Comments on: Dan Conaway, Literary Agent (part 1)

By: Question of the Month: Work in Progress

Question of the Month: Work in Progress — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:03:27 +0000

[...] other news, I had a great time at the Backspace Conference on a panel with my editor and my agent, where we discussed literary fiction and the chemistry required to work well as a team. UP FROM THE [...]

By: Dan Conaway, Literary Agent (part 2)

Dan Conaway, Literary Agent (part 2) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:11:57 +0000

[...] Welcome to Part 2 of my interview with the incomparable Dan Conaway, a literary agent with Writers House, and more importantly, my confidence-building, book-saving, wicked genius agent. Today we’re going to focus on his background as an editor; his period of anonymous blogging; and his understanding of what writers go through when they write, edit, and try to sell their books. I hope you’ll leave comments because it’s good for agents and writers to hear from each other! (And if you missed Part 1 of my interview, just click here.) [...]

By: The Nervous Breakdown

The Nervous Breakdown — Sun, 30 May 2010 02:39:11 +0000

[...] to know more about agents? I interviewed mine here. Want to add to the discussion? Jump [...]

By: The Nervous Breakdown

The Nervous Breakdown — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 00:59:06 +0000

[...] the party, my friends introduced me to Dan Conaway, who changed [...]

By: Lee

Lee — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:59:35 +0000

Thank you Susan!
Reading your post is a fresh breath of inspiration, even if I am still stuck at the estranged end of being ready for an agent or publisher.
This is a nice chance to wonder what it will be like when I “break on through to the other side!”
Thanks for keeping some of us going during these times when burning old manuscripts might be more gratifying than useful!

By: litpark » Book Deal!

litpark » Book Deal! — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 12:49:59 +0000

[...] few details: On Friday, I got a call from my agent with an offer from Harper Perennial. It’s my favorite publishing house (everyone who knows me [...]

By: zett

zett — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:11:17 +0000

Hi, Dan,

I find it intimidating that a novelist should also be a good short story writer, because the short story is not my true medium. This is in response to the usefulness of being published in top literary quarterlies. Thank you for pointing me to Ric’s comment. Your answers are helpful, although I do confess that I find this whole business of agents and contracts and visibility very terrifying. Wish me luck.

Cheers, Zett.

By: DConaway

DConaway — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:01:07 +0000

Hi, Zett. For most novelists, and speaking (very) generally, I’d say establishing some sort of visibility online is probably the third most useful thing a first-time writer can do to get attention/notice in this way. The second most useful thing (and, because of barriers to access, perhaps more impressive overall) is getting published in glossy print magazines or top literary quarterlies. Depending on where you’re published, and how often, that can be a terrific credential/calling card. But in my opinion the most important thing a writer can do, finally, is to write and write and write and write a terrific book, then rewrite it again so that it’s more terrific still–till it’s as good as you’re capable of making it.

(By the way: There’s another comment thread further down, initiated by Ric, that also touches on the question of how an online profile does/doesn’t attract notice among agents.)

By: SusanHenderson

SusanHenderson — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:10:24 +0000

Hey, Zett, I just tucked the boys in, so call me back whenever you’re free.

By: zett

zett — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:55:20 +0000

Hi,

(I hope you are still responding to questions). I’d like to know your thoughts on first-time novelists marketing their work and/or themselves on the internet before hiring an agent. I’d be interested in reading about your experiences and thoughts on the matter. Cheers, you and Sue, for sharing here. It helps.