Comments on Wylie-Merrick Literary Agency: What's Your Name? Is It Peggy or Sue. . .

Interesting post, thank you. I write novels, firs...

2009-11-23T12:17:26.970-08:00

Interesting post, thank you.

I write novels, first and foremost, to be read (eventually). If it makes a few bob (UK expression), all well and good!

I would think a first-time novelist needs to treat...

2009-11-23T08:09:09.531-08:00

I would think a first-time novelist needs to treat their publishing accomplishment the same as if they had just self-published their work. Once you receive an ISBN it's pretty much up to the author to move units--otherwise there won't be a second chance.
Isn't that about right?

And this is why Nick Horby's entire oeuvre is stoc...

2009-11-22T21:28:54.898-08:00

And this is why Nick Horby's entire oeuvre is stocked at Target. Name recognition is often the only tool of selection a reader has when selecting a book.

That's what I thought you were talking about, but ...

2009-11-22T14:32:28.961-08:00

That's what I thought you were talking about, but because your post would be viewed in a different light is why I asked those questions as I thought others might be thinking them as well.

I assume you will be talking about name building for wannabe authors in your next post so I won't ask questions about that here. And I am especially interested in reading how you think a fiction author can do so.

I totally agree with you. I have been taught by th...

2009-11-22T14:28:06.696-08:00

I totally agree with you. I have been taught by the many authors I have met in my travels that networking and self promotion is one, if not the most, important part of becoming a successful author. I took that advice on board and was lucky enough to be given the chance to become a guest author on the Blooding & Crew web site. I began building and promoting my own wed site, and I've even had my first online interview as an author even though I haven't been published yet. I'm also in the planning stage of going to my local schools to do a talk with the kids as they will be my targeted audience. It's surprising the following I already have even though in real life I'm still a carpenter by trade.

Self promotion is important. As the saying goes, if you want something done properly, do it yourself!

Scott: Not exactly. What I'm saying is that writin...

2009-11-22T14:13:25.473-08:00

Scott: Not exactly. What I'm saying is that writing is a business and books are products. This being the case, Irene and Thomas Writer need to think as businesspeople think--name before product. You don't have to be a celebrity to be known as a potential author. You just have to begin promoting your name. If you're serious about building a career as a novelist, you need to do more than put some ink on paper. To sell books, readers have to know you write them and to maintain a career as an author, you have to sell books. Celebrities usually are celebrities first. They usually gain celebrity somewhere else beside writing. I'm speaking of celebrities like Sarah Palin and Brittany Spears or Snoop Dog. When they decide to write a book they are offered a million dollars before it's written. Why? Because they have name recognition and that name automatically gives them and audience. An author can do this on a smaller scale--build a name and a group of followers. That's what I'm speaking of in my post.

By your "(more on this later)", this looks like th...

2009-11-22T13:24:56.908-08:00

By your "(more on this later)", this looks like the beginning of an interesting series on this topic. :-)

So are what you're saying is that publishing is now celebrity driven? That it is more important who you are than what you write? That writers that became famous for their writing ability are once-in-a-blue-moon random chances and that a writing career is now merely one of the perks of being a celebrity?

That if one wants to be a successful author, you need to first devote time in making yourself into a celebrity.