So yesterday I Googled my name to see what would come up. Before you mutter "VAIN!" let me say that the reason I occassionally do so is to find out where my published material ends up. I've found that a lot of online publishers simply republish people's work without asking them them ( and I believe that's theft, but that's another post...) or even doing them the courtesy of asking ( It is my right to say Yes or No).
Anyhoo, I was pleasantly surprised to find one of my old articles turn up on a quick search. The article, entitled Study Potential Literary Agents As Thoroughly As You Believe They're Studying You, was published by Writer's Weekly in September 2005. And yes, the advice in the article still applies.
Enjoy!
BTW, I've read Writer's Weekly for more than a decade and have found it to be very useful guide for writers and self-publishers. Check it out.
South African writers will also be interested to see that author Rayda Jacobs has an article entitled Writing as a coping mechanism published in this week's issue of Writer's Weekly. Rayda's books include the very popular Confessions of a gambler, The Mecca Diaries, My Father's Orchid and The Slave Book.
2 comments:
Do you buy a print copy or read online? I find reading online fine for short pieces but prefer traditional print and the feel of paper between fingers for magazines and longer pieces. Where do I find a print copy, if you read them? I'm finding this week's wealth of advice from you, Lori and others a superb use of my reading time. Thank you for the tips. One question: do most writers have an agent, if they deal in book length fiction or non-fiction? How do you go about finding one in SA? They don't seem thick on the ground.
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I'm glad you're finding advice given here to be useful. On the issue of agents, a lot of international publishing houses won't even look at your work unless it's submitted by an agent. So if you're looking for a local publisher, you don't necessarily need an agent to be considered, though you may want one. But you need one to sell your work beyond SA. I've been meaning to approach one agent whom I heard was good ( and he's based in SA). I'll send you his details if and when I find them in my jungle of a computer:-)
But your agent doesn't have to be based here. You can approach one in the UK or US; it might even be more profitable for you in the long-run to have someone based in London or NY representing your interests. I'll touch on more of that with you later.
Finally, chat to our mutual friend.. she who went to Rwanda in the aftermath of the massacre and wrote a novel based on the recovery. She has an agent who helped sell the book and the international rights?
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