🚀 go-pugleaf

Like many, many, many of my peers, I'm a wanna-be writer working on "the
novel". I'm not ready to shop for a literary agent (or agency) yet, but
sometime in the near future I plan to start the process. In hopes that
someone out there who'll see this is a published author with some years'
experience dealing with the business aspects of a fiction writing career,
I'd like to ask all who might fit this category the following:

1) Do I understand correctly that it's preferable to obtain a literary
agent before trying  to sell a manuscript to publishers? My gut is that
once I found the right representative, he/she'd at least have better
connections than I do.

2) If an agent's the best (first) way to go...

A. What's the best way to find an agent or agency you can trust (not to
pirate ideas, rip you off financially, et cetera) and what (if any clues)
are the warning signs that one's a bad risk? I don't want to alienate
potential allies/friends, but I DO have backbone and I'm not too shy or
lazy to do research first.

B. My current foremorst project is shaping up to novel-length (though the
number of pages really remains to be seen) � is it absolutely preferable
to have a collection of short stories to show first (ala a portfolio)
before attempting to pitch a longer work? Would it be a waste of time to
call/trot around with a manuscript without smaller samples (if I don't
have many shorter works to show)? 

C. Would any of my clippings from work as a reporter and copywriter be of
any interest to them (and or publishers) or would it make me look
less-accomplished as an author?

D. What's an acceptable (fair) intial agreement, contractually (i.e. how
much of a percentage does a good, reliable agent usually get and for how
long)? With success (and hopefully increased leverage), how much is
reasonable to ask for in re-negotiation (if that's an option)?

3) When it comes time to deal with publishers, what's an acceptable (fair)
intial agreement, contractually (i.e. how much and for how long)? I
understand that if I'm fortunate enough to GET published I won't exactly
be offered a fortune, but I'd like to know I'm being offered something
close to the going rate (instead of getting screwed). 

4) Is there much room in markets outside North America for works that
aren't blatantly U.S.-specific (or at least not obnoxiously so)? I've
heard there's a market for mysteries in Europe, but is there room for
other genres?

5) Is/are there any free (E-)mailing lists that deal with this subject
(and others that confront fiction writers) that list veterans among their
ranks (as well as greenhorns)?

6) Are groups like writers' guilds/clubs/organiztions worth the
time/money? I'd like to make friends (I could trust with regard to ideas)
who also write but I'm extremely cynical (and it's spared some pitfalls
thus far). It'd be great if there was an organization or group(s) out
there with a long-respected rep in which I meet folks in the same boat,
freely get/give constructive feedback on works, and do light networking
(if it's necessary) that had some (personable but effective) system of
accountability with regard to the sharing of intellectual property...

I don't mind if you post your response, but I seldom get a chance to check
Usenet these days, so please reply by E-Mail as well if you do (I'm afraid
I might miss it otherwise). Any/all constructive responses would be
appreciated (especially from those who've written or write for a living).



Thank you in advance for your time.