I have a book idea... anybody got contacts in publishing?

[LuckyTheDog]

I want to write a book about obesity from the point of view of somebody who has struggled with it (me). It'd be about my experience, along with interviews with others who have tried to lose weight (included those who failed) and experts in the field.

Anybody know a good literary agent? I think this could sell.

[kimmerspixelated]

1. I think you have an excellent idea.

1.It may have been used before, but everyone has their own take, and you could make it fresh!

2. Even if you found a willing agent, the standard publishing world is certainly not taking many new chances these days.

3. I suggest self-publishing, which has become quite hot, and a viable alternative. You get to keep more if not all royalties, you call the shots, and don't forget, a standard publisher might take years to finally get you in the bookstore, whereas a self-published book can become available anywhere,quickly, esp. with Amazon.com and Kindle as well. There's a lot of options. It's not vanity publishing anymore, it's just good business. ..plus, a standard publisher might pick up your option after you have sold a few, thus minimizing their risk. Good Luck!

[rucky]

3. I agree. Book distribution is wide open now.

Ditch the middlemen and get writing!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

7. Self-publishing is printing,

and I haven't seen anything that would lead me to think otherwise.

The idea of someone who pays to have his manuscript printed up and given an ISBN number ever getting "royalties" is pretty funny, although I'm sure it's happened to someone. Somewhere. Sometime.

It's vanity printing, not vanity publishing. Publishers are the people who buy your work, pay you good money for it, and then provide the editing, the proofing, the cover art, the layouts, the publicity, the distribution.

And whoever told you that '... a standard publisher might take years to finally get you in the bookstore ...." was yanking your leg. It's in the best interests of the publishers to get their purchased properties out there as quickly as possible. The longest lead time, on complicated literary novels, is one year, more or less. Other works come out faster.

As for the idea of a traditional publisher picking up a "self-published" work, good luck. It's happened, and so has Halley's Comet.........................

[KansDem]

10. You talk as though you struck it rich sometime or other, Pop.

How about it? Then what are you doin' in here, a down-and-outer?*

________
*Treasure of the Sierra Madre

[Tangerine LaBamba]

12. Actually, I did -

the first thing I ever wrote - the first fiction, that is - was just something to entertain myself as I worked hard at another job. Something by which I unwound in the evening.

A close friend asked to see it, and then said to send it to her literary agent. (My friend is a children's book author.)

I did.

The agent loved it.

She then spent a year trying to sell it. It was turned down, over and over, with spectacularly complimentary rejection letters - all of which she religiously sent me.

Then - and this is what you pay that 15% for - my agent found out that a certain high-placed editor was moving to another publisher, into an even higher-placed job (vice-president), and she stopped sending out my ms, and waited until that move had taken place.

Once the new vice-president was comfortably situated in her job, my agent sent her my novel.

A week later, I got a call, late in the afternoon.

The loveliest literary agent in the world said to me, "I just sold your book."

After that, it was a matter of me talking with the vice-president on the phone, to see if we could get along.

We could. (In fact, we've become fast friends.)

And then it was a matter of price.

My agent got a sum of money that left me gasping. So far beyond anything I'd ever imagined.

That was how it started for me, and I know how lucky I am. But, that's some years ago, and the industry has gotten much tougher, especially for newcomers.

As for why I'm here, what can I tell you? I'm a sucker for slumming.....................

[KansDem]

13. "Something by which I unwound in the evening."

I find myself doing that now. A kind of escapism.

I have five story ideas right now--some more complete than others.

I don't have rose-colored glasses; I know it's tough. I don't know where it's going but as I said, it keeps me sane.

Thanks for sharing your story. It was very inspiring!

[pitohui]

2. you have a blog idea not a book idea

there is nothing that qualifies you to write yet another book the weight loss struggle, being fat like 60 percent of the american population is not a qualification

ask yourself this and BE HONEST -- what is different about YOUR book? why would a publishing co. editor assign YOU to write this topic, rather than somebody else?

i wrote how to/service stuff back in the day, but it isn't worth the hassle now, these days, we have the internet, and anyone who wants the point of view of an obese person struggling to lose weight need look no further than various forums, chat rooms, etc

i just don't see anything special about your book, nor do i see any proof that you've put any work into yout "idea," hence asking about a literary agent on DU instead of networking in a more appropriate place

write shorter items for publication, write a blog, get some qualifications, DO SOMETHING other than just coming on DU and asking if someone else can do all the work for you

please don't take offense but i can't tell you how often i used to get this question when i was working in publishing, if you'd done any homework, you'd already know how to find the names of literary agents



these days almost none of the legitimate ones are accepting manuscripts from unknowns

ideas are a joke, everyone has an idea, at the minimum you need a proposal but it would be better if you had already produced at least a first draft of the manuscript

as for self publishing it's a waste of money to feed one's ego 999 out of 1000

[LuckyTheDog]

8. You know nothing about my qualifications

And while I posted here only a brief sketch of what I have in mind hoping someone would know about a publisher and/or agent who specialized in health care-related books. I have, indeed, done more work on this and I have published before -- but in a different field.

If all you have to offer is abuse, then, please refrain from posting in this thread, OK?

[northernlights]

4. having an idea won't get you an agent

Tons of people have great ideas every day. You need to be able to write in a compelling, yet grammatically correct, way. You will need to sell not only the idea, but your ability to bring a book to fruition and your ability to market the book.

Your best bet, at this point, is to write an outline of the book and start it. Then test your writing on friends -- or even better, other writers -- who will be honest. If they're falling asleep by the 2nd paragraph, forget it. Check your local paper. There often are writing groups of writers who work together to check each other's writing.

If you can't provide at least a few chapters, along with a cover letter, that demonstrate all of the above capabilities you won't get the time of day from any agent or publisher.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

5. An IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW!!! I'm sure there are a zillion literary agents who want to try to sell an IDEA!

From an unknown.

Who hasn't even written the "book."

Excuse the sarcasm, but your focus - on selling - makes me giddy.

Here's what you have to do first: Write the story, get a very polished manuscript in hand, and then try to find a literary agent who's interested.

That's how it's done.

And if you're real anxious to spend some $$$$, indulge your ego, and end up telling people that you're a "published author," when, in fact, you just financed some printing, do check out the inaccurately-named "self-publishing."

Best of luck to you........................................

[LuckyTheDog]

9. I have not fully fleshed out the idea here...

But I have done additional work on this. You assume too much about my qualifications and preparation.

The last time I published a book, I did it based on an outline. But it was a different field and that publisher was gobbled up by another since then anyway.

I am sorry if the idea of making money from writing offends you. But as a person who has made his living from writing, I do, indeed, do projects expecting to make money from them.

I did not post this in order to draw abuse.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

11. You posted that you had an idea,

and wanted to know how to get a literary agent.

I write for a living, too, and I am lucky enough to have great representation. Through the years, I've learned some about the publishing business.

You're awfully thin-skinned for someone who's trying to put himself into the path of reviewers. Toughen up.

The idea of making money from writing pleases me greatly, and the quarterly royalty statements and checks I get from my publisher make me absolutely ecstatic.

Of course, you obviously have the greater expertise here, so I'll withdraw everything I wrote in that prior post. I was not expecting a professional to ask on a message board for help in securing a literary agent.

Or for a professional writer to think he could sell an idea.

But, as you have indicated, you've "... made (his) living from writing...", so, while I wish I could give you the name of my agent, she's not taking any new clients.

Best of luck to you, my brother author............................................

[LuckyTheDog]

14. Networking on DU...

... apparently is a bad idea.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

15. You might try the

writing forum - if there is one here.

Or any number of writing websites.

And, again, best of luck to you...................

[mitchum]

6. Add some vampires and a beloved dog to the narrative