There’s nothing more guaranteed to turn an agent off than an unpublished writer saying of their new work, “My friends love it.” They don’t want to know, thank you very much. They’ll judge the work according to their own criteria and nothing will ultimately change that.
And that’s fair enough. Let’s face it, if your job depends on your finding successful writers, it’s probably a good idea not to trust the opinion of a whole bunch of people who quite possibly don’t exist anyway.
But friends and fellow bloggers are increasingly becoming an important part of the writing process for me, in addition to my existing readers. They (yes, you!) are helping me see more and more that I’m not deluded. Children of the Resolution is an important and potentially successful novel, and, yes, I’m doing a bloody fine job of writing it.
So I’m planning on gathering together all the comments I’ve received so far and putting them in one place. It will never convince an agent who doesn’t like my work, but if one who’s already interested drops by, who knows? It may just tip the balance in my favour.
Worth the effort, do you think?
Gary William Murning Online 
To be honest, I don’t think it will do anything other than keep you going as the inevitable rejections pile up. But then again I’m a cynic.
The two agents whose blogs I read regard links in different ways. Jennifer Jackson has stated she doesn’t click links (prefers plain text emails). While Nathan Bradford requested a manuscript from someone after reading a chapter sample that was up on the writer’s website.
The only way it will make a difference is if you’re lucky. As I am not, I go by my rule. It won’t help. But I would do it, just for the ego boost… Ego boosts are always good!
I’m inclined to agree, Gloria… but, as you say, “Ego boosts are always good”, so I might do it anyway 🙂 I’ll check out those agent blogs, too. Thanks!
Hah! What do they know?! We read the stuff so we know whats good. Dumb agents!
It’s Nathan Bransford. 🙂
lol @ nectarfizz… oh, I wish it were that simple. Hey! Vhy don’t you become an agent 🙂
Cheers, Will. Noted.
I stand corrected. I can only claim a long day of stress & sick children in my defense.
That’ll do it every time, Gloria. Children okay now, I hope?
Their symptoms have cleared up, but both are on antibiotics (one for strep & the other for an ear infection, so they vomited for different reasons). Thanks for asking, Gary!
I’m having ear, throat and chest “issues”, too, so I know just how they’ve been feeling. I bet they’re better patients than me 😉
Well, in that case… I hope you feel better son. I don’t know about the better patient thing. My kids forget to go for the potty or trash can when it comes up the first couple times it happens. I’m betting you’re less messy 😉
AcK! I meant “I hope you feel better soon” *not* son… My comment privileges should be taken away!
lol. I knew what you meant — and I’m inclined to be forgiving when I ill 😉
Well, I have been a messy uomiter in the past, but that was back in my drinking days, so I guess that doesn’t count 🙂
I’m on antibiotics too, now… and proclaperazine — to prevent vomiting…
I would rock as an agent..so there. (grin) I have the love of reading, but the spelling and grammar would do me in..would love that job though, reading is my second love, learning is my first.
I’ve never met an agent that can spell, yet 🙂 And as for grammar…