What would you do in my shoes

Four Star Member Joined : 11 Jan 2008 Posts : 376

That article you posted a link to Shelagh maintains that Agents asking for reimbursement for manuscript costs is normal and acceptable.

Very Happy

Certain fees are considered acceptable these days. For example, if you want your agent to send your manuscript out to ten publishers at once, and you have sent him only one copy, the agent would be justified in asking you to either send nine more copies or to reimburse him for the cost of photocopying. Also, if you wanted your manuscripts to be messengered or overnighted to publishers rather than being sent first class, the agent could rightfully ask you to pay the additional postage cost. Basically, these are costs that go above and beyond what the agent normally covers, and are incurred at your request. You should never feel pressured or compelled to incur costs, and any costs should be documented through receipts.

Admin Joined : 11 Jan 2008 Posts : 1784 Location : UK

Maybe there's better advice around that I missed earlier George. I found this:

Subject: Re: What would you do in my shoes Fri Feb 29, 2008 4:26 pm

Wow, something to think about, for sure. I think Rhett's idea of sending the CD is a good one. And Kinko's is sounding like a good option as well.

So many differing aspects to the question.

I hope this works out for you, Jenny, whatever route you take.
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Zada Connaway
Mother's Journals: parts 1, 2 and 3 ISBN # 1-4241-6969-0

http://www.zadaconnaway.com/

Four Star Member Joined : 11 Jan 2008 Posts : 376

Yes, lots to consider. And sending out manuscripts isn't cheap.

Subject: Re: What would you do in my shoes Fri Feb 29, 2008 4:47 pm

This agent is recognised by the Romance Writers of America - she has a good reputation, but I have to think she is a little "flaky" to use an American expression. Her email is less than clear. Does she mean I can resubmit my synopsis and first fifty pages adding the information about being a frequent visitor to the US to my letter, or does she mean send the 10 copies?

I've looked on both Staples and Kinkos website, and unfortuantely there isn't a store within 50 miles of her address, which by the way is Canton, New York. When I Googled this, it turns out to be upstate NY, near the Canadian border, which makes me think this agent operates from her home, and that is why she wanted me to provide the 10 copies of my manuscript. However, at 293 pages, it's not going to be inexpensive to either ship it from here in the UK, or have it printed and delivered in the US.

Fedex here in the UK would chage in the region of £100-£171 to ship the parcel, that's without the copying costs!

The more I look into this, the more I think I should pass on the opportunity. pale

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Jenny
Writing as Victoria Howard

www.victoriahoward.co.uk

Four Star Member Joined : 11 Jan 2008 Posts : 376

Well, she certainly has the attitude of an agent.

Subject: Re: What would you do in my shoes Fri Feb 29, 2008 11:09 pm

Jenny my curiosity got the best of me so I did some serious looking around. Canton is a very small town, in an agricultural area. From what I can determine, I think she does work from home on her acreage, and she appears to split her time between the literary side and screenwriting stuff. She is about 11 miles from Potsdam which does have a copy shop and business centre (phone 315.265.1700). She does seem to be a very active individual, but reviews of her work are at best, mixed. She has had lots of people I found on-line submit to her, a few rejections and a few broken hearts she never replied to. I know that there are lots of testimonials on her sites, but none that I actually qualified.

A Canadian writer and journalist that I really admire (Todd Babiak) told me once that this is a heartwrenching business, and I heartily agree.

I wish that I had better news, and this isn't to say she couldn't be the right agent, but you must follow your heart. Let us know what happens! scratch

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Pam Robertson

http://andthebandplayedonmylawn.blogspot.com

Subject: Re: What would you do in my shoes Sat Mar 01, 2008 2:08 am

The ten copies thing concerns me, too. I would think it likely that the agent is going to want to read the work from start to finish and then make suggestions for editing before sending anything out. At this point, those extra copies seem like a great waste of paper and postage.

Malcolm
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Malcolm R. Campbell

http://www.malcolmrcampbell.com

Four Star Member Joined : 11 Jan 2008 Posts : 376

Who is to say the next agent will be any better?

Subject: Re: What would you do in my shoes Sat Mar 01, 2008 2:36 pm

Nothing at all George - I think that's part of the heartwrenching aspect. I would offer cookies, but at the rate we're going through them we're all going to get huge. Wonder if there would be a reasonable way for us to agent for one another...like reverse networking only better. Shelagh has started it with putting your book on her site, I think. Hmm...

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Pam Robertson

http://andthebandplayedonmylawn.blogspot.com

Subject: Re: What would you do in my shoes Sat Mar 01, 2008 3:01 pm

What concerns me is that this agent hasn't even seen the whole manuscript - just the first fifty pages. What if I send the 10 copies and she then asks me to make more revisions? Do I then send her another 10 copies? I could end up bankrupt on paying out postage alone!
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Jenny
Writing as Victoria Howard

www.victoriahoward.co.uk

Subject: Re: What would you do in my shoes Sun Mar 02, 2008 11:55 am

Yesterday evening I started submitting queries once more. To my surprise there was a reply in my Inbox this morning from Helen Breitwieser asking for the frist three chapters and a synopsis.

Cross your fingers guys and girls that this one works out!
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Jenny
Writing as Victoria Howard

www.victoriahoward.co.uk

Subject: Re: What would you do in my shoes Sun Mar 02, 2008 2:57 pm

Sounds very promising, Jenny! I have my fingers toes and eyes crossed for you!
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Zada Connaway
Mother's Journals: parts 1, 2 and 3 ISBN # 1-4241-6969-0

http://www.zadaconnaway.com/

Subject: Re: What would you do in my shoes Sun Mar 02, 2008 3:01 pm

Thanks Zada. I must admit that I felt rather down yesterday after receiving Mary Seymour's response. But today has made up for it!
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Jenny
Writing as Victoria Howard

www.victoriahoward.co.uk

Admin Joined : 11 Jan 2008 Posts : 1784 Location : UK

Wonderful news Jenny! Very Happy

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Shelagh Watkins
http://shelaghwatkins.co.uk/