Summer is definitely the season for book and literary festivals. These are taking place up and down the country.
This year, I am fortunate enough to have tickets to Felixstowe Book Festival (June) and YALC (July). You can look forward to seeing my blog posts shortly following my return.
Are you going to any book festivals?
I’m going to take this opportunity to remind you about the calendar I have been updating with literary dates and made accessible to all.
Please feel free to let me know of any competitions or events you feel I should add to the calendar.
Google calendar
I created a public Google calendar so you can see everything I have added. If you want to copy an event then you too will need a google calendar (it is free with a free Google email account).
Spring is when the calendar starts to get busier. As we get closer to the summer there are more festivals. Now is a good time to enter competitions.
In April #WriteMentor will open for potential mentees to apply for mentors. In May, there is The Bath Festival. If you prefer online events, be ready for #PitMad on 6 June.
I’m going to take this opportunity to remind you about the calendar I have been updating with literary dates and made accessible to all.
Google calendar
I created a public Google calendar so you can see everything I have added. If you want to copy an event then you too will need a google calendar (it is free with a free Google email account).
As a writer, I wish there was a resource with links to literary competitions, online events and festivals where I can copy the content to my own diary. But, I’m yet to find one.
So, I created my own. And, I am going to share this with you.
Google calendar
I created a public Google calendar so you can see everything I have added. If you want to copy an event then you too will need a google calendar (it is free with a free Google email account).
I hope you find this resource useful. If you notice my calendar is missing any events that you feel ought to be included, please comment with the link. I’ll then check it out and add it to the calendar to help other writers out.
Agent Hunter is a resource you can use to find agents that may be interested in your manuscript. If you want to be able to search the directory and save results then you will need to subscribe. Different subscriptions offer different benefits.
Subscriptions
I contacted them to see about a discount as a blogger and they offered me a 6 month trial with basic access in return for my review.
There are four plans:
For comparison, in the past, I have bought The Agents and Writers Yearbook. This book is updated every summer and is a directory of agents and publishers. The book also contains useful articles of interest to writers. Unfortunately, the market and agency needs are constantly changing and the book quickly becomes out of date. The cost of the book is about £16 to £17 when it is 6 months out of date.
My initial impressions
During January, I used the site to create a list of potential agents that might be interested in my manuscript.
Search
You can search by:
Agent: You can search for a specific name or by the genre they represent. You can also narrow the list further by selecting options such as agent’s experience, number of clients, size of the agency, or include keywords. There is also a way to search for an agent that represents a specific author.
Agency: Search by the name of an agency, size of an agency, whether they take email submissions and if they are an AAA member.
Publisher: Search by a publisher’s name, type of publisher, if they accept unrepresented submissions or by a keyword.
Favourites list
If you find an agent, agency or publisher you like, you can add them to your ‘favourites list’ so you can find them easily again.
Saved search
I did an agent search for ‘Children’s fiction’ as I would like to query for my YA novel. The result was about 8 pages of names, like a directory of literary agents involved in representing this genre.
Being able to save the search was really useful as I only have a limited amount of time. Whenever I had time to research my long list to create a shortlist, I focused on one page a session.
I clicked the name to read the agent’s profile. I’d identify what agency they work for. I would open their page and check that they are currently still interested in YA fiction and if my novel would meet their tastes. I’d also check that they are accepting queries and what their requirements are. I then recorded my research on a spreadsheet on my Google Drive.
Saving the search, meant I could return to the site at a later date and continue working through the list (you can’t do that with a search engine). I just made a note of where I got so I wouldn’t forget.
If I liked an agent (and thought they had potential), I added them to my shortlist.
Profiles
The profiles on the site vary. Some are quite detailed as the agent has cooperated in providing information or has a strong online presence making information easily accessible.
The profiles talk about works the agent has been involved with previously so you can get a feel for their tastes, together with information about what they have said they are looking for. For example, if they are interested in Picture Books or hate fantasy, then I know we will not be a match.
Conclusion
So far, I have found the site to be a good resource with a wealth of information. I could have searched online for literary agencies and found the information myself, however, I have tried this and it is a much slower process as the results are not as defined.
Being able to save my progress has been a huge benefit too. The profiles are pretty up-to-date but agents are constantly changing their needs and preferences, so you still need to do your research once you have a name and agency.
The website is incredibly easy to navigate. I can’t imagine anyone struggling to use it.
Their packages are honest with no hidden costs – I love that. I think they are good value for money. The information is constantly being updated.
Yes – I recommend Agent Hunter for anyone looking for a UK Agent, Agency or Publisher.
Video review and tutorial
Please check out my video review and tutorial for using Agent Hunter.
