SHOULD YOU GET AN AGENT OR PITCH YOUR BOOK YOURSELF?
by Gini Graham Scott, Ph.D.
Excerpt from the book, Sell Your Book, Script or Column: How to Write a Winning Query and Make a Winning Pitch

Scotts' book, Sell Your Book, Script or Column: How to Write a Winning Query and Make a Winning Pitch is available on the iTunes App Store for $5.99 under Arrow's the Reference, Business & Education Collection. Type in keywords “Arrow Publications" or "Business & Education".

Last Issue: A question that frequently comes up for writers is whether to get an agent or pitch a book directly to editors and publishers.  If you have a commercial nonfiction or fiction book, it’s ideal to get an agent – and an agent will want to represent you. In this ideal scenario, a good agent will have the connections and can place your book faster with a bigger and better publisher. Plus the agent can negotiate a bigger advance and better terms.

Deciding If Your Book Is Better Suited to an Agent, Direct Pitching, or Both

While having a good agent is often the best approach, consider whether your book is best suited for an agent. Often, you will do better in pitching certain types of books yourself. In general, agents are best for books which have the potential for large sales, whether commercial nonfiction or fiction, or for special markets that have a big sales potential (such as popular psychology, self-help, and business books). In such cases, where big sales are possible, agents are ideal if you can find a good one, because they mostly focus on working with the bigger publishers who handle such books.

Conversely, if your book appeals to a specialty market or has limited sales potential, you might do better pitching your book directly to editors and publishers – or even think about self-publishing to launch your book. But only go the self-publishing route if you have the interest and ability to distribute books to your target market (such as if you are a speaker and can sell books in the back of the room).  You need that commitment to distribution if you self-publish, because distribution is the hardest and most time-consuming part of self-publishing. The advantage of self-publishing, if suitable for you, is that once you establish a sales track record, you are in a stronger position to successfully pitch your book to a larger publisher.

Some types of books where you might do better with your own direct pitching include:

• specialized self-help books (such as on home improvements, buying a house, and saving on income tax)
• academic books (especially those most suited to university publishers)
• professional books (such as those mainly of interest to other professionals in your field, such as books for lawyers, doctors, and psychiatrists)
• business books (unless it's a book that will appeal to a broad general market as well as managers)

Commonly, specialty books have limited sales potential and are produced by special divisions in big houses or by small to medium publishers which specialize in a certain area. As a result, agents may often not show much enthusiasm for representing such books – or they may not know the small or medium publishers to contact, due to their focus on the larger publishers and more commercial books. By contrast, many small and medium publishers are used to dealing directly with writers; some even prefer to do so. They may not offer as big advances as the bigger publishers, because they don't have the budget; but they usually can publish your book more quickly – and they are often more receptive to your book than a larger publisher. So, in such cases, it's best to contact the publisher yourself.

When to Use a Dual Submission Approach

What if you are not sure about the potential for your book? One good approach then is to look for an agent and a publisher at the same time, and refer any interested publishers to an agent, if you find an agent you want to work with. That's an approach I often use myself. I send out queries about book projects to editors several times a year, and have several agents representing me on different books. Should any of these mailings result in a lead for a book where I have an agent, I turn the lead over to that agent to follow up. Typically the arrangement I have is that the agent gets 71/2-10% where I supply the lead, depending on the type of book, instead of the usual 15% when the agent does it all.

When you use this dual approach, tell any agent you contact about any publishers who have expressed interest. Sometimes just getting this interest can help you get an agent, who will then contact other publishers, building on what you started. Alternatively, try initially querying the smaller and medium-sized publishers while you look for an agent, since some agents will prefer to contact the bigger publishers themselves. This way, you can explore two avenues at the same time – either finding a smaller or medium-sized publisher or obtaining an agent who will pursue the larger publishers. Once you do get an agent, turn over any leads to that agent; or if you don't get an agent, try contacting editors at the larger publishers yourself, if you think your book might appeal to a wide audience; or go with a smaller or medium-sized publisher, who has already shown an interest in your book. 

In short, there are times when it's better to seek an agent and times when it's better to do it yourself, though often you don't know what to do, particularly when you don't know if an agent will be interested or respond quickly enough. That's when the best choice may be a dual approach, where you test out the waters to see whether you can find an agent, or whether it may be better to work with a smaller or medium-sized publisher.

Next Issue: How to Select a Litereary Agent That's Right for You

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Arrow's Top 10 Apps for May 2010

1. The Reluctant Handyman (Love & Romance Collection)        
2. Collision Course (Love & Romance Collection)
3. Disaster Relief (Love & Romance Collection)
4. Nightmare in the Park (Love & Romance Collection)
5. Poems from the Heart by Thompson Lennox (Poetry Collection)
6. The Sensual Zodiac (Dating & Relationship Collection)        
7. One-Time Thing (Love & Romance Collection)
8. Act of Love (Love & Romance Collection)
9. Discover Your Romance Signs (Dating & Relationship Collection)     
10. Love Campaign (Love & Romance Collection)

Arrow's May Romance Poll: What is your favorite time to read?

We’ve always heard that romance fiction readers are voracious and that they can’t get enough…fiction! So last month we asked our readers about their favorite time to read and it was no surprise that more than 65 percent responded that it was “any free time.” The next favorite time was “at bedtime” according to 25 percent of respondents. Following far behind were “on vacation” at just over six percent and “during commute” at three percent. While many of us at Arrow Publications enjoy turning a few pages of our favorite romance during a coffee or tea break, none of MyRomanceStory.com’s readers shared this practice of reading “during breaks at work.”

NEXT ISSUE OF STRAIGHT FROM ARROW

June 9, 2010

APP OF THE WEEK

Having His Say Through Words and Images

Arrow Talks to Paraguayan Graphic Novel Artist and Writer Roberto Goiriz

Goiriz’s comic, That Damn Comic is available on the iTunes App Store for $1.99 under Arrow's Comics Collection. Type in keyword “Arrow Publications”.

ARROW: You have had an interesting childhood and have quite an extensive background in comic strips and graphic novels. How did you come about using this medium to express yourself?
RG: My country (Paraguay) went through many long years under the Stroessner dictatorship. When I was barely six years old, I learned a few important things: run away from anyone in [military] uniform and never trust red vans, which we called “Little Red Riding Hoods” (with ominous-looking policemen inside them). I also learned to play without toys: a pile of stones could be turned into a mysterious castle; a few rags and a pair of socks would magically become a soccer ball, and a magazine of short stories was the door that opened onto a world of unbridled fantasy.

ARROW: What was the next step in your artistic development?
RG: I would laboriously copy a drawing when I was amazed by it. I showed my drawings to a friend who couldn’t believe I had done them. He said they were too good to have been drawn by me. That’s when I realized I could draw…but this wasn’t enough to convince the world. I also had to know how to tell a good story. So, I also began to write and I’ve been doing both ever since.

ARROW: You are a complete storyteller and illustrator. Do you use the same approach for other work?
RG: I think of text and image as one concept. This approach has worked well for me everywhere I’ve worked, whether as Art Director or Creative General Director at several Paraguayan-based advertising agencies affiliated with Young & Rubicam, Leo Burnett or Ogilvy & Mather or in the publishing field where I worked for several Paraguayans, then later. Brazilian newspapers and magazines or in my comic and graphic novel work,

ARROW: So, you are an ad man as well as a comic book and graphic novel creator?
RG: At the moment, I spend more time writing and drawing for graphic novels. I have published comic strips and three books. Most of my graphic novels are published in my own country of Paraguay or Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Italy and the United States. That Damn Comic, one of my latest comics, is currently an App distributed by Arrow and available on the iTunes App Store.

However, I still do work for local clients through my advertising company, Goiriz Imagen & Cia, and I teach at the Catholic University of Asuncion.  

ARROW:  It’s evident that creating is your life. How would you best describe that process?
RG: When fantasy comes into contact with reality, with routine, something has to give — another universe surfaces. It is that universe that I try to portray in my creations. I write and draw every day for at least ten hours per day, sometimes more. It is the fantastic experience of creation; to make something come from nothing. I simply can’t avoid it. I do it all the time, in my mind, with my hands, when I am looking, listening, living. But it never seems like enough…

ARROW:  Is there a particular writer or mentor who influenced you?
RG: I love the stories of Jorge Luis Borges, Julio Cortázar and Helio Vera; the narrative of Patrick Süskind, the fantasy of Stanislaw Lem and Ray Bradbury...the list is very long. Also, there’s Alex Raymond, creator of Flash Gordon.

ARROW:  With the constant changes in publishing, what do you think about electronic publishing?
RG: For me, electronic publication is a natural extension of traditional publishing. I began to publish this way with Arrow. Any new means of communication broadens the field of activity for an artist or writer. Although one should understand the technical aspects of it, the most important thing is still being able to tell a good story. However, I think all formats can coexist without problems.

ARROW:  After you’ve finished a piece, how do you approach promoting your work?
RG: I create, write and draw the best I can. Then, with a little luck, I find people who are interested in it and who will promote it however they can. I also use the social networks, my web site and blogs to promote my work and communicate with my associates and friends. As you’ve noticed, I quite enjoy doing this.

ARROW:  I understand your work was recently exhibited in Paris. Tell us about it.
RG: I just finished the drawings for 1811, a graphic novel that narrates the story of Paraguayan independence with the text by Robin Wood. There was a celebration of Paraguayan independence in Paris, and some of the material from this graphic novel was exhibited at the Paraguayan Embassy there. I am also drawing a new saga of Hiras, Son of Nippur, with the story written by Robin Wood.

ARROW: Wow, you’re doing so much creatively. What would you say to new writers who want the inside track?
RG: Love what you do and do it every day. This is not advice; it’s a way of life.

ARROW: Roberto — before we sign off, please tell us something about your family.
RG: Well, I met Lali, my wife, 26 years ago and we were married in less than a year from when we met. She is my love, my rock, the person who organizes my life and administers my projects and undertakings. Currently, she is totally involved in her own business, with great success.

We have two sons who changed my life forever. Our oldest, Ariel, is 22. He studies industrial design and is slowly getting involved in the advertising agency. Our youngest son, Damian, was a chess champion in Paraguay in his age category (under 18). He plays guitar, loves music. Damian also studies administration and is very brilliant with numbers. He helps his mother with her business. 

We also have two dogs, both German shepherds. They’re part of the family. When I’m drawing until late at night, I leave my studio and find them at the door waiting for me. They go everywhere with me. 

ARROW:  Roberto, thank you for taking a few moments to talk to us. It’s really been a pleasure to peek into the mind of an illustrator and writer. Let’s do this again!
RG: Thank you for asking me. We’ll meet again on the Internet! LOL!

Read the full interview with Roberto Goiriz on MyRomanceStory's Blog.

Find graphic novels and comics by Roberto Goiriz:

Search by keywords “Arrow Publications” or “MyRomanceStory” to find Love Match, Throb, Love Makes Headlines and other graphic novel titles in Arrow’s Love & Romance Collection in the iTunes App store. Titles start at only $1.99.

Love Match is also available in the paperback Will I Ever Find Love? MyRomanceStory, Volume 2 (Spanish version, ¿Alguna vez encontrare el amor?, Queridamia), is available from MyRomanceStory.com and Amazon.com for $5.99.

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