This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Our Writers' Tuesday Series, What An Agent Wants, is now in its fifth week!
To recap, we are asking our esteemed agent panel a question a week over next ten weeks and publishing the answers right here for you guys. This week we ask…
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What do you think of Self Publishing? If a writer has already self published a book, will that make you more or less likely to represent future novels of theirs?
Madeleine Milburn of the Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV & Film Agency
When I receive a self-published novel as a submission, I am always sceptical as to whether that author really wants an agent. I like to handle all rights for my authors whilst they spend their time writing and doing publicity so I need the authors who trust me to do this. I can understand that the frustrations of not finding an agent can lead to self publishing, however, and I of course look at these cases differently.
Laura Longrigg of MBA Literary Agents
I am impressed when people have the energy and commitment to self publish. I know it’s not an easy option, can be expensive and is hard work often for rather meagre rewards (but not always). I am afraid I would wonder why the book had not been picked up by a mainstream publisher, but maybe that is old fashioned. If there’s a good explanation (for self publishing), evidence of real commitment to getting published and obvious writing talent, I would want to see what else they had written, yes.
Hannah Ferguson of The Marsh Agency
Self publishing is a tricky one for me. Realistically I think if an author has self published then that has put me off a little in the past (if I’m being completely honest here). I understand why people choose to self publish, but I think it can also sometimes put publishers off. There are obvious exceptions – Amanda Hocking being one – but she is that, an exception, and I think it can sometimes hinder the role of an agent. Saying that, we’re most definitely in a time of flux where a lot is changing in publishing, so it wouldn’t at all put me off completely and I would still consider the work like any other submission.
Lisa Eveleigh of the Richford Becklow Literary Agency
It truly won’t make a difference either way. I make judgements purely on the basis of the quality of the writing. That said, a risk of self-publishing is that a book has been self-edited which is not always successful.
Sarah Lutyens of Lutyens & Rubinstein Literary Agency
Until now I think it has made us wary but, to be honest, the market is changing so fast that I am not sure that this will always continue to be the case.
Diane Banks of Diane Banks Associates
Part of me prefers to discover entirely fresh talent (ie, not self published) but in reality, if an author has previously self published, this won't put me off. If the self published novel has done well, obviously this is an attraction.
Sheila Crowley of Curtis Brown
The Self Publishing debate is an interesting one and especially as we read about deals Trade Publishers are making with the most successful of the self-published authors. There are many sides to this discussion but my observations are:
Authors who are turned down by the traditional route are now empowered to self-publish and find an alternative route to market. I will keep an open mind on all submissions, including self-published authors and my decision about taking them on will be based on my connection with their writing and where I feel it fits in the market.
Do let us know what you think of our agents' answers in the comments below.
Be sure to return next Tuesday when we ask the agents what kind of career guidance they give to their clients…