Thursday, April 22, 2010

An Agent Speaks

Over on the GalleyCat blog, literary agent Nicholas Croce says what you and I already know. We’ve talked about it here. But it’s nice to see an agent agreeing with us.
 …I'm looking for books with solid back-list potential, or, in other words, ones that have inertia and continue to sell steadily long after their initial promotional push. I'm also keeping an eye out for growth areas in ebooks and other platforms.
Croce also says writers must research the different genres and know what readers expect when they pick up a book. And here’s another area I know you and I have talked about here:
 On the promotional side, start blogging and social networking. More than ever authors, new and established, are depending on the Internet to reach out to readers through blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Red Room, Ning, etc.
What does he think editors are looking for? He has a wide ranging list, from paranormal, to character-driven fiction with a commercial angle, to a crossover of YA and adult.

To read his full list, as well as how to query him and what to send in a query, link over to GalleyCat’s full interview.

What about you? Are you working on putting yourself out there so when your book is published, you’re set to market it?
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24 comments:

  1. Oh, sure, I'm OUT there. :)

    But I don't know what 'Red Room' (sounds like something from "The Shining") is and I don't totally understand Ning.

    Elizabeth
    Mystery Writing is Murder

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  2. With so many social networks these days, I think it's also important to find a balance. It's easy to get caught un in the "community", but then when do you get time to write?

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  3. I'm working on the blogging and will tackle Twitter next.

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  4. For now, I'm focusing solely on the blog as I write, developing my web presence in that dedicated way.

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  5. Excellent information over there. Thanks for posting.

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  6. Last night I signed up for Facebook. Couldn't even find myself this morning.

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  7. I'm headed to Galley Cat now. Thanks.

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  8. I commit hourse everyday to promoting myself and my book. Blogging and Facebook are very effective means. Twitter, okay but I think this tool is limited.

    Stephen Tremp

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  9. Well I'm trying my best. And speaking of.... (time for shameless promotion) any one interested should pop over to my blog and stand a chance to win a copy of my newest book.

    (Sorry for that Helen- but to be honest, you're the teacher, I'm just your loyal student)

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  10. Just looked up Red Room (I'm with Elizabeth, new to me and sounds like Stephen King!) and it says it's "where the writers are." Hmmm...I don't know about that, but it's worth looking into!

    These are great tips from someone in the business, and I agree that social networking is the way to go to get your name--and your book--out there. We all have a good start! Now I just need to finish my book...

    Michele
    SouthernCityMysteries

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  11. Go for it, Lauri. I'll be popping over.

    Karen, I hope I sent a friend request to you.

    Isn't that the rub, Michele? Finishing the book...

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  12. Thanks for the excerpts, Helen.

    I'm certainly trying to market myself! It's hard but fun, too.

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  13. Helen, I love the bluebonnet photo! And thanks for the reminder about marketing. Seems like a never-ending task, and I guess that's true....

    BTW, I think I'd change the black background to something subtler--it feels like too dense against the green, which I like. Just a thought.

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  14. Thank you, Susan! I appreciate the advice.

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  15. Blogging is a great way to promote your work, as are the social networks such as Facebook.

    Thanks, Helen, for the good agent post!

    Jean

    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fans-of-Jean-Henry-Mead/334147262834?filter=3

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  16. Thanks for the link to his post. Good points made here and at the other blog. The whole publishing industry is changing so fast I think of the storm in The Wizard of Oz. All those books flying through the air and coming out on the other end in some magical place like electronic publishing.

    To answer your question, I have been using social media and blogs to get a wider visibility on the Internet for several years. Slowly building steam, and still not sure what works best, but the important thing is to keep on chugging.

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  17. I agree, Maryann. At this point, you can't be sure what works best, but you just have to keep trying.

    Jean, I will see if I can find you using that link and request ... I guess the terminology is that I would request that you allow me to befriend you. Jimminee Cricket, it's a whole new language.

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  18. Interesting post and interview, Helen, the world is so in flux--I think it's going to evolve to "niche" networking.

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  19. It's sort of been that way already - network among the readers who read your genre, but you're right, Conda, it seems to be becoming an even tighter niche and more and more on the writer's shoulders, although your publisher still does a lot.

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  20. Red room and Ning, what are they? So many promotion gadgets!

    Bargain with the Devil

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  21. Amen, Enid! The only thing is that it was an agent who recommended them.

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  22. I'm going to check out Red Room.

    It's nice to hear about all of these places. Every opportunity to promote is welcomed.

    My guess is that no matter the place or format, the principal of promotion is the same. When it comes time, I'll focus on that :)

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  23. Glad to learn about Red Room. Marshalling my time between writing, editing and social networking (and family emergencies!)is the challenge, of course.
    Heard an agent speak the other evening who also urged writers to write and have published short stories.

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  24. One more thing to do, Kathy! Yowsers.

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