Advice about reviews...

[Silverhand]

I have been asked by my agency to collect several outside reviews of my novel. The reason she asks for this is #1 Help me understand how the public will view my book #2 Give her a better idea of the same thing #3 Helps in the marketing process to a publisher. #4 Allow me to address / tighten / resolve any issues that reviewers can pick out.

Does this sound correct?

If so, are there any recommendations on finding people to read and review work? I was thinking my critique group, family, wife, and friends, but those all fall into vanity reviews IMO. I guess my question is, how can I finda credible source to do something like I need?

[Marcusthefish]

I would be very wary of an agent who asked me to do something like this. "Reviews" obtained by the author would be less than useless. No publisher would want them, or take such outside reviews seriously.

MTF

[Richard]

Wait....reviewers? Isn't that jumping the gun a little, and by a little, I mean half a mile down the road before the starter even shows up? It's not likely you're going to send her a load of reviews saying 'It's crap, burn it'.

[James D. Macdonald]

Who's the agent?

[AnneMarble]

Does this sound correct?
This sounds really really weird. Reviews only come after the book is published. Also, reviews are not about marketing, and they are not critiques created to help the author -- they are about a reviewer telling readers whether or not they might want to read that book. Finally, if the agent wants to use reviews to figure out how to market your book, there is something wrong with that agent.

It sounds as if the agent may be confusing reviews with critiques. That's a bad sign! Agents should know the difference. But after you have been already been accepted, the agent should not be asking you to get critiques anyway. Critiques are for before you submit the novel. It's possible this agent is working up toward trying to ask you for money for a critique service. If so... run!

Now, there are cover quotes. Some agencies and publishers seem to be really involved in getting those. Unfortunately, it has been my experience that some of the agencies/publishers that talk about the importance of cover quotes don't know much about publishing or publicity. Sometimes I wonder if those companies give authors all that work make them think they are doing something useful or because they think it really is useful.

BTW I once got an e-mail from an author who sent me her entire novel (without asking first) because her publisher had told her to get cover quotes from important people in the publishing field. (I used to review novels for a web site.) I don't remember which publisher did this, but I think they were infamous for giving out bad advice like that. I would be interested to know if this agent is somehow connected to that publisher...

[Vomaxx]

I have been asked by my agency to collect several outside reviews of my novel.

Perhaps your agency can tell you how to get legitimate reviews of a manuscript that has as yet no publisher. When you find out, please post the information. I think there are many besides me who would like to know.

[Silverhand]

Thank you for all the responses. I thought this was kinda fishy as well, considering I don't know who could read the novel without being biased towards me. heh

I do need to clarify info. It is not reviews she needed, she asked that I gather critiques. I was under the impression these were identical.

As for the agent, I would rather not say a name, as I know the agency uses this board. I don't wish to hurt myself IF they are legit.

To answer another question, there are no fees involved outside of expenses. Expenses are deducted if they sign a book contract. This is normal I hope?

Finally, I am working on a brand new query that I posted on the Scifi / Fantasy boards. I have already admitted to myself that my choice of agent probably wasn't a wise decision and am working on going after agencies that are well respected on several writers forums.

PS - You are more than welcome to stop by and tell me what ye think of my new query. http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17465

I think I have drasticly improved it? .shrug

Eric

[Bufty]

Finally, I am working on a brand new query that I posted on the Scifi / Fantasy boards. I have already admitted to myself that my choice of agent probably wasn't a wise decision and am working on going after agencies that are well respected on several writers forums.

PS - You are more than welcome to stop by and tell me what ye think of my new query. http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17465

I think I have drasticly improved it? .shrug

Eric

I am having difficulty following the above, Eric. I thought you didn't have an Agent, and that was why you were posting your Query letter.

[Cathy C]

Finally, I am working on a brand new query that I posted on the Scifi / Fantasy boards. I have already admitted to myself that my choice of agent probably wasn't a wise decision and am working on going after agencies that are well respected on several writers forums.


Uhm... If you signed an Exclusive Agency Agreement with your present agent, you won't be able to go after "agencies that are well respected" until AFTER you formally end the relationship with your present one. Nobody will touch an author who is already represented. If you haven't signed an agreement yet, then you should still send a letter informing her that your books are no longer available for representation by her.

Looking for another agency while you're currently with one is like shopping for a new wife while you're still married. At a minimum, it's consider gauche. At worst, it's actionable with a lawsuit by your present agent for breach of contract.

[Silverhand]

Cathy and Bufty,

I am being a businessman, just like an agency or publisher. (I have heard that saying so many times from various publishers and agents its about time I get to use it back (: ) Saying that, in all my posts, I never said I was sending anything out.

The day the agency came to me and said, "Hey, find us some critiques" is the day I said, wow that is really odd. I will let the contract run out, and while doing so, will begin work on a new query.

To further clarify, my current contract will end in 3 months, with a low / mid tier agency. As the other thread explained, my old query recieved several responses when I sent it out, none being from agencies that are well respected here. Thus, here I am, 9 months laters with one of those low level agencies, my mouth hanging open as they ask really weird stuff from me.

To the point, I am looking, preparing, and researching new agencies, without touching. I do have an agent. They are asking really weird things. To me, this mean, let time expire and prepare for it, then I will be ready to move on without having to wait another 6 months.

Did that explain my situation fully?

Eric

[Cathy C]

Yes it did. Just a friendly word of advice, though. Make sure that you get a list of the publishers that your current agent sent a query to before you dissolve the relationship. While it might not ever be an issue, some agency contracts have clauses which provide that even after relationship ends, if the author sells a book to one of the publishers previously queried, the agent is still entitled to his/her cut. You could get sued. The agent might not win, but it would be a PITA for you to have to defend yourself.

You also want to be sure that the contract will end when you believe it does. Sometimes, there are clauses that automatically renew it without formal written notice of termination. They're not so kindly known as "perpetual agency clauses."

Good luck!

[HapiSofi]

Did she specify what kind of people should be doing these critiques?

This all sounds very odd. It's the kind of thing you'd do if you were trying to avoid having to read the book yourself.