed by it all (smile) but with the help of all the kind writers out there who are sharing their stories, I'll somehow make my way through this maze. All the best,Dianehttp://www.beingtrulypresent.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-89982149059267082152014-03-02T06:14:04.834-08:002014-03-02T06:14:04.834-08:00Carol, have you ever heard Mavis Gallant's age...Carol, have you ever heard Mavis Gallant's agent story? After the war, Gallant, who'd already sold some stories to the New Yorker, left Canada and moved to Paris. She went from Paris to Spain and was so broke she was selling her clothes. Her agent told her that the New Yorker had rejected three of her stories. Gallant thought it was strange that the editor hadn't said why he'd rejected the stories, but whatever. Then she came across a copy of the New Yorker. . .and found one of the "rejected" stories therein. She wrote the editor (at this point, she could barely afford a stamp) and said, "Why didn't you send me the proofs?" The editor wrote back and said, "You're agent said that you were in Capri and couldn't be contacted. Did you get the cheques we sent?" It turned out that the agent had been selling the stories and pocketing the money. Peace to all the honest agents out there--I realize that this is a rather extreme story. Gallant died recently--I'm not sure if she ever got another agent!Nanettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09191873023702679904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-78501979056205537512014-02-27T13:23:29.035-08:002014-02-27T13:23:29.035-08:00Thanks for the useful information Carol.Thanks for the useful information Carol.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-13394470129561673632014-02-27T09:09:27.350-08:002014-02-27T09:09:27.350-08:00See ..you are the prime example of what I am burbl...See ..you are the prime example of what I am burbling on about!!!Carol Hedgeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10359578624109905400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-19312311596443039702014-02-27T08:30:19.599-08:002014-02-27T08:30:19.599-08:00I'm one of those authors who never tried to si...I'm one of those authors who never tried to sign up with an agent. Right now my indie publisher Buddhapuss Ink LLC and I are getting ready to launch my books #4 and #5. I'm a very happy author with great contracts, and I get to work with people who deeply care about my work and me. My first two books won the Bronze and Silver Independent Publishers' Award (US). What else can I ask for? Oh - I'm also making money. :) Mariam Kobrashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03538911373668958558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-91087415995813104442014-02-26T02:13:58.132-08:002014-02-26T02:13:58.132-08:00I'm probably the exception that proves the rul...I'm probably the exception that proves the rule. If I hadn't been 'found' by my first agent, the renowned Darley Anderson, I wouldn't have been published at all because I had zero self confidence. He sold my first best selling book and thereafter got me fabulous advances.beryl kingstonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-62536875638224102732014-02-26T01:01:53.392-08:002014-02-26T01:01:53.392-08:00Thanks Miriam...the problem in maintream publishin...Thanks Miriam...the problem in maintream publishing is that ''difference'' is too risky..yes, publishers always SAY they want original work..but really they are looking for ''the next X'' where X is the latest big seller.Carol Hedgeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10359578624109905400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-36111147606828751292014-02-26T00:07:58.972-08:002014-02-26T00:07:58.972-08:00I'm enjoying Diamonds and Dust very much. It&#...I'm enjoying Diamonds and Dust very much. It's its differentness that makes it so appealing. I'd always thought getting an agent was the thing to aim for. Seems not.Miriam Drorihttp://miriamdrori.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-52914548527384935052014-02-25T10:24:11.202-08:002014-02-25T10:24:11.202-08:00The comments say it all, methinks!The comments say it all, methinks!Carol Hedgeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10359578624109905400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-50644148508598712412014-02-25T08:06:51.351-08:002014-02-25T08:06:51.351-08:00They said your book was rubbish? I despair. I thin...They said your book was rubbish? I despair. I think getting a book published by a publisher and it making it big is just the same as some singers making it to the top and some not. It doesn't mean that the ones who make it are better just luckier.<br />If I had been an agent and read Fifty Shades of Grey I would have threw it out (shows how much I know) The writing is awful. Oh My! (said about 100 times in book one) No I've not read two or three. <br />Your book will do very well without an agent I think.Anne Macklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04635857544175826537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-49503801376330074952014-02-25T06:10:13.687-08:002014-02-25T06:10:13.687-08:00Really helpful, I'm going to share with a clie...Really helpful, I'm going to share with a client, a new author, who's waiting (and waiting) for a response from an agent. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-28974364973782764802014-02-25T00:11:18.737-08:002014-02-25T00:11:18.737-08:00This is true..and as I say, the blog is my experie...This is true..and as I say, the blog is my experience.... (though the comments are interesting!)Carol Hedgeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10359578624109905400noreply@blogger.com