Friday, March 9, 2012

Dream Agents: The showdown

Searching for an agent?

As a loyal, devoted, rabid fan of mine, you will recall that some months back, I blogged about my dream agent. Cut to the chase, I said my dream agent is Martin Short in the cult classic movie the Big Picture, with Kevin Bacon.


Go read it, then come back.


Good. So with that in mind, I had to share with you my new dream agent. I saw this posted on The Southern California Writer's Conference Facebook page, so I just had to share it.


I need you (my friends) to understand why it takes so long to finish a novel--even after you think you're done.


You want opinions, so that you have a comfort level with the "goodness" of it, or said differently, you hope it doesn't suck. You want it to shine. Hence, you enlist the helpf of others. 


Most professional readers (agents, editors, etc) are very good, and when they give feedback, they are coherent, amazingly sharp and perceptive. In other words, they make your story better and your writing better. The only real way I found you can get this type of help is at conferences that accept submissions for agents and editors. 


Some so-called professionals, however, are all over the place, leaving you to wonder, did he/she read my work? Or is he/she asking me to be the ghost writer of the story he/she hopes I will write? This can also be true with writing groups. You need to pick well, otherwise you will be writing their story, not yours.


Yes, this video is a comedy sketch... but I will say this: I recently had a very similar conversation with an agent. Let's leave it at that :)


Enjoy!






And just to be fair, here's Martin Short, once again:





I must admit, I don't know which one is my favorite... Which is yours?


Fight the good fight!

6 comments:

  1. Aloha,

    I'd never heard of The Big Picture... must check it out... and how scary that you had a conversation like that.... seriously!

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    1. Definitely check out the big picture (make sure the kids are asleep). Bacon plays the role of a young director fresh out of film school and how the Hollywood life begins to change him. A great, fun movie... as for the agent I met... I don't want to put anything in writing. You'll just have to remind me next time we see each other at a conference ;)

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  2. I saw the first one you posted a couple of years ago -- but laughed just as much seeing it again today. First time seeing the Martin Short one. Loved it!

    Thanks for the laughs!
    --Susan

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    1. You're welcome, Susan :) In this crazy business of writing and publishing, it's important to find some comedic relief.

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  3. Well now I have to go watch the Big Picture. My dream agent is one who "gets" me and loves my story as much as I do. Haven't found her/him yet... =) Good luck with your own search!

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    1. Gwen, If you find this rare form of agent that you describe, please drop me a line. I haven't found that agent either :)

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