When I started this blog, I originally intended it to be a catalogue of events on how to get published - skirmishes with publishers and agents, festivals and a first-hand discourse in what it's like self publishing your own material - and self publishing your own material that has been edited properly and wasn't just glorified vanity rubbish. That sort of thing.
No surprises that this didn't last long and soon descended into collections of Doctor Who mugs, favourite songs and other pop-culture related nonsense.
Today, I find myself back at the beginning. With a fair few projects approaching the end - and is spite of my staunch independence - I find myself toying with the thought "Do I need an agent".
As always, the answer is "It depends what you want".
..and the retort to that is, as usual, "everything".
So yesterday, on a whim to see what happened, I sent out a query letter to a reputable agent in New Jersey. This was based solely on them being very far away and, to be honest, it wasn't a very well thought out letter and I didn't expect a response -but I got one. A very honest one at that. Constructive, polite, professional and concise.
No, I really didn't expect that at all - but I now know exactly what I want my agent to be like. In fact, I am totally sold on this person being my agent in the U.S.
All I need to do is prefect my pitches to U.K. agents, get one of them and then return to her. Hopefully, she will forget I ever said anything by the time I get back to her.
She said two things of intrinsic value that I will go into here.
The first is that you need to be clear on what it is you are offering and perhaps, more importantly, crystal clear about who you are. What is it that you do?
This has curveballed me. I am simply me and I write whatever presents itself to my head. I am not a business plan - which is maybe where it all falls apart and I am better off self publishing.
Forever.
The other thing I have taken on board immediately is being accosted with the potential need to become a member of a group such as (for example) The Mystery Writers of America (or U.K., I guess). Is this really necessary? Do I want to be a little fish in a little pond on the outskirts of the big sea? Is it better to be in the water?
What if I am not a fish?
Meanwhile, you may feast your eyes on this poster for the new Shyamalan movie. Bring it.
