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SCLA literary Agent how to get published

 Author: Writes book

UK: Literary Agent: the gatekeeper who assesses the book and makes the decision whether to pitch it to editors. 

Editors @ Publishing Companies: decides whether or  not to publish

Few gatekeepers in Malaysia = more opportunities for writers! 


WHY YOU NEED AN AGENT.

. High volume of submissions/time is $$$

• Screening process, 

°Commercial experience/instincts/managing expectations: what kind of lofty goals you like, break into realities, can take 12-18 months before they decide when to fit you into their schedule. No Marketing? Public eye? The demand and supply is more important: until you see a publishing contract, you don't know what you'll do. The excitement of a book deal might make you too excited to sign something off that you shouldn't have. What you end up signing off may, epigram prize???? What nuances you're signing off????

• Not getting screwed! How to get an equitable deal? Agent help you to prevent Signing without thinking of consequences 

• Doors opening: more manuscripts are being seen by the right people.



HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR Manuscript: 

Research! Find the right literary agencies that match your writing:

. Genre

• Small vs. large agency. Do you want small fish in big pond or big fish in small pond

• Authors represented by the agency, where dyou find these info? 

• The internet


WHAT DO AGENTS LIKE?

. Getting the basics right:

Cover letter

Synopsis

1-line pitch (harry potter meets last of us)

 A few chapters


- are you pitching to to the right agent? An agency has a few agents, make sure you're sending to the correct agent.

- have you attached all the right files?

 - has your MS/cover letter been proofread properly?


A good cover letter (this is crucial!)

Do you have a good idea of your writing style/book?

- Do you have a good idea of your target audience/ market? (commercial understanding) age range, demographics, genre comparable to where, platform friendly, any outstanding marketing prowess helps to make you noticeable to them

- Personality- an X-factor that comes through in your cover letter. How you're expressed in writing? 


•The opposite of 1st list AKA 'sloppiness'

•You only have ONE shot to impress - please don't F it up.

No Generic cover letters - Dear Sir or Madam...

"I have loved writing since I was a child..." "irrelevant information. How will that make you unique? Craft a letter where you know who you are and your audience. 


WHY CHOOSE SCLA? (Hard sell time!)

• Objective/critical industry advice.

Understanding of what makes Malaysian writers tick. But Haven't been translated abroad in publications. Everyone knows Thailand and Singapore but not Malaysia. 

•Ability to sell 'Malaysianess' to international publishers. "I have a recent anecdote about this I'd like to share pls - Roz 

Singapore author wants to publish in UK: and it's called to tone down Singaporeanness. Not writing from the white gaze. What is the marketability? 


New author should use novels, not short stories, unless they're out of this world. 


Business network

Writers scouting agency

Not just publishers, drinking wine and talking. 


Portfolio. Call for writers. Business company setup. Socmed build-up. 



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