Literary Agent reveals insider secrets

2006-06-18T13:55:00.000-07:00

Literary Agent Offers Insider Secrets

2006-06-18T13:43:00.000-07:00

Literary Agent Offers Insider Secrets
By Michele Rooney
Agency Director of Simply Nonfiction Literary Agency

Sell my book. Get my book published in 2006. Land the right literary agent. Interest the right publisher.
If I had a sneak peek at the goals of most writers, I'm sure they would read like the statements above. Everybody today is looking for a magical secret to getting published. Though I am an extraordinary literary agent, I'm no fairy godmother. I can't wave my magical wand and help a writer get published. What I can do is offer an insightful, insider's view of what's going on in the publishing world to help steer a writer in the right direction.
Knowing about the pulse of the publishing industry and the key trends is paramount if a writer is serious about getting published in today's marketplace. That's why I've decided to create this literary agent blog -- to help the thousands of aspiring writers who are not fortunate enough to be working with an agent. I'm glad to offer my insight and wisdom from the publishing trenches.
Here are a few insights on how to zero in on the trends:
* 1. First and foremost, read Publishers Weekly on a regular basis. This is the Bible of the industry and contains all the promotions, transfers and new faces that are coming up at the top publishing companies. You will also find advertisements from the major publishers. This can tell you about new divisions, new book lines, author promotional tours etcetera. Reading this important guide will help you be a step ahead of the competition.
2. Because the industry is rapidly changing, it's best to land a literary agent. They can help you with marketing your work and make sure you are investing time in the right time of project. As an agent myself, I strive for a life-long relationship with my clients. My goal is to have my clients so happy with my services that they will feel confident referring me to their cherished family and friends.
If you're part of a writing group, ask a talented friend for a referral to their agent. Another option is to attend a writer's conference and try to meet an agent first hand. I am currently accepting electronic queries for new writing projects at Michelroon@aol.com.
3. Check out all the major bookstores in your area on a weekly basis. Go to Border, Barnes and Noble, Waldenbooks as well as your smaller, independent bookstores. Who are the hot authors? Which books are flying off the shelves. Spending a few hours in the bookstore each week will arm you with a world of knowledge.

Look for my tips on trends in the publishing industry in this blog on a regular basis. Happy writing!