My goodness, is it Thursday already? This week has flown by. I still haven’t done any Christmas shopping and it’s now what, the 19th? To my defense, I don’t have a car since Bev uses ours for her job, so it’s a bit tough for me to get out during the week. Looks like Saturday will be the day for me to get it all done.
Anyway, I hope you are all enjoying the holiday season. It is always a bit of a difficult time for me, but there is no reason to go into that right now.
Today let’s talk about finding an agent and keeping an agent, and what your job is during this process. First, a quote.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“As a producer, sitting on the other side of the desk, I have never once had an agent go out on a limb for his client and fight for him. I’ve never heard one say, ‘No, just a minute! This is the actor you should use.’ They will always say, ‘You don’t like him? I’ve got somebody else.’ They’re totally spineless.”
Orson Welles
Well, it is pretty obvious how Mr. Welles felt about agents. LOL
A few days ago I was contacted by an agent….true story. She wants to represent me and help me to land speaking gigs, book signings, etc, and she wants to help me promote my new novel due out in March or April. All well and good and yes, I am a bit excited.
But…..
Here’s the thing to understand about agents…..they are, first and foremost, a business entity. They have numerous clients and they will put their time and effort into the client that gives them the most to work with….this is a key point to understand.
It is my job to continue to build my platform. It is my job to continue to improve as a writer. The agent has their job and I have mine, and if I don’t do my job there are plenty of writers out there for the agent to choose from.
PROMPT OF THE DAY
Have some fun with it. Let your imagination flow. Hopefully you will find an article in this picture. I did!
CONTEST OF THE DAY
The Chattahoochie Review has a short story contest, fiction or non-fiction, with a deadline of January something or other. J Entries of under 5000 words. Here is all the info on it. Think in terms of your platform; winning a literary contest looks great on the resume.
TIP OF THE DAY
If you don’t know what I’m talking about when I say platform, think in terms of your entire body of work. I wrote an article about it and you can find that here.
THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY
I’ll be back next week with more tips. If you can’t wait you can always check out my writing tips on HubPages. Three days a week I toss out information on writing, so check it out if you have time.
Have a great weekend and Happy Holidays to all of you.
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
I love that you have been contacted by an agent and truly must say I never doubted that you would get represented. I see big things for you my friend and just so happy for you!! Have a great day yet again now, Bill!! 🙂
Thank you Janine…it is kind of exciting. 🙂 Have a great day and again, thank you for being you.
That’s so cool Bill! Good luck with everything!
Thank you Kelly; I appreciate it.
Bill, I guess all your hard work is paying off! (Sorry for being so hard on you, but I love you and worry). Are you taking the agent up on her offer? I think it’s absolutely fantabulous that you have been sought out. That really says a lot about your talent, my friend.
I haven’t done anything about Christmas yet, either. Well, Christopher hung the lights for me and I did a bit of interior decorating, but no shopping or baking has happened yet. I guess it’ll all have to wait for the weekend.
Again, congrats on being approached by an agent. Early Christmas present, huh? Has Regalia been marketing for you? 🙂
Thanks Sha. You haven’t been hard on me; you just care. There’s a big difference. She is sending a contract and I’ll decide then.
Christmas shopping tomorrow afternoon if all goes well. 🙂
love
bill
Keep us posted. I’m so excited for you!
it’s awesome Bill
Agent is there and book in the making…nothing gonna stop you..the new year will be like a bull for ya 🙂
Good luck!
Ruchira, let’s hope…fingers crossed my friend and thank you.
Good job. You got serious about writing and got contacted by an agent.
Thank you Mylinda….hopefully new challenges await me.
Congrats on landing an agent! I have spent the past five years trying to “figure out” my author platform, I think I finally figured out how to make it all work together! Now I just have to make that happen, I guess. Again great job on landing the agent! Keep on writing!
Thank you Donna. Don’t give up and keep writing too…you are a good writer and good things will happen if you keep at it.
Bill my friend, you are too humble for your own good sometimes… that is AWESOME news!!!! Congrats! Definitely a reason for celebration. You totally deserve it. That gives me inspiration. 🙂 Good luck with Christmas shopping, we haven’t done ours yet either so will probably go on Sunday as the doors open and not a second later! Have a great Friday!
Thank you so much, Mel. I just don’t like talking about myself; it always sounds like bragging to me. I appreciate your kind words…and thanks on the good luck wishes on shopping. I don’t have a clue yet what I’m getting Bev. Hoping for inspiration while I sleep tonight. LOL