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The book industry really only uses one metric to distinguish between publishers and non-publishers. If you own an ISBN block, you're a publisher. The ISBN number is the key value that identifies the publisher of a book in all of the online databases and inventory systems used world-wide. I've heard that in some countries you can obtain an ISBN number for free, but in the U.S., you have to deal with the Bowker agency, where "agency" has a special legal meaning, that they've been granted a monopoly franchise by the government. The last ISBN block I purchased consisted of 10 numbers (enough for ten titles) and cost around $250 with the additional publisher registration charge. They call it an "application process," but I've never heard of anybody failing.
All it takes to obtain an ISBN number is a credit card (or a check and a lot of patience), but it's only the first step in the process. Bowker will aggressively market add-on services to you that I've never seen any need for, they really stretch the use of statistics for sales pitches in strange, new ways. You cangenerate bar codes for your book covers for free with Bookland, and you can convert older 10-digit ISBN's to 13-digit ISBN's for free as well. Don't get panicked into thinking you need to change your existing book covers, the new system grandfathers in books published with the 10 digit ISBN's. CLICK HERE
The 10 Best Colleges for Writers
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An aspiring writer choosing a college is a lot like a child trying to make a decision in a candy store. Cliched simile aside, the amount of colleges with utterly brilliant writing programs, both at the graduate and undergraduate level, is astounding. That being said, everyone has a different set of preferences for a writing class, and writing programs can vary quite significantly, making that meticulous search for the right school highly rewarding in the end. As with any college search, you should take into account school location, class size for your concentration, and faculty, among other factors, to ensure the right decision for your future. And, of course, always keep in mind what style or genre of writing you wish to pursue.
1. Emory University (Atlanta, Georgia): Ask anyone for the best schools for writers, and Emory will inevitably emerge. With a plethora of outstanding minds flocking to and from Emory every year (be it guest lecturers, students, or alumni), it is no wonder why Emory would be a prime place for a budding writer. Emory offers extraordinary flexibility to its students; the only required course of all English majors is Poetry. Emory also allows English majors to double major in creative writing through Emory's very own undergraduate Creative Writing program, which offers workshops spanning over several genres, including poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, playwriting, and screenwriting. Students looking for more personal settings with professors will be happy to find that most English classes cap at 15 students, while the largest cap at 25.
2. Hamilton College (Clinton, New York): Hamilton College is known not only for its high quality coursework or wide breadth of options for English majors but also for its nationally renowned writing center. Like Emory, Hamilton College allows English majors to concentrate in either English literature or creative writing. Hamilton's creative writing program offers courses and workshops in poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, and playwriting (in which students will write and stage a one-act play). Whether concentrating in English or creative writing, Hamilton strives to cultivate all its students into elegant writers and great thinkers. And with one of the greatest writing centers in the nation to boot, it is a challenge to find a better place to study the English language.CLICK HERE
The 10 Best Colleges for Writers
An aspiring writer choosing a college is a lot like a child trying to make a decision in a candy store. Cliched simile aside, the amount of colleges with utterly brilliant writing programs, both at the graduate and undergraduate level, is astounding. That being said, everyone has a different set of preferences for a writing class, and writing programs can vary quite significantly, making that meticulous search for the right school highly rewarding in the end. As with any college search, you should take into account school location, class size for your concentration, and faculty, among other factors, to ensure the right decision for your future. And, of course, always keep in mind what style or genre of writing you wish to pursue.
1. Emory University (Atlanta, Georgia): Ask anyone for the best schools for writers, and Emory will inevitably emerge. With a plethora of outstanding minds flocking to and from Emory every year (be it guest lecturers, students, or alumni), it is no wonder why Emory would be a prime place for a budding writer. Emory offers extraordinary flexibility to its students; the only required course of all English majors is Poetry. Emory also allows English majors to double major in creative writing through Emory's very own undergraduate Creative Writing program, which offers workshops spanning over several genres, including poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, playwriting, and screenwriting. Students looking for more personal settings with professors will be happy to find that most English classes cap at 15 students, while the largest cap at 25.
2. Hamilton College (Clinton, New York): Hamilton College is known not only for its high quality coursework or wide breadth of options for English majors but also for its nationally renowned writing center. Like Emory, Hamilton College allows English majors to concentrate in either English literature or creative writing. Hamilton's creative writing program offers courses and workshops in poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, and playwriting (in which students will write and stage a one-act play). Whether concentrating in English or creative writing, Hamilton strives to cultivate all its students into elegant writers and great thinkers. And with one of the greatest writing centers in the nation to boot, it is a challenge to find a better place to study the English language.CLICK HERE
How do you know if your agent is legitimate
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y Deborah Herman
Aspiring writers hear all too many times that they need a literary agent to have a chance at a traditional publishing contract. This is actually true. Having a literary agent greatly increases your chances of landing a publishing contract and there are many reasons why traditional publishing is still the way to go. Self-publishing offers many opportunities for writers, but traditional publishing offers distribution and instant credibility.
Like many perceived glamour careers there are many more people wanting those coveted spots on the success charts that there are places for them. This makes the unaware, unprepared and unprotected writer the perfect target for unscrupulous people. Every one wants to make a buck and many people do not care how they do it. If they can behave close to the line of the lawless yet remain "legitimate enough," they succeed on the backs of other's dreams.
Beware of people who call themselves literary agents who do not have any presence. This does not mean that all new literary agents are unscrupulous. It does mean that if someone advertises that they are literary agents yet have no connection to the publishing industry at all you might want to question their legitimacy. If they ask for a fee to read your work as part of their consideration for representation run away quickly. It is part of the cost of doing business for a literary agent to read material in order to find the gems they want to represent to publishers. If you think about it logically, it would be a nice business for a so-called literary agent to charge a fee, read your work and then not offer representation by saying it isn't good enough or needs work. There is absolutely no incentive for them to do the work it takes to sell a book to a publisher that legitimate agents do every day.
This is not to be confused with agents or people in the publishing industry who do consultation with authors to make their work "submission ready." This is an agreement to provide services for a fee without expectation of representation and should be very clearly stated as such. With the changes in the industry such as ebooks and self-publishing, many agents moonlight as editors.
A legitimate literary agent will be paid for their time only when you are. When you are selected for representation your agent may give you suggestions on how to improve your product but that will be included in the services. If they recommend an outside editor that is strictly your choice to improve your chances of a sale. Agents are paid a standard commission which is typically 15% of the advance and royalties.
Legitimacy of an agent does not mean all agents are created equal. You can learn about agents, their personalities and track records by visiting their personal websites and by visiting their profiles on www.WAENet.com.
y Deborah Herman
Aspiring writers hear all too many times that they need a literary agent to have a chance at a traditional publishing contract. This is actually true. Having a literary agent greatly increases your chances of landing a publishing contract and there are many reasons why traditional publishing is still the way to go. Self-publishing offers many opportunities for writers, but traditional publishing offers distribution and instant credibility.
Like many perceived glamour careers there are many more people wanting those coveted spots on the success charts that there are places for them. This makes the unaware, unprepared and unprotected writer the perfect target for unscrupulous people. Every one wants to make a buck and many people do not care how they do it. If they can behave close to the line of the lawless yet remain "legitimate enough," they succeed on the backs of other's dreams.
Beware of people who call themselves literary agents who do not have any presence. This does not mean that all new literary agents are unscrupulous. It does mean that if someone advertises that they are literary agents yet have no connection to the publishing industry at all you might want to question their legitimacy. If they ask for a fee to read your work as part of their consideration for representation run away quickly. It is part of the cost of doing business for a literary agent to read material in order to find the gems they want to represent to publishers. If you think about it logically, it would be a nice business for a so-called literary agent to charge a fee, read your work and then not offer representation by saying it isn't good enough or needs work. There is absolutely no incentive for them to do the work it takes to sell a book to a publisher that legitimate agents do every day.
This is not to be confused with agents or people in the publishing industry who do consultation with authors to make their work "submission ready." This is an agreement to provide services for a fee without expectation of representation and should be very clearly stated as such. With the changes in the industry such as ebooks and self-publishing, many agents moonlight as editors.
A legitimate literary agent will be paid for their time only when you are. When you are selected for representation your agent may give you suggestions on how to improve your product but that will be included in the services. If they recommend an outside editor that is strictly your choice to improve your chances of a sale. Agents are paid a standard commission which is typically 15% of the advance and royalties.
Legitimacy of an agent does not mean all agents are created equal. You can learn about agents, their personalities and track records by visiting their personal websites and by visiting their profiles on www.WAENet.com.
.jpg) |
| Deborah Herman is a literary agent specializing in project development. She also moonlights as a writing coach and editor. Herman is a co-founder of Writers, Agents and Editors Network. |
What not to do when seeking a Literary Agent
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Before seeking that elusive animal called a literary agent you must determine if you are ready for one. The biggest error people make is when in a state of writing excitement or idea mania they want to test out whether or not a literary agent will be interested. I can not stress enough that we are very busy people and sometimes very grumpy. If you cause us to become caught up in your excitement we are very likely to ask: "when can I see the proposal?" If you respond with "I just wanted to see if you would be interested" we will put your name on our version of the post office wall reserved for America's Most wanted criminals. We want to like good material. That is how we earn money for what you all believe are our mansions and mazeratis. Our time is truly our money. If you have a great idea make sure you have fleshed it out and have followed all of the protocols before contacting us. Oh, by the way, do not call us. This was an example for the benefit of this blog. Unless you are truly a legend and not a legend in your own mind we will do everything to avoid your call. If we happen to answer the phone ourselves we will pretend to be our own assistants. When you are ready send a query letter by mail or email when appropriate. Before sending one please read our blog on "what not to do when writing a query."
You may have written a manuscript or book proposal and will still not be ready to contact a literary agent any more than you are truly ready to contact a publisher. The explosion of easy ebooks and self-publishing services where you pay to play has created a generation of very impatient writers. You are so eager to spread your message or to see yourself in print that you do not prepare yourselves properly. You will send out your material too soon because you have in the back of your mind that you will do it yourself if an arrogant literary agent does not see your potential. We are not looking for potential and you should not be satisfied with it unless you have reached it. There are many great books that will not find an agent or publisher. But there are many mediocre books that are in people's garages or in cyberspace that could have found a larger market if they had waited to be fully developed. If you are serious about your book or proposal there are many people who can give you a critique before you send it to a literary agent. It is a worthwhile investment.
Before seeking that elusive animal called a literary agent you must determine if you are ready for one. The biggest error people make is when in a state of writing excitement or idea mania they want to test out whether or not a literary agent will be interested. I can not stress enough that we are very busy people and sometimes very grumpy. If you cause us to become caught up in your excitement we are very likely to ask: "when can I see the proposal?" If you respond with "I just wanted to see if you would be interested" we will put your name on our version of the post office wall reserved for America's Most wanted criminals. We want to like good material. That is how we earn money for what you all believe are our mansions and mazeratis. Our time is truly our money. If you have a great idea make sure you have fleshed it out and have followed all of the protocols before contacting us. Oh, by the way, do not call us. This was an example for the benefit of this blog. Unless you are truly a legend and not a legend in your own mind we will do everything to avoid your call. If we happen to answer the phone ourselves we will pretend to be our own assistants. When you are ready send a query letter by mail or email when appropriate. Before sending one please read our blog on "what not to do when writing a query."
You may have written a manuscript or book proposal and will still not be ready to contact a literary agent any more than you are truly ready to contact a publisher. The explosion of easy ebooks and self-publishing services where you pay to play has created a generation of very impatient writers. You are so eager to spread your message or to see yourself in print that you do not prepare yourselves properly. You will send out your material too soon because you have in the back of your mind that you will do it yourself if an arrogant literary agent does not see your potential. We are not looking for potential and you should not be satisfied with it unless you have reached it. There are many great books that will not find an agent or publisher. But there are many mediocre books that are in people's garages or in cyberspace that could have found a larger market if they had waited to be fully developed. If you are serious about your book or proposal there are many people who can give you a critique before you send it to a literary agent. It is a worthwhile investment.
Things not to do when seeking a literary Agent:
- Do not phone us with an idea especially if you do not have a manuscript or proposal ready.
- Do not phone us to find out if we have read your query. A query has no obligation attached to it. We know you are excited. We will contact you if we want to see more.
- Do not send a letter to a literary agent addressed to "Dear Agent." There are so many directories including www.WAENet.com where you can get the names and addresses of agents that there is no excuse for this.
- Do not send a letter to an agent that is meant for another agent. This happens more than you know.
- Do not send an email submission of a query letter with the other agents to whom you are sending it in your email list. This also happens more than you know. Take the time to send separate submissions.
- Do not send a query or email submission with your proposal and/or manuscript. We have too much to read as it is. We will request what we would like to see.
- Do not behave in a hostile manner toward a literary agent for rejecting your work. You may see them at a conference and who knows they may remember you and your work. Could happen.
- Do not stalk your potential literary agent or your actual literary agent who then has to drop you as a client because your behavior is so bizarre at a writer's conference that you are freaking out all the attendees. You know who you are.
- Do not call a literary agent and bully the receptionist so you can talk to the literary agent. At least at our literary agency it is often I, the partner and fellow literary agent answering our phone in my receptionist voice. Do you really think we want a client who does not respect the support staff?
- When given an offer of representation do not immediately go Hollywood. While we are hard at work trying to sell your project you are welcome to tell people you have a literary agent. Just do not expect us to be available to now read all of your friend's work so you can show off how important you are.
.jpg) |
| Deborah Herman is a veteran literary agent, book doctor and author of ten non-fiction books. Herman is a co-founder of Writers, Agents and Editors Network |
What not to do when seeking a Literary Agent
Remember to follow us on Twitter and Like us on Facebook to be the first to learn about new releases, see behind-the-scenes at BP Wiz headquarters, and stay on top of the latest news from the publishing world!
By Deborah Herman
Before seeking that elusive animal called a literary agent you must determine if you are ready for one. The biggest error people make is when in a state of writing excitement or idea mania they want to test out whether or not a literary agent will be interested. I can not stress enough that we are very busy people and sometimes very grumpy. If you cause us to become caught up in your excitement we are very likely to ask: "when can I see the proposal?" If you respond with "I just wanted to see if you would be interested" we will put your name on our version of the post office wall reserved for America's Most wanted criminals. We want to like good material. That is how we earn money for what you all believe are our mansions and mazeratis. Our time is truly our money. If you have a great idea make sure you have fleshed it out and have followed all of the protocols before contacting us. Oh, by the way, do not call us. This was an example for the benefit of this blog. Unless you are truly a legend and not a legend in your own mind we will do everything to avoid your call. If we happen to answer the phone ourselves we will pretend to be our own assistants. When you are ready send a query letter by mail or email when appropriate. Before sending one please read our blog on "what not to do when writing a query."
You may have written a manuscript or book proposal and will still not be ready to contact a literary agent any more than you are truly ready to contact a publisher. The explosion of easy ebooks and self-publishing services where you pay to play has created a generation of very impatient writers. You are so eager to spread your message or to see yourself in print that you do not prepare yourselves properly. You will send out your material too soon because you have in the back of your mind that you will do it yourself if an arrogant literary agent does not see your potential. We are not looking for potential and you should not be satisfied with it unless you have reached it. There are many great books that will not find an agent or publisher. But there are many mediocre books that are in people's garages or in cyberspace that could have found a larger market if they had waited to be fully developed. If you are serious about your book or proposal there are many people who can give you a critique before you send it to a literary agent. It is a worthwhile investment.
By Deborah Herman
Before seeking that elusive animal called a literary agent you must determine if you are ready for one. The biggest error people make is when in a state of writing excitement or idea mania they want to test out whether or not a literary agent will be interested. I can not stress enough that we are very busy people and sometimes very grumpy. If you cause us to become caught up in your excitement we are very likely to ask: "when can I see the proposal?" If you respond with "I just wanted to see if you would be interested" we will put your name on our version of the post office wall reserved for America's Most wanted criminals. We want to like good material. That is how we earn money for what you all believe are our mansions and mazeratis. Our time is truly our money. If you have a great idea make sure you have fleshed it out and have followed all of the protocols before contacting us. Oh, by the way, do not call us. This was an example for the benefit of this blog. Unless you are truly a legend and not a legend in your own mind we will do everything to avoid your call. If we happen to answer the phone ourselves we will pretend to be our own assistants. When you are ready send a query letter by mail or email when appropriate. Before sending one please read our blog on "what not to do when writing a query."
You may have written a manuscript or book proposal and will still not be ready to contact a literary agent any more than you are truly ready to contact a publisher. The explosion of easy ebooks and self-publishing services where you pay to play has created a generation of very impatient writers. You are so eager to spread your message or to see yourself in print that you do not prepare yourselves properly. You will send out your material too soon because you have in the back of your mind that you will do it yourself if an arrogant literary agent does not see your potential. We are not looking for potential and you should not be satisfied with it unless you have reached it. There are many great books that will not find an agent or publisher. But there are many mediocre books that are in people's garages or in cyberspace that could have found a larger market if they had waited to be fully developed. If you are serious about your book or proposal there are many people who can give you a critique before you send it to a literary agent. It is a worthwhile investment.
Things not to do when seeking a literary Agent:
- Do not phone us with an idea especially if you do not have a manuscript or proposal ready.
- Do not phone us to find out if we have read your query. A query has no obligation attached to it. We know you are excited. We will contact you if we want to see more.
- Do not send a letter to a literary agent addressed to "Dear Agent." There are so many directories including www.WAENet.com where you can get the names and addresses of agents that there is no excuse for this.
- Do not send a letter to an agent that is meant for another agent. This happens more than you know.
- Do not send an email submission of a query letter with the other agents to whom you are sending it in your email list. This also happens more than you know. Take the time to send separate submissions.
- Do not send a query or email submission with your proposal and/or manuscript. We have too much to read as it is. We will request what we would like to see.
- Do not behave in a hostile manner toward a literary agent for rejecting your work. You may see them at a conference and who knows they may remember you and your work. Could happen.
- Do not stalk your potential literary agent or your actual literary agent who then has to drop you as a client because your behavior is so bizarre at a writer's conference that you are freaking out all the attendees. You know who you are.
- Do not call a literary agent and bully the receptionist so you can talk to the literary agent. At least at our literary agency it is often I, the partner and fellow literary agent answering our phone in my receptionist voice. Do you really think we want a client who does not respect the support staff?
- When given an offer of representation do not immediately go Hollywood. While we are hard at work trying to sell your project you are welcome to tell people you have a literary agent. Just do not expect us to be available to now read all of your friend's work so you can show off how important you are.
|
| Deborah Herman is a veteran literary agent, book doctor and author of ten non-fiction books. Herman is a co-founder of Writers, Agents and Editors Network |
What not to do when Writing a Query Letter
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What not to do when Writing a Query Letter
By Deborah Herman
As a twenty year veteran literary agent I always need to remind myself that a new writer is a new writer. There are so many good resources for writers that some of the common errors that come up time and again in query letters should have gone the way of the typewriter. I live in the world of literary agents and publishing. It is easy for me to forget that not everyone knows the etiquette and protocols of an industry that may seem to keep people out, but that really just wants people to know how to get in. Agents and publishers are always looking for good material. Even though people lament that publishing is changing so rapidly, it is the delivery systems that are changing, not the processes of traditional publishing. Although it is similar for fiction we will focus on non-fiction for this explanation. You as the writer choose a subject, you write a book proposal if you do not want to write an entire manuscript, then you look for a literary agent. You look for the agent first because you know that you will gain better access to the publishing houses if you have an agent. That is how the game is still played. That is why you need to know what not to do.
Literary Agents are the first screen for the publishing houses. We build our reputations on choosing projects we know we can sell. We may take a chance on some long shots, but these projects must at least have something that piques our interest for us to spend time on it. Writers do not understand the behind the scenes of most literary agencies. We, the Jeff Herman Agency, are a boutique agency. This means that we do not have eager associate agents doing our screening and pitching. We do it ourselves. We, like most legitimate agencies receive commission for what we sell. We receive nothing for what we do not sell. So if we do not choose your work it may not be personal. This is truly business. You want us to invite you to the party from your query letter. You want us to request your work so we at least have more invested than through an anonymous submission. You know who you are and how wonderful your potential is but to us you are a complete stranger. Here are some things to avoid when writing to us:
1. Never start your letter with a derogatory comment about yourself. If you tell us you have been rejected by 10 agencies but know that we will be the ones to see how great you are we will not want to request your work. It is basic psychology. We all want what we think other people want.
2. Never start your letter with a derogatory comment about the literary agency. "I heard you used to be really something," is not going to win you any points. We have seen people do this. Use your mental gatekeeper.
3. Do not write so much fluff about the book that you forget to explain what the book is about. We don't care if you think it will be a bestseller. That is like a grandmother saying her grandchild is the cutest ever.
4. Do not write so much fluff about yourself that we do not see the relevance to why you are writing the book. And do not forget to tell us what the book is about.
5. Do not send us a query letter about a subject if you should have known we do not represent this kind of material. We are a non-fiction agency. If you were to read anything about us in the resources we provide through our website, books and in anything we ever write about ourselves we tell you that. You can find out that same information about any agency. Just look through the Agency profiles on www.WAENet.com to find out who represents what.
6. Do not forget to spell and grammar check your query. Some of us will overlook errors but many of us will not.
7. Do not rely on spell check and grammar check for your query or any document. There are nuances in the English language that you can't expect a computer to understand.
8. Do not write an exceedingly long letter. We are very busy people and prefer that you get right to the point.
9. Do not allow your letter to smell like smoke of any kind.
10. Do not forget to put your contact information on your letter including phone. Some of us still use it.
As a twenty year veteran literary agent I always need to remind myself that a new writer is a new writer. There are so many good resources for writers that some of the common errors that come up time and again in query letters should have gone the way of the typewriter. I live in the world of literary agents and publishing. It is easy for me to forget that not everyone knows the etiquette and protocols of an industry that may seem to keep people out, but that really just wants people to know how to get in. Agents and publishers are always looking for good material. Even though people lament that publishing is changing so rapidly, it is the delivery systems that are changing, not the processes of traditional publishing. Although it is similar for fiction we will focus on non-fiction for this explanation. You as the writer choose a subject, you write a book proposal if you do not want to write an entire manuscript, then you look for a literary agent. You look for the agent first because you know that you will gain better access to the publishing houses if you have an agent. That is how the game is still played. That is why you need to know what not to do.
Literary Agents are the first screen for the publishing houses. We build our reputations on choosing projects we know we can sell. We may take a chance on some long shots, but these projects must at least have something that piques our interest for us to spend time on it. Writers do not understand the behind the scenes of most literary agencies. We, the Jeff Herman Agency, are a boutique agency. This means that we do not have eager associate agents doing our screening and pitching. We do it ourselves. We, like most legitimate agencies receive commission for what we sell. We receive nothing for what we do not sell. So if we do not choose your work it may not be personal. This is truly business. You want us to invite you to the party from your query letter. You want us to request your work so we at least have more invested than through an anonymous submission. You know who you are and how wonderful your potential is but to us you are a complete stranger. Here are some things to avoid when writing to us:
1. Never start your letter with a derogatory comment about yourself. If you tell us you have been rejected by 10 agencies but know that we will be the ones to see how great you are we will not want to request your work. It is basic psychology. We all want what we think other people want.
2. Never start your letter with a derogatory comment about the literary agency. "I heard you used to be really something," is not going to win you any points. We have seen people do this. Use your mental gatekeeper.
3. Do not write so much fluff about the book that you forget to explain what the book is about. We don't care if you think it will be a bestseller. That is like a grandmother saying her grandchild is the cutest ever.
4. Do not write so much fluff about yourself that we do not see the relevance to why you are writing the book. And do not forget to tell us what the book is about.
5. Do not send us a query letter about a subject if you should have known we do not represent this kind of material. We are a non-fiction agency. If you were to read anything about us in the resources we provide through our website, books and in anything we ever write about ourselves we tell you that. You can find out that same information about any agency. Just look through the Agency profiles on www.WAENet.com to find out who represents what.
6. Do not forget to spell and grammar check your query. Some of us will overlook errors but many of us will not.
7. Do not rely on spell check and grammar check for your query or any document. There are nuances in the English language that you can't expect a computer to understand.
8. Do not write an exceedingly long letter. We are very busy people and prefer that you get right to the point.
9. Do not allow your letter to smell like smoke of any kind.
10. Do not forget to put your contact information on your letter including phone. Some of us still use it.
.jpg) |
| Deborah Herman is Editorial Director of The Jeff Herman Agency, LLC and is a co-founder of Writers, Agents and Editors Network |
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