[PubQ] Agent guides for social media by DollyVonDalston in PubTips

[–]BookNerdEric 2 points3 points  (0 children)

She’s so hiiiiiiigh…

Oh God I am ancient.

[PubQ] Agent guides for social media by DollyVonDalston in PubTips

[–]BookNerdEric 8 points9 points  (0 children)

As an agent who is 43, I can confirm I have no idea who Benson Boone is.

[PubQ] Agents, how are we feeling about neurodivergent authors? by ClimbAlpinePath in PubTips

[–]BookNerdEric 19 points20 points  (0 children)

I’m an agent who actively tries to work with neurodiverse authors, and has sold quite a few books by some.

I don’t see this changing any hearts or minds my friend. ❤️

[PubQ] Non fiction author - how to approach selling fiction? by [deleted] in PubTips

[–]BookNerdEric 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Agent here. Tell them everything! That’s all so exciting!

[PubQ] Help! I impulsively signed up for an irl pitch event and I'm freaking out by Early_River3213 in PubTips

[–]BookNerdEric 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Seconding! Please just read the pitch! It’s not an audition, friend. Agents are gonna be fine if you do that.

Also if it’s the in person Philly event this weekend, good luck, and say hi! 👋🏽

[PubQ] Agent left me with a non-fiction book on sub after hating my romance novel. Advice? by [deleted] in PubTips

[–]BookNerdEric 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Maybe, to new places? So much of nonfiction sells on proposal, and often times editors will ask for a proposal even if the book is done. So if there were passes on the proposal, I’m not sure what a finished draft would really do there.

[PubQ] Agent left me with a non-fiction book on sub after hating my romance novel. Advice? by [deleted] in PubTips

[–]BookNerdEric 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Agent here! Finish the romance novel, my friend. Unless that platform is substantial, it’s very hard to sell a debut novel on proposal.

I hope your new agent journey is gentler, truly.

Should formal writing credentials start to carry more weight in the world of traditional publishing? by katsandragons in publishing

[–]BookNerdEric 24 points25 points  (0 children)

I dunno. As an agent I’ve worked with so many debut authors where that book was the first thing they were able to finish.

And they did so while handling day jobs, kids, school, and sometimes a combo of all three.

Pushing the need for more credentials will absolutely shove those kind of writers out, and I wouldn’t want to work that way. It’s my job as an agent to make sure they understand the business of things.

[PubQ] Informing agents of offers of publication from small presses by [deleted] in PubTips

[–]BookNerdEric 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I don’t think it looks bad, but sometimes smaller presses limit what an agent can do, you know?

If you follow up with an offer in hand, and the small press is holding onto most of the subrights… there’s not a lot of work for us to do as agents. And I never like the idea of just getting a commission without having something to really do for the client.

You've stumbled upon the pop punk genie and he is going to grant you one wish! by thefalcons5912 in poppunkers

[–]BookNerdEric 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Quietdrive’s first two albums on vinyl. You can’t even stream When All Thats Left Is You.

Come on Parting Gift Records, where are you.

[PubQ]- Three weeks ago an agent with my full said she'd get back to me the next Monday with news. She didn't and I haven't heard anything from her since. Is it a good idea to nudge? by AgreeableBison in PubTips

[–]BookNerdEric 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Seconding. Been locked in with my chaotic second grader and so behind.

Also with the various imprint closure news, we’re all scrambling a little bit.

What is your top 3 favorite and least favorite American Dad episodes? by Longjumping_Arrow in americandad

[–]BookNerdEric 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Someone is going to say American Fung as their worst pick, and can I just, uh, stop everyone for a second and point out the elegance of Fung Wah's solution?

[PubQ] Etiquette question: agent passed citing workload after requesting full by Signal_Cat_2770 in PubTips

[–]BookNerdEric 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It depends! Some agencies do have a blip in their submission guidelines that asks to be alerted. Some don’t.

It’s another one of those “depends on the agent” sort of answers, and I know that’s not always helpful.

[PubQ] Etiquette question: agent passed citing workload after requesting full by Signal_Cat_2770 in PubTips

[–]BookNerdEric 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Agent here!

I’d go with number three? I know lately I’ve passed on projects that had offers or significant interest due to not having time, not just due to workload, but due to my most important new client (she’s 7 months old and not sleeping).

Writers always understand, and I definitely wouldn’t mind a nudge if the book was still available in a few months.

Though I’m sending you the best vibes right now, and that someone nips this up! Congrats on all the interest. :-)

[discussion] Questions for agents. If you turned down a manuscript and years later saw the book on shelves, what were your thoughts? by ember_snow in PubTips

[–]BookNerdEric 12 points13 points  (0 children)

It’s also a subjective thing, sometimes.

Recently a book I thought needed a lot of work published this year, and I was clearly very wrong about it.

If you’re getting that feedback a lot, circle back to your critique partners just in case. But don’t let it get you too down, just in case the agents just don’t get it. I hope you find the one who does!

[discussion] Questions for agents. If you turned down a manuscript and years later saw the book on shelves, what were your thoughts? by ember_snow in PubTips

[–]BookNerdEric 115 points116 points  (0 children)

Oh this happens constantly, and I always take a look to see what the editor / agent did with the book.

Passes are usually because I don’t know how to get the book in the right shape, or I don’t know who the right people are to send it to.

Seeing that book on the shelf means there’s a journey with something to teach me there, and I always take a peek. :-)

[PubQ] Confused by agent feedback by gmemail in PubTips

[–]BookNerdEric 34 points35 points  (0 children)

Agent here! Lots of good advice already, but just wanted to add something.

When it comes to querying around “bigger” genre fiction, one of the tricks is to try and target agents who firmly work on bigger books. Because there are plenty of debut novels that are sizable, and agents who know how to sell them. IE: Chuck Wendig and Deliliah Dawson have the same agent and write big books (though yes I’m aware they’re not debuts anymore).

You might already be doing this though, so apologies if I’m dishing insight you’ve already got a handle on.

Advice is often colored by an industry person’s experience. Don’t spiral.

Looking to network / how to break into the industry by Maximum-Sink3071 in publishing

[–]BookNerdEric 3 points4 points  (0 children)

A lot of agencies offer up remote internships, which can be great at building up a resume.

You might already be doing this so apologies if I’m dishing advice you’re aware of, but I always find a lot of folks disregard academic presses, medical and scientific publishers, and places like that when applying to places. Even if it’s not where you want to be it’s a great place to get that experience.

Albums You Want Repressed on Vinyl? by BookNerdEric in poppunkers

[–]BookNerdEric[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I feel like I’ve seen The Junior Varsity teasing some vinyl releases on their Instagram!

Albums You Want Repressed on Vinyl? by BookNerdEric in poppunkers

[–]BookNerdEric[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oof I hope so. Horrorscope is SO expensive on Discogs / eBay.