Agents

[Purdy Bear]

Do you need to get an agent before you send your work out to the publishers? If so, how do you get an agent and what is the best source for them?

Would the writers year book be the best place, and does it have to be a current one?


Thanks
Purdy

[John Jarrold]

Best to check the Wrtiers and Artists Yearbook and the Writers Handbook - and also writers forums, where agents are discussed. And yes, do get the most recent editions of the books, agents change!

Most authors do have agents, and there are very good reasons - look for the threads on this forum.

I don't appear in either book, by the way, because you have to give your street address and I have plenty of e-mail submissions, I don't want loads of unsolicited mail arriving through the mail. If anyone does post chapters to me without contacting me first, they go into the trash.

[Purdy Bear]

Thank you for your kind instructions. I will print them out.

Thanks again
Purdy

[SJAB]

Purdy; if you can't afford to buy a copy of the books try your local library. If they haven't got the latest copy in, they should be able to order it for you from another library for a small fee. (Or you could be cheeky and flick through a copy in Waterstones )

[John Jarrold]

Yes, as an ex-librarian I can say that if you visit your local Central Reference Library, they should have the latest edition!