Tools for finding an agent: Agent Query

So you've finished the book. And you've finished the editing. And you've finished editing the editing. Honestly, there's nothing more you can do with the book without going nuts. The characters you originally loved are now unwelcome guests in your mind. You need to find an agent, already.

Fortunately, the Internet has a plethora of tools to help you in that regard.

Today, we'll look at Agent Query, a searchable online database that allows you to look for agents that work in your genre, both fiction and non-fiction.

It includes an online community that allows you to communicate with other authors with similar profiles. Agents and editors can subscribe to individual authors via RSS feeds, to follow anyone who captures their interest.

Finally, it contains a robust blog roll (a list of blogs) that includes 36 agents, 12 publishers, 9 authors, and 35 other links. Some of the people listed include Lori Perkins (Ravenous Romance), Colleen Lindsay (The Swivet, and the originator of #queryday), former Florida Writers Conference keynote speaker C. Hope Clark (Funds for Writers), and the intriguingly named Smart Bitches, Trashy Books (a romance blog).

Even if you aren't looking for an agent, this site is a great place to keep up with the industry.

Let the Author Beware: Tools to Help You Not Get Taken

You've sent out the six zillionth query letter and finally, after all that work, after all that effort, you finally, at last, get a nibble. More than a nibble. The letter you got back is validation and sustenance. It's a tall glass of cold water after you've spent the hottest afternoon of the year working outside.

Or maybe not.

If there's a way to make money in a scam, someone's doing it. And some of those people pose as editors.

The Association of Authors' Representatives is a clearing house for reputable agents. Agents who have AAR membership must adhere to the organization's Canon of Ethics, which includes ample protection for the authors' best interests. After all when you're really thirsty, you'll do almost anything for that cold glass of water. The AAR's canon helps protect you from giving too much, then finding out you've bought an empty glass of water.

Most useful, the AAR website has a database of member agents, which lists 429 agents. Using the advanced search, you can filter by a plethora of criteria, including genre.

Preditors and Editors provides a review list not only of agents, but of contests, publishers, groups, software, and more. It includes its ratings criteria, so you know why certain entries may be recommended and why they may not.

It also includes a long list of links to other sites related to publishing. Unlike most other link lists, this list also includes recommendations and reasons for them.

As getting published gets harder, the temptation for the morally challenged is likely to increase. These two tools will help you with your due diligence before you buy an empty glass of water.

Publishing News -- 1/7/2009

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A full stack this week, like those big lumberjack pancake stacks you might be able to get at your family diner. The news isn't getting much better this week, but we're a few days closer to the end of the mess and pitchers and catchers report in about six weeks.

Publishing and the Economy
Blockbuster or Bust -- Like the guy at the races with that one tip that will change everything, publishers continue to gamble on potential big hits.

The New Austerity in Publishing -- Lavish spending is out as part of the new economic reality in publishing.

11.7 Percent Sales Drop and CEO Change at Borders -- New CEO has experience turning around retail establishments.

End Times -- The end of, or at least a drastic change in, the New York Times could be imminent.

Publishing Firm to Add Jobs -- It's only 20 jobs, but it beats another story on layoffs.

Agentry
Agent Stephen Barbara Moves to Foundry Literary + Media -- Leaves Donald Maass's agency and brings his entire slate of YA and adult authors with him.

Kicking Off the New Year--Courtney Milan's Query -- Agent deconstructs a successful query letter.

Surviving the Recession
Readiness is all in building your network -- The time to build your network is before you need it--like now.

Your Key Asset if You're Laid Off -- If you don't maintain a positive outlook, ending your unemployment is a lot harder.

Social Media
Why Executives Don't Get Social Media -- It has to do with how they view success. Fortunately, peoples' skills and viewpoints are complementary (one of the points of social media).

Why Twitter Matters -- More analysis and predictions about the newest social media fad.

How Social Media are Transforming Our Capacity to Achieve -- Our best growth opportunities may come from people we don't know well. Social media allow us to transform that number exponentially.