Miss Snark

By Precision Editor

Has anyone read her blog? Several of my author friends have recommended reading her stuff--she's a literary agent who tells it like it is.

http://misssnark.blogspot.com/

Today she replied to a question from an author who is querying agents and publishers. She told them to stop querying the publishers and focus on the agents.

I agree to a point. But several authors I know found a publisher first, then an agent. Sometimes it's easier that way. Also an agent is more likely to sign you on if you have a contract pending. Who wouldn't? 10% of something is more than 10% of nothing.

In another blog http://mywriterslair.blogspot.com/ (April 3, 2007), I recapped a presentation given by fantasy author, Brandon Sanderson. He also found a publisher before his agent signed him. Obviously there are some publishers who don't accept unagented submissions, so you can't query them. But be smart. Don't mass query publishers. If an agent does take you on, it wouldn't be good if all the publishers he/she wants to submit to have already rejected your work.