Many of you are reading agents’ blogs. Why? What are you getting from these blogs? Are these agents you’d actually submit to or are you just interested in what they have to say?
For me, it’s a little of both. I know Nathan Bransford doesn’t represent romantic suspense, so I won’t be submitting to him, but I do respect him as an agent and enjoy his posts. However, I don’t necessarily get to him every day.
How about you? How many agents’ blogs do you follow and do you read them all on a daily basis? If an agent does or doesn’t have a blog, will that affect your agent search? Will you feel more comfortable with an agent you’ve gotten to know through their blog or do you think they’re wasting valuable time blogging?
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I follow several agents and for a while I read them all every day but I pretty much get the gist now. I love Nathan's blog and try to get to it still...and I'll read the others sometimes, but mostly I'm interested in reading other authors' blogs.
ReplyDeleteI read a few agent's blogs. Only one of those actually represents the genre I write, and I may or may not submit to that agency someday.
ReplyDeleteI mainly read them to get an insider's look at the industry, to learn the "rules" of the publishing "game", so that when I do jump in, I will be able to avoid the biggest pitfalls people make when submitting, and hopefully raise my chances for success.
I wouldn't hold it against an agent who didn't have a blog. It takes a lot of time to keep up with a blog, and a lot of time just to do their job as well. But I don't think it's a waste of time for them to have a blog either - the more information they can get out there, the better educated people will be when working with them. It's to their advantage to be available online, IMO.
I follow a few agents: Nathan, Janet Reid, Pub Rants, and Rachelle Gardner. I try to hit most of their posts. The information is super helpful.
ReplyDeleteI don't hold it against an agent if they don't have a blog. Although, if an agency itself doesn't have a decent website, it does make me worry about the agency a bit. If they aren't great at marketing themselves, how are they going to market me?
I do read several agents blogs, almost daily. Even if they don't rep my work, they have good information. And I do give priority to agents who blog (usually). I feel like I have a better idea of whether or not they'll like my work from their tone on their blog.
ReplyDeleteI follow a few, but Nathan's and Rachelle's are the only ones I keep up with daily. I think it's good to stay current on what's being published, and they have great tips for the whole process.
ReplyDeleteI read the blogs of those agents who are tops in my genre. Not only do I get a feel for them as people with whom I may one day be working, but I learn a lot about the publishing world from these seasoned professionals.
ReplyDeleteI follow quite a few agent's blogs and tweets. I've learned a tremendous amount from each of them. I think if we're targeting a specific agent that blogs, that we should definitely leave consistent comments. Then they have the chance to begin to know us. And when we query them, they'll already be familiar with our face and name.
ReplyDeleteI read about five or six agent blogs. The ones I really get something out of, I try to read every day. These are agents I would also submit to. I feel more comfortable submitting to agents who blog because I know them better, but there are so many great agents out there who don't.
ReplyDeleteI keep thinking one of them is going to word-for-word describe my novel as the book he or she dreams of getting, I'll submit, they'll accept and that within a week I'll be lunching with Spielberg.
ReplyDeleteHasn't happened yet, but my fingers are crossed.
I do find them helpful, Bransford and Janet Reid in particular.
I read several agent blogs as well. I'm not as consistent about commenting on their blogs. But I should be. I agree with what Jody says above.
ReplyDeleteI can't say that I'd consider submitting to any of the agents whose blogs I follow, but I like having my finger on the pulse of the industry. To that end, when I do comment, I try to keep it original--something that won't make said professional roll his or her eyes. And my dream agent doesn't blog, so I have to admit I'm not really shopping for an agent while I'm following the blogs.
ReplyDeleteI look at a few of the same ones when I have the time. I like reading agent blogs to those I am submitting to, because it gives me a sense of them as a person.
ReplyDeletei love hearing their POVs
ReplyDeleteInteresting question! I don't necessarily read agent blogs. I used to scour them every. single. day. I think it's a stage of writing we go through. After a while, you know pretty much everything you need to know and can spend your time elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteNow, before querying, I definitely read their blogs for a few weeks.
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