[EMMAXIS]

I found a great tip in The Writer's Book of Hope that I would like to share with you all, if you will help me in return. To really impress an agent, you should be familiar with titles they've represented, and your manuscript should be somewhat similar. My only problem is, I haven't read many books quite like mine. Here I've been, trying so diligently to be original, but I suppose it's sometimes good to be comparable to someone else.

And so I appeal to the vast collected knowledge of the readers of SFF Forums to help me find these titles!

Here is a brief description of my book:

It is primarily fantasy with a few elements of science-fiction. It is set on another planet of medieval/ancient technology. The protagonists are naturists; their simple, agrarian culture is wiped out and they are forced to wander into more civilized territories. The hero must save the world from an ancient technology.

Sound familiar?

[warfitz45]

If you try this tactic, I would suggest taking an element of your story - the agrarian society being wiped out (how so?). If, for instance, they are overrun by mean empire sorts, then you have plenty of books that could apply (the farmer kid stopping the empire is a common theme). If they were wiped out by a natural disaster, then you could probably find something.

But I'm not sold that this is what agents want. Not that I know (KAT!), but I think they'd be more interested in your story and you showing interest in THEM as your AGENT and not a form letter that you've sent to 50 other agents. They want to see you doing your homework.

wf

[EMMAXIS]

If you try this tactic, I would suggest taking an element of your story - the agrarian society being wiped out (how so?). If, for instance, they are overrun by mean empire sorts, then you have plenty of books that could apply (the farmer kid stopping the empire is a common theme). If they were wiped out by a natural disaster, then you could probably find something.

But I'm not sold that this is what agents want. Not that I know (KAT!), but I think they'd be more interested in your story and you showing interest in THEM as your AGENT and not a form letter that you've sent to 50 other agents. They want to see you doing your homework.

wf



You kind of just paraphrased what I was saying. Agents don't want the same letter you sent to 50 others; they want to see that you know the kinds of titles they represent. Also, if you were to say to them, "I noticed you represented this title, which I enjoyed . . . I have a similar book for you to look at . . ."

Naturally, there needs to be a modicum of originality, but, agents are fearful of things so off the wall, so unfamiliar, that they won't know whether there is a market for it. These aren't my thoughts, just what I've read, which makes a whole lot of sense. After all, pub people take a lot of risk when they agree to take on a first time author. As someone once put it, they want: "the same but different."

[zachariah]

Your protagonists are naturists, eh? I'm sure you can work that into the query.

[EMMAXIS]

Your protagonists are naturists, eh? I'm sure you can work that into the query.


Well, <<sigh>> I am not sure if I should be afraid of this or not. On the one hand, it's good to be unique. On the other hand, something too unique might scare people off. Over the years, however, nobody has called me out on this. Nobody ever said to me, "that's dumb . . . that'll never work . . ." In fact, many of my readers find it strangely intriguing. I worry what I'll do if a pub tells me it has to go . . . will I stick with my principles or fold due to the desperate desire to publish?


PS: Why the link? Hope that doesn't get us into mod trouble! Some risque images on that page (but then again, societal norms keeps changing)!

[zachariah]

In my ignorance, I thought you'd misappropriated the word to mean they were simple folk living off the land - are you saying they actually are a society of nudists? That's original in fantasy, certainly! If I saw that on the back cover, I'd assume it was a comedy, and there's nothing wrong with that.

[Hobbit]

PS: Why the link? Hope that doesn't get us into mod trouble! Some risque images on that page (but then again, societal norms keeps changing)! Yeah. No trouble, but after having concerns raised and due to the 'nature' of SFFWorld, I've removed that link. I'm sure those who don't know what a naturist is can look it up away from this site.

Apologies.

Mark (10 000th post!)

[Holbrook]

IHere is a brief description of my book:

It is primarily fantasy with a few elements of science-fiction. It is set on another planet of medieval/ancient technology. The protagonists are naturists; their simple, agrarian culture is wiped out and they are forced to wander into more civilized territories. The hero must save the world from an ancient technology.

Sound familiar?

Drop the word "Naturists,":eek:

Look for books with this similar theme. "The hero must save the world from an ancient technology. " Limit the search to books published in the last two years or due to be published.

But to be honest this is not a deal breaker. I was not asked until after I had signed with an agent as to where I thought my work would fit, and to study the current market.

The best way to get an agent is to produce a good query, and back that up with a well written, well plotted, interesting novel.

No matter what you read it is your writing that will get you an agent, nothing more or less.

[Dawnstorm]

Hm, I have nothing to query, and publication has never been a priority with me, so feel free to ignore me. This is not my speciality, but...

Is "trying to impress an agent" really that good a thing to do? I mean, if you've worked at impressing an agent, you'll have to work at "keeping up the act", or it's going to be a frustrating experience for both. So:

To really impress an agent, you should be familiar with titles they've represented, and your manuscript should be somewhat similar.

This makes sense to me, but not in an impress-the-agent sort of way. Your agent is helping you to get published and get good deals. That's his/her job. Your job is to write. This is going to work best if your agent and you have a similar taste and similar goals. It's a partnership. Sure, impress your agent, but your agent also needs to impress you, or this is not going to be a fruitful partnership.

For example, I've checked out Hol's agency. I've always loved her works, and what do I find them representing? Old favourites (Ian MacDonald) and some of the - to me - most interesting new voices (Chris Roberson, Aliette deBodard). I doubt this a coincidence. It's a fit. If I ever get anything like a professional attitude, I'm going to wait for them to have an opening. I'm not in a hurry. But I'm not going to query, before I get a more professional attitude towards writing. (That would be unfair.) And I'm not going to try hard to impress. I'd be laying it all out and let them reject (or accept) me, and I'd expect my chances are better here because they represent what I like to read. (Currently, their list is a good reading recommendations list. ;) )

[EMMAXIS]

In my ignorance, I thought you'd misappropriated the word to mean they were simple folk living off the land - are you saying they actually are a society of nudists? That's original in fantasy, certainly! If I saw that on the back cover, I'd assume it was a comedy, and there's nothing wrong with that.


No, I don't mean nudists necessarily, since nudism as we understand it in our society comes to mean a microcosm, a subculture within a larger culture . . . What I mean, at least with regards to this story, is a people who live primitively, as some of the tribes still do in the Amazon rain forest. I prefer the term naturism because nudity (from an outsiders perspective) is only an aspect of who they are; there is also a spiritual dimension to the way in which they connect to nature. If you were to read the book, the nudity would make a lot more sense and would, hopefully, not come across as comedic.

Nick Alimonos