(1) we are having the kitchen done, which includes the dining room, meaning my computer set up and entire RPG collection has to be relocated for the thousandth time to somewhere else. Which again means I have to invent an ad hoc storage system so I can find what Im playing/running now, without upsetting the balance.
(2) most of my story notes are intermingled with my RPG notes from my Orchid 7th Sea campaign.
(3) I had a meeting with an agent which kind of soured my opinions on having my work published. Im shocked at the demands (shocked is a harsh word, and perhaps it should be coloured with "I should have been less naive") and expectations that an agent has in terms of control and direction.
(4) as Im running a game at the moment most of my impetus is pushed in that direction.
evilref (159.134.56.47)
15th Aug, 2007 11:10 (local)
There is a school of thought that says that once you have one agent interested, you should tell others. The normal reason suggested is to get them into a bidding war over price ... but the bidding war could be over T&Cs, I guess.
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lawbag (62.69.73.216)
17th Aug, 2007 12:25 (local)
Seeing as it is my first foray into the realm of the agent, I felt I aught to have researched what they are about a bit better. Surely there is nothing wrong with being naive?
Writers do the writing, so let the agents do the agenting.
Writers do the writing, so let the agents do the agenting.
evilref (159.134.56.44)
17th Aug, 2007 12:55 (local)
I guess I'm just cynical about any kind of middleman. Since they don't produce the value or consume it, it seems to me they win by squeezing both producer and consumer.
But middlemen tend to be a necessary evil.
But middlemen tend to be a necessary evil.
w00hoo (86.152.93.183)
15th Aug, 2007 17:09 (local)
Not having ever looked in to this, what sort of demands did the agent make? Was it something like 'Write something that's the same as Harry Potter, that sells' or something more esoteric?
lawbag (62.69.73.216)
17th Aug, 2007 12:34 (local)
The agent seemed casual enough and interested in the subject matter, more than I thought he would. What annoyed me though was the "dancing" around when I needed to know hard facts, commitments and percentages etc...
I know the industry is volatile and also full of variables like the popularity of the author, the subject matter, but it would nice to know where I am starting from when it comes making a stand.
I think he (or the company he represented) was also looking for products or novels that could be developed for multi-media beyond the printed page. Suggestions such as "serialised" stories, specific deadlines and activities that generally take the author out of their comfort writing zone.
The agent knew the industry was changing and certainly books like Harry Potter have re-invented the whole reading phenomena, (I guess most people forget that the Lord of the Rings movies got people reading the trilogy), and there was a "bent" towards that.
One piece of good advice he gave me, and one Id like to share with you right now is;
go and have a look in a remainder bookshop, a shop where they sell books at £ 0.99 pence each or some such, wander the entire length, noting the books, and then go home and DON'T write one of those.
I know the industry is volatile and also full of variables like the popularity of the author, the subject matter, but it would nice to know where I am starting from when it comes making a stand.
I think he (or the company he represented) was also looking for products or novels that could be developed for multi-media beyond the printed page. Suggestions such as "serialised" stories, specific deadlines and activities that generally take the author out of their comfort writing zone.
The agent knew the industry was changing and certainly books like Harry Potter have re-invented the whole reading phenomena, (I guess most people forget that the Lord of the Rings movies got people reading the trilogy), and there was a "bent" towards that.
One piece of good advice he gave me, and one Id like to share with you right now is;
go and have a look in a remainder bookshop, a shop where they sell books at £ 0.99 pence each or some such, wander the entire length, noting the books, and then go home and DON'T write one of those.
w00hoo (86.133.101.70)
18th Aug, 2007 02:34 (local)
Well, you got a bit of good advice. I can see why they haven't given you an actual price considering the volatile marketplace at the moment and the spot entertainment consoles will hold in it if the market crashes.
