Michelle Brower is an agent with Wendy Sherman Associates who’s on the lookout for talented new writers. I met Michelle last year when I accompanied Alegra Clarke to New York to meet with literary agents, and I was impressed by her easy rapport with writers.
In this interview, Michelle shares what she’s looking for and offers her take on what makes a great pitch and whether or not e-books are the way of the future.
Michelle will be visiting the Editor Unleashed forum for a live chat in April. Find more details about her visit at the end of this post.
• What genres do you represent, and is there anything specific that you’d like to find in your inbox right now?
I represent a wide range of genres, but nothing too category, so I’m not looking for Romance, Fantasy, or Sci Fi. I am very actively looking for upmarket thrillers right now—they can have a horror element, or be more realistic and personal. A great example of something I’ve loved recently is In the Woods by Tana French. I’m also really looking for a commercial, edgy YA series, and nonfiction with a nostalgic, Gen X bent (like Chuck Klosterman or Sloane Crosley).
• How are you finding the current state of the publishing marketplace? Are editors actively acquiring?
Editors are definitely acquiring, although I do have to be honest and say the market as a whole is really difficult right now. It takes at least 9 months from the sale of a manuscript until the book is actually published, so editors have to buy with that really long lead time in mind. Overall, I’m seeing a trend toward books that are funny or heartwarming. When I’m taking on a new project, I ask myself: does this book have to be published? Are there readers out there who will respond to this right away?
• Do you find that e-books are becoming more mainstream? Are they a viable alternative for writers?
E-books are becoming mainstream, but I don’t see them as an alternative, I see them as a complement. Though Kindles are selling, I would venture to say that most people still do not read e-books primarily.
I can see e-publishing as a great way for a genre writer to develop a fan base before going the traditional publishing route, along with podcasting and blogging and all of those other great grass roots ways of attracting readers. But at this point in time, for mainstream fiction and nonfiction, the physical book is key. I’m interested to see how this might change in the coming years, but I don’t think we’re there yet.
• How tricky is it negotiating e-book rights? And what’s important for a writer to know about digital rights management?
Because e-books are now much more common than they were even a few years ago, writers need to negotiate for these rights just as they would anything else. We don’t actually know yet what price point e-books will be selling for, or what kind of discounting they’ll get, so you want to get the most advantageous terms possible.
• What do you recommend to writers who are having difficulty distilling their books into a 1-page query letter?
Go with your gut feeling. If someone was holding you at gunpoint and asked you to describe your book in one sentence, what would you say in that split second?
Another great thing to think about when writing your query is jacket copy. Read the jacket copy on some of your favorite books, and see how it concisely conveys the premise, the conflict, and the general tone of the book.
Often, when I get a really great query letter, some of that makes it into my pitch to editors, and some of that eventually makes it to the jacket. Bringing your query down to one page forces you to see the forest and not the trees; often when someone is writing, you get caught up in what your character is wearing, what they do in Chapter 12, etc. I’ll see all of that, eventually, but first you have to grab my attention with the broad strokes.
Mark your calendars: Michelle Brower will be visiting the Editor Unleashed forum for a live chat Tuesday, April 14, 3-4 p.m. EST.
-Maria Schneider
Get a guide to 100 agents accepting queries from new writers here.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for posting this Maria, I like what Michelle has to say; it confirms my belief that editors are still buying (despite the economy) and that heartwarming and humor sell. (I write romantic comedy, a ‘good sell’ anytime.)
Maria, I did one of your online surveys and I was the 10th participant. I recall that the first ten participants to complete that survey were to receive your e-Guide. Will you be emailing the Guide out?
Louise Ross
Hi Louise,
Just send me an e-mail: maria@editorunleashed.com and I’ll send you my Get an Agent Guide. Thanks for stopping by!
I was also glad to hear that heartwarming and humor are selling — maybe a sign of the times, that we’re looking for some refreshment… Also glad to hear Michelle’s take on e-books. I hope the physical book stays key in the future, too.
I’m off to find a gunman who will force me to describe my book in one sentence. ;) I enjoyed this interview, and hope I can catch the chat. I usually end up missing them due to work. I agree with most of Michelle’s take on the industry, though I think ebooks will become mainstream sooner rather than later.
~jon
Hi Maria,
I just went over and registered at the Forum because I do not want to miss this!
Always great things happening here. Thanks!
George
Hi Maria,
Terrific interview! I was was wondering if you will be posting a transcript of the chat for those of us who are unable to attend live?
@Digital Dame, I wasn’t planning on posting a transcript, but the chat stays up on the forum. You’re more than welcome to come to the forum and read through the thread whenever you like.