Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Along the lines of finding agents/publishers

This is topic Along the lines of finding agents/publishers in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by kathmandau (Member # 2254) on :

Any additional suggestions for finding credible agents and publishers in what appears to be tight market of fantasy? So far, I have focused on agents, but am considering looking into publishers.

Annually, I purchase the Writer's Market Guides for Literary Agents and Novel/short Story. Also, I have a 2005 copy of Jeff Herman's Guide to Publishers, etc. I generally check with AAR http://www.aar-online.org/database.html. I will very likely look into the Literary Market Place http://www.literarymarketplace.com/lmp/us/index_us.asp

Being in N.C., I checked into the N.C. Writer's Network, but their listing of publishers is not extensive (maybe 30).

[This message has been edited by kathmandau (edited December 21, 2004).]

Posted by KatFeete (Member # 2161) on :

Always check an agent against Preditors and Editors. They catch most of the bad ones. Beware of any list, and I include Jeff Herman and *definately* Writer's Guide in that; there are fee-chargers and shady dealers in both. Beware of *anyone* who charges you a fee for anything. Beware of literary agents who list no sales, or whose only sales seem to be to small press; most small presses don't require an agent, so such sales are highly suspicious.

As far as I know, only four major publishing imprints currently accept unsolicited manuscripts: TOR, Baen, DAW, and Ace. If you know of any more, please let me know. The others are usually open to queries, except Time-Warner imprints, who aren't. Small press is trickier: basically you must decide for yourself whether they're worth it. Did I mention you should avoid anyone who charges fees?

I run a small list of literary agents who accept speculative fiction here. I vet 'em as best I can, but the above cautions still apply, with the addendium that you should mail me if you find anything odd. *grin*

Good luck!