by: Richard Curtis
Release Date: 17 November, 2003, Media: Paperback
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Writers, find out about the business-side of writing with this easy read.
Find out how book agents decide which projects to take on and which to turn down with the note: "sorry, not interested."
This book will help writers understand book agents and the publishing industry
The title "How to be Your Own Literary Agent" may be misleading for some people, who may take it to mean that by reading this book, one can skip the need of querying for book agents.
It doesn't help you get published; it says you still have to have book agents to get into big publishing houses, but it does give an insider detailed view of the book agent business and the publishing industry.
For the aspiring writer, most of the information is interesting but not useful, as the book itself admits - who in the world dares to bargain with the editor anyway, when he is ready to kiss the editor's feet for agreeing to publish his first book? However, for people who wish to become professional writers, such knowledge will certainly come in handy after one becomes published.
The book reads smooth and is extremely funny, making it a pleasurable bedtime reading. I finished it around 3 a.m. with a sore neck. For example, Mr. Curtis mentions this client who claimed to be a mafia hit man. As a result, he had little trouble getting his royal check on time - he'd simply call the publisher and say "if my royalty check ain't ready by noon tomorrow, I'm gonna marry you to a plate-glass window." (p.114)
As one can imagine, the publisher was quick to meet this guy's special needs. Then one day the poor guy was found shot dead outside some motel. Mr. Curtis didn't think the publisher did it.
I highly recommend this book to any writer who wants to know how book agents work in the real world.
If you write and consider selling your work this is a must read.
