The Agent Cometh

The word 'agent' in a dictionary.

When a real live agent addresses the Novel Approach class, Andrea Kon realises she has a very long way to go.

March 10th

The best Novel Approach lesson yet. Today Broo Doherty, a partner in Wade Doherty, a small but obviously very caring Literary Agency came to visit and to share her wisdom and experience on what it takes to get a novel from the scribblings of an amateur to professional publication.

Like most good lessons, it wiped away preconceived ideas on ways to present a first novel.

For example, as a journalist, I have been trained only to offer work to one publication at a time. Broo explained all the reasons agents are an essential part of a serious author's team, and suggested that when we go in of an agent, we send our manuscript to several, telling all of them that we were approaching lots of others.

And it was interesting to discover that whilst I have never experienced 'ageism' in my own profession - indeed precisely the opposite at 50connect - it was a bit worrying to discover that in publishing, birthday numbers matter. Considering that Mary Wesley was 70 when her wonderful book, The Camomile Lawn was published, there may still be hope for me yet.

Last lesson of term next Monday. The 11 week term is nearly over. My novel still has a long way to go.

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