April 6th, 2010 / 11:38 am
Snippets

Do you have a literary agent?  Do you think you want/need a literary agent?  Has a literary agent ever sold anything for you?  Are agents a good thing for literature or just a necessary element of publishing?

144 Comments

  1. davidpeak

      i’ve been waiting for this to come up.

      i don’t have an agent. and now that i’m wrapping up my thesis, i’d really like one. but i’m not sure what to expect or how to go about finding the best one.

      the honest truth is that i would love to make money from my writing some day. an agent could help make that possible. or not. but either way, it’s worth aspiring to.

      i’d really like to hear from some people with representation. what their experiences are/were. the good the bad and the ugly. because this is something i’ve been thinking about a lot lately.

  2. davidpeak

      i’ve been waiting for this to come up.

      i don’t have an agent. and now that i’m wrapping up my thesis, i’d really like one. but i’m not sure what to expect or how to go about finding the best one.

      the honest truth is that i would love to make money from my writing some day. an agent could help make that possible. or not. but either way, it’s worth aspiring to.

      i’d really like to hear from some people with representation. what their experiences are/were. the good the bad and the ugly. because this is something i’ve been thinking about a lot lately.

  3. Shane Jones

      I never thought I would get an agent, but I have one now. I couldn’t really handle the “business” aspect of things, so an agent really did help. I don’t think having an agent is necessary, but I do think they can help place your book in the hands of more editors and publishers.

  4. Shane Jones

      I never thought I would get an agent, but I have one now. I couldn’t really handle the “business” aspect of things, so an agent really did help. I don’t think having an agent is necessary, but I do think they can help place your book in the hands of more editors and publishers.

  5. davidpeak

      has it changed the way you approach your writing?

  6. Nick Antosca

      Well, ok, i’ll go first, although not in detail (that’ll be another post, one day, when i have the time & intestinal fortitude). I’ve had, i think, five literary agents for four different novels, ranging from folks at William Morris to small boutique places, like the guy who sold Marley & Me. One I got when I was 18 by sending query letters; the others I got via recommendations by friends. They all had different styles and methods. Some worked hard and did a lot and really impressed me. One was catastrophically, almost comically incompetent although I very much liked the agent personally. But not one sold anything of mine or made me a single dollar. The common denominator here is me, and all but one of these agents were very competent, so I have to assume I just write stuff that may impress agents but has no appeal to editors.

  7. anon

      my literary agent has a literary agent.

  8. davidpeak

      has it changed the way you approach your writing?

  9. Nick Antosca

      Well, ok, i’ll go first, although not in detail (that’ll be another post, one day, when i have the time & intestinal fortitude). I’ve had, i think, five literary agents for four different novels, ranging from folks at William Morris to small boutique places, like the guy who sold Marley & Me. One I got when I was 18 by sending query letters; the others I got via recommendations by friends. They all had different styles and methods. Some worked hard and did a lot and really impressed me. One was catastrophically, almost comically incompetent although I very much liked the agent personally. But not one sold anything of mine or made me a single dollar. The common denominator here is me, and all but one of these agents were very competent, so I have to assume I just write stuff that may impress agents but has no appeal to editors.

  10. anon

      my literary agent has a literary agent.

  11. Nick Antosca
  12. Nick Antosca
  13. Shane Jones

      Nope.

  14. Shane Jones

      Nope.

  15. ZZZZIPP

      ZZZZIPP HAS TEN LITERARY AGENTS AND THEY ALL FIT ON THE HEAD OF A PIN IN THE HAIR OF YOUR LITERARY AGENT

  16. ZZZZIPP

      ZZZZIPP HAS TEN LITERARY AGENTS AND THEY ALL FIT ON THE HEAD OF A PIN IN THE HAIR OF YOUR LITERARY AGENT

  17. davidpeak

      thanks for the link. i didn’t know about this.

  18. davidpeak

      thanks for the link. i didn’t know about this.

  19. Nick Antosca

      maximum is $40,000, i believe.

  20. Nick Antosca

      maximum is $40,000, i believe.

  21. dave e

      unless i start writing longer stuff, i won’t bother contacting any agents

  22. dave e

      unless i start writing longer stuff, i won’t bother contacting any agents

  23. anon

      my literary agent has literary agents for hands and those literary agents also have literary agents for hands and so on.

  24. anon

      my literary agent has literary agents for hands and those literary agents also have literary agents for hands and so on.

  25. Laura van den Berg

      I totally second what Shane said. I am so, so happy to have someone to handle the business-y side of things and my agent is a really good reader/editor for me as well.

      I don’t think having representation has changed my approach to writing at all. Do you mean feeling pressure to writer certain things or in a certain way? If that’s what you meant, then that hasn’t been my experience, but that said, it seems crucial to find an agent that’s a really good fit for you and is into what you’re doing/want to do.

  26. Laura van den Berg

      I totally second what Shane said. I am so, so happy to have someone to handle the business-y side of things and my agent is a really good reader/editor for me as well.

      I don’t think having representation has changed my approach to writing at all. Do you mean feeling pressure to writer certain things or in a certain way? If that’s what you meant, then that hasn’t been my experience, but that said, it seems crucial to find an agent that’s a really good fit for you and is into what you’re doing/want to do.

  27. Victor Charles

      My daddy bought me an agent. Paid him ten thousand dollars. I got exactly what he paid for. About a month’s worth of work and then he stopped returning my phone calls.

  28. Amber

      I would love to apply for grants and have thought about how nice it would be to have the time to write, and not work full-time plus. But I don’t have an MFA…are you competitive for grants without one?

  29. Nick Antosca

      yes. i don’t have an MFA.

  30. Victor Charles

      My daddy bought me an agent. Paid him ten thousand dollars. I got exactly what he paid for. About a month’s worth of work and then he stopped returning my phone calls.

  31. Amber

      I would love to apply for grants and have thought about how nice it would be to have the time to write, and not work full-time plus. But I don’t have an MFA…are you competitive for grants without one?

  32. Nick Antosca

      yes. i don’t have an MFA.

  33. davidpeak

      yes, that’s exactly what i meant–that pressure to write things that maybe aren’t exactly what you want to do, but have the potential to appeal to editors.

      it’s really reassuring to hear that you’ve found someone who understands and supports what you’re doing. i don’t hear enough of this sort of thing.

  34. davidpeak

      yes, that’s exactly what i meant–that pressure to write things that maybe aren’t exactly what you want to do, but have the potential to appeal to editors.

      it’s really reassuring to hear that you’ve found someone who understands and supports what you’re doing. i don’t hear enough of this sort of thing.

  35. Shane Jones

      The biggest thing “business-wise” was the idea of submitting the book to other countries. I have no idea how to do that. An agency can do that. It saves you tons of time and your parents will think you aren’t a complete deadbeat if you show them a translation. Maybe.

  36. Shane Jones

      The biggest thing “business-wise” was the idea of submitting the book to other countries. I have no idea how to do that. An agency can do that. It saves you tons of time and your parents will think you aren’t a complete deadbeat if you show them a translation. Maybe.

  37. Laura van den Berg

      This seems like one of those areas where literary urban legend-ness (Agents are all about the money! They won’t even look at story collections! And even if they do take on your collection, they’ll probably want you to follow up with a novel about sexy vampires!) has taken over to a certain degree. There are plenty of crappy agents out there for sure, but plenty of great ones too, though it seems like only the horror stories circulate. I guess because they’re more entertaining?

  38. Laura van den Berg

      This seems like one of those areas where literary urban legend-ness (Agents are all about the money! They won’t even look at story collections! And even if they do take on your collection, they’ll probably want you to follow up with a novel about sexy vampires!) has taken over to a certain degree. There are plenty of crappy agents out there for sure, but plenty of great ones too, though it seems like only the horror stories circulate. I guess because they’re more entertaining?

  39. Lincoln

      Have not attempted to get one, but need to start soon

  40. Lincoln

      Have not attempted to get one, but need to start soon

  41. Matthew Simmons

      In the case of the Elizabeth George Foundation grant, you can apply to get the money to fund an MFA if you want. So, clearly they expect writers without MFAs to apply.

      And George is a pretty darn successful genre writer, too. They might be open to a wider variety of styles.

  42. Matthew Simmons

      In the case of the Elizabeth George Foundation grant, you can apply to get the money to fund an MFA if you want. So, clearly they expect writers without MFAs to apply.

      And George is a pretty darn successful genre writer, too. They might be open to a wider variety of styles.

  43. Roxane Gay

      I don’t have an agent and have sold two books without one but I know I need an agent because I’m not great with the business stuff and I would love to get my work seen by bigger publishers. I really haven’t had the time to try and find one but after I graduate in June, I’ll try and focus on that. I find it all so overwhelming. I’ve read about finding an agent and all but it just seems like there are so many agents out there, I don’t even know where to start. I wish there was like a concise 5-step guide to finding an agent because all the stuff I read is so convoluted.

  44. Roxane Gay

      I don’t have an agent and have sold two books without one but I know I need an agent because I’m not great with the business stuff and I would love to get my work seen by bigger publishers. I really haven’t had the time to try and find one but after I graduate in June, I’ll try and focus on that. I find it all so overwhelming. I’ve read about finding an agent and all but it just seems like there are so many agents out there, I don’t even know where to start. I wish there was like a concise 5-step guide to finding an agent because all the stuff I read is so convoluted.

  45. Amber

      Awesome. Thanks, both of you.

  46. Amber

      Awesome. Thanks, both of you.

  47. Amber

      me, too. I never know if what I’m reading is crap or not.

  48. Amber

      me, too. I never know if what I’m reading is crap or not.

  49. Lincoln

      Yeah I feel it is a bit of a world I know nothing about. Like, I could list every good magazine that publishes fiction, but couldn’t tell you who more than a few of the big agents are. Gotta learn sometime though.

  50. Lincoln

      Yeah I feel it is a bit of a world I know nothing about. Like, I could list every good magazine that publishes fiction, but couldn’t tell you who more than a few of the big agents are. Gotta learn sometime though.

  51. jak cardini

      I’ve heard poets shouldn’t bother with agents. Anyone else heard the same thing?

  52. jak cardini

      I’ve heard poets shouldn’t bother with agents. Anyone else heard the same thing?

  53. Lincoln

      Yeah, I don’t think an agent can do anything for a poet. Maybe Billy Collins…

  54. Lincoln

      Yeah, I don’t think an agent can do anything for a poet. Maybe Billy Collins…

  55. anon

      FYI, any money you receive from a grant is taxable income. there is no way it could be tax-free

  56. anon

      FYI, any money you receive from a grant is taxable income. there is no way it could be tax-free

  57. Nick Antosca

      If that’s true, maybe I’m misinformed.

  58. Nick Antosca

      If that’s true, maybe I’m misinformed.

  59. Salvatore Pane

      I’ve been approached by three agents who either read my work in lit mags or stumbled onto my blog. So there’s always the traditional route of just writing as much as you can and hoping the right person sees your work. I also think it’s a good strategy to look in the acknowledgments sections of books you like and see who the agent is, especially if you have even a negligible connection to that writer. Querytracker.net is also the Duotrope of agents.

  60. Salvatore Pane

      I’ve been approached by three agents who either read my work in lit mags or stumbled onto my blog. So there’s always the traditional route of just writing as much as you can and hoping the right person sees your work. I also think it’s a good strategy to look in the acknowledgments sections of books you like and see who the agent is, especially if you have even a negligible connection to that writer. Querytracker.net is also the Duotrope of agents.

  61. Matthew Simmons

      You’re welcome, Amber.

  62. Matthew Simmons

      You’re welcome, Amber.

  63. Salvatore Pane

      Yeah, this is definitely what I’ve heard. And it really depends on what you’re trying to write. I sold a graphic novel to a small comic publisher without an agent. All I needed was a pitch and some sample pages. A lot of poets I’ve known have started out by winning publication contests. Does Ahsahta Press still do this? Did they ever? I feel like they did, but I might be confusing them with someone else.

  64. Salvatore Pane

      Yeah, this is definitely what I’ve heard. And it really depends on what you’re trying to write. I sold a graphic novel to a small comic publisher without an agent. All I needed was a pitch and some sample pages. A lot of poets I’ve known have started out by winning publication contests. Does Ahsahta Press still do this? Did they ever? I feel like they did, but I might be confusing them with someone else.

  65. Tom K

      There’s a book in England that lists every single literary agent and who they represent. It’s a yearly. There should be some kind of similar database in the U.S as well no? I mean if someone is representing writers that you like then that agent is probably worth approaching.
      Is this comment very inane?

  66. Tom K

      There’s a book in England that lists every single literary agent and who they represent. It’s a yearly. There should be some kind of similar database in the U.S as well no? I mean if someone is representing writers that you like then that agent is probably worth approaching.
      Is this comment very inane?

  67. Peter Markus

      The only business part of writing that I want any business with is the business of writing a sentence and then following that sentence up with another sentence and maybe stringing together enough of those sentences to hold in my hand something that resembles a book. Not sure how an agent or anyone else can help me with that.

  68. Peter Markus

      The only business part of writing that I want any business with is the business of writing a sentence and then following that sentence up with another sentence and maybe stringing together enough of those sentences to hold in my hand something that resembles a book. Not sure how an agent or anyone else can help me with that.

  69. Eva

      OK, I’m going to break my check-this-blog-often-but-never-comment rule and link this:

      http://www.amazon.com/Guide-Literary-Agents-Chuck-Sambuchino/dp/1582975868/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b

      Everyone listed in the above should be reputable. But if you’re looking for an agent, step one might be to ask writers you know who their agents are, and if you don’t know any, step two would be checking the acks page of books published within the last five years by writers you really admire — they often thank their agent by name. Be sure to mention in the first line of your query who referred you, or, if no one referred you, which writers that agent represents who you like. And never ever say “Dear Agent” whatever you do.

      /end PSA. best of luck :)

  70. Eva

      OK, I’m going to break my check-this-blog-often-but-never-comment rule and link this:

      http://www.amazon.com/Guide-Literary-Agents-Chuck-Sambuchino/dp/1582975868/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b

      Everyone listed in the above should be reputable. But if you’re looking for an agent, step one might be to ask writers you know who their agents are, and if you don’t know any, step two would be checking the acks page of books published within the last five years by writers you really admire — they often thank their agent by name. Be sure to mention in the first line of your query who referred you, or, if no one referred you, which writers that agent represents who you like. And never ever say “Dear Agent” whatever you do.

      /end PSA. best of luck :)

  71. dave e

      i’m thinking this is the same for flash/micro fiction, which i write.

      anyone disagree?

  72. dave e

      i’m thinking this is the same for flash/micro fiction, which i write.

      anyone disagree?

  73. darby

      im not looking for more money/readership, so, no thanks.

  74. darby

      im not looking for more money/readership, so, no thanks.

  75. dan

      poets do not require such a thing

  76. dan

      poets do not require such a thing

  77. Jhon Baker

      my agent is my wife and she is great for inspiration. Thus far though, I have done the work. It sounds like I will get the same out of an actual agent but without the sex.

  78. Jhon Baker

      my agent is my wife and she is great for inspiration. Thus far though, I have done the work. It sounds like I will get the same out of an actual agent but without the sex.

  79. Jhon Baker

      This is BS – why not? Why are poets not in need of representation?

  80. Jhon Baker

      This is BS – why not? Why are poets not in need of representation?

  81. Donald

      money? readers? I eat air and write only for wordboners.

  82. Donald

      money? readers? I eat air and write only for wordboners.

  83. Matty Byloos

      I don’t have an agent and managed to get a book out, but not on any kind of enormous press. I’ve thought about agents for the next thing I do, or perhaps to take the book beyond the States. In the last year, just for my own research, I’ve learned a lot here:
      http://blog.nathanbransford.com/
      A couple of years worth of great, basic and no-nonsense posts from a young Lit Agent himself. If anyone is just starting out looking, and wants a real primer, you could read everything a week or two in your spare time on the job, and come away feeling like you not a total noob anymore.

  84. Matty Byloos

      I don’t have an agent and managed to get a book out, but not on any kind of enormous press. I’ve thought about agents for the next thing I do, or perhaps to take the book beyond the States. In the last year, just for my own research, I’ve learned a lot here:
      http://blog.nathanbransford.com/
      A couple of years worth of great, basic and no-nonsense posts from a young Lit Agent himself. If anyone is just starting out looking, and wants a real primer, you could read everything a week or two in your spare time on the job, and come away feeling like you not a total noob anymore.

  85. People from Mars

      We at MArs are wondering: do agents read lit journals? If so, which ones?

  86. People from Mars

      We at MArs are wondering: do agents read lit journals? If so, which ones?

  87. Roxane Gay

      I know a few writers who have been solicited by agents who read Storyglossia and PANK online so yes, agents do read lit journals, both in print and online.

  88. Roxane Gay

      I know a few writers who have been solicited by agents who read Storyglossia and PANK online so yes, agents do read lit journals, both in print and online.

  89. Alec Niedenthal

      Yeah, my friend was solicited by a big-time agent because of a Monkeybicycle piece (online).

  90. Alec Niedenthal

      Yeah, my friend was solicited by a big-time agent because of a Monkeybicycle piece (online).

  91. Lincoln

      Yes, many agents read lit journals. The bigger ones probably get read more.

  92. Lincoln

      Yes, many agents read lit journals. The bigger ones probably get read more.

  93. zusya

      who doesn’t get wet for words?

  94. zusya

      who doesn’t get wet for words?

  95. sasha fletcher

      we talked about this at columbia. basically if yr not billy collins or seamus heaney it’s just silly. there is apparently an agency that represents only poets. but none of the faculty here seems to think there’s really any point.

  96. sasha fletcher

      we talked about this at columbia. basically if yr not billy collins or seamus heaney it’s just silly. there is apparently an agency that represents only poets. but none of the faculty here seems to think there’s really any point.

  97. J. Bradley

      As a touring performance poet, an agent would be really helpful in booking gigs with a bigger payoff.

  98. J. Bradley

      As a touring performance poet, an agent would be really helpful in booking gigs with a bigger payoff.

  99. alan

      Make a list of majorly published writers you like, find out who their agents are (Google, Amazon, Publisher’s Weekly, ask them), send them a sample of the first twenty pages plus cover letter briefly describing your credits and the work submitted. Send ten queries out at a time.

  100. alan

      Make a list of majorly published writers you like, find out who their agents are (Google, Amazon, Publisher’s Weekly, ask them), send them a sample of the first twenty pages plus cover letter briefly describing your credits and the work submitted. Send ten queries out at a time.

  101. alan

      no $ = no commission = no one cares

  102. alan

      no $ = no commission = no one cares

  103. dave e

      I was that big time agent. Your friend’s SSN turned out to be phony though.

  104. dave e

      I was that big time agent. Your friend’s SSN turned out to be phony though.

  105. dave e

      kidding. the last guy who told me he was an agent asked me for glamour shots and apparently didn’t like what i sent him.

  106. dave e

      kidding. the last guy who told me he was an agent asked me for glamour shots and apparently didn’t like what i sent him.

  107. Matt Cozart

      yeah, they do, as do a lot of presses, but trying to publish a book that way is like trying to make a living with lottery tickets.

  108. Matt Cozart

      yeah, they do, as do a lot of presses, but trying to publish a book that way is like trying to make a living with lottery tickets.

  109. Matt Cozart

      right. but the silver-lined flipside of “no one cares” is, since poets don’t (shouldn’t) expect to make any money from their work, it’s one less thing they have to worry about as writers. no pressure!

  110. Matt Cozart

      right. but the silver-lined flipside of “no one cares” is, since poets don’t (shouldn’t) expect to make any money from their work, it’s one less thing they have to worry about as writers. no pressure!

  111. Eva

      I’ll second that. Literary magazines from the New Orleans Review to Subtropics to any other upper-tier (but not glossy) venues — that publish new writers and are also pretty selective — are indeed read by agents.

  112. Eva

      I’ll second that. Literary magazines from the New Orleans Review to Subtropics to any other upper-tier (but not glossy) venues — that publish new writers and are also pretty selective — are indeed read by agents.

  113. People from Mars

      We wonder if they read non university journals, like Noon or New York Tyrant?

  114. People from Mars

      We wonder if they read non university journals, like Noon or New York Tyrant?

  115. Lincoln

      Someone like Eva would be more knowledgable than me, but I would say absolutely they read non-universtiy journals. Magazines like McSweeneys, Tin House, A Public Space or the ones you mention… these are probably getting read more than most university lit mags. At least that would be my guess.

  116. Lincoln

      Someone like Eva would be more knowledgable than me, but I would say absolutely they read non-universtiy journals. Magazines like McSweeneys, Tin House, A Public Space or the ones you mention… these are probably getting read more than most university lit mags. At least that would be my guess.

  117. Eva

      Yes — I didn’t mean to suggest that agents only read university lit mags. Those were just two I know for sure about. There’s really no telling which agents read what magazines, print or online. This blog, for example.

  118. Eva

      Yes — I didn’t mean to suggest that agents only read university lit mags. Those were just two I know for sure about. There’s really no telling which agents read what magazines, print or online. This blog, for example.

  119. Brandon Hobson

      That’s good news, good news.

  120. Brandon Hobson

      Good news.

  121. Brandon Hobson

      That’s good news, good news.

  122. Brandon Hobson

      Good news.

  123. Aaron

      It’s true. I was solicited by an agent through a print mag I wrote an essay for. And I know Richard Russo got his agent because that agent subscribes to Mid-American Review. Granted, this chances of this happening are slim, but it does happen.

  124. Aaron

      It’s true. I was solicited by an agent through a print mag I wrote an essay for. And I know Richard Russo got his agent because that agent subscribes to Mid-American Review. Granted, this chances of this happening are slim, but it does happen.

  125. Pauls Toutonghi

      I think that agents are fine. If they’re good, they are editors. If they’re not, they don’t return phone calls or emails. Who knows? Writing is all about revision and practice. Getting published is all about luck. It sucks that publication legitimizes writing but it does. Oh well.

      And also most literary agents live in New York City.

      Some live in other places, but most of them don’t.

      That’s what I think. Not that anyone asked. Oh, I guess HTMLGIANT asked. Hi, HTMLGIANT.

  126. Pauls Toutonghi

      I think that agents are fine. If they’re good, they are editors. If they’re not, they don’t return phone calls or emails. Who knows? Writing is all about revision and practice. Getting published is all about luck. It sucks that publication legitimizes writing but it does. Oh well.

      And also most literary agents live in New York City.

      Some live in other places, but most of them don’t.

      That’s what I think. Not that anyone asked. Oh, I guess HTMLGIANT asked. Hi, HTMLGIANT.

  127. Schylur Prinz

      Hey, Pauls, when are you going to send me that hat? I’m a patient man, but I can’t wait forever. Hope all is well.

  128. Schylur Prinz

      Hey, Pauls, when are you going to send me that hat? I’m a patient man, but I can’t wait forever. Hope all is well.

  129. Roxane Gay

      Argh. Getting published is not all about luck. I’m sorry but that statement drives me fucking batshit.

  130. Roxane Gay

      Argh. Getting published is not all about luck. I’m sorry but that statement drives me fucking batshit.

  131. L.

      Why does it suck that publication legitimatizes writing? What would you like to legitimize it instead?

  132. L.

      Why does it suck that publication legitimatizes writing? What would you like to legitimize it instead?

  133. Pauls Toutonghi

      Damn!
      I forgot!
      Which hat, again?
      I have a vague memory of owing you a hat!

  134. Pauls Toutonghi

      Damn!
      I forgot!
      Which hat, again?
      I have a vague memory of owing you a hat!

  135. Pauls Toutonghi

      And — yes — all is well in Portland!

  136. Pauls Toutonghi

      And — yes — all is well in Portland!

  137. Pauls Toutonghi

      Hey:
      I just think that a lot of good writers I know feel marginalized because they don’t get published by mainstream presses or magazines. It sucks to work every day on something for years and years and then it goes nowhere, to no one. What do I wish legitimized writing? Man, I wish I knew. I don’t have any idea. But not publication. Something else. Not sure what.
      It’s funny: I’m teaching ‘Mrs. Dalloway’ right now, and Virginia Woolf essentially — essentially — published her own work. Well, together with her husband, anyway. Of course, she was at the center of a complex network of London-based intellectual activity. So it was a little unusual.
      You know, come to think of it: Hogarth Press and Woolf reminds me a bit of Small Beer Press, today, and Kelly Link…

  138. Pauls Toutonghi

      Hey:
      I just think that a lot of good writers I know feel marginalized because they don’t get published by mainstream presses or magazines. It sucks to work every day on something for years and years and then it goes nowhere, to no one. What do I wish legitimized writing? Man, I wish I knew. I don’t have any idea. But not publication. Something else. Not sure what.
      It’s funny: I’m teaching ‘Mrs. Dalloway’ right now, and Virginia Woolf essentially — essentially — published her own work. Well, together with her husband, anyway. Of course, she was at the center of a complex network of London-based intellectual activity. So it was a little unusual.
      You know, come to think of it: Hogarth Press and Woolf reminds me a bit of Small Beer Press, today, and Kelly Link…

  139. L.

      It sucks, but no matter what the “legitimizing” factor in an art form is, the vast majority of practitioners are not going to be on top. That’s just life, isn’t it?

      Also, I think I’d disagree that publication is really legitimizing anymore. It is so easy to self-publish and there are so many tiny presses out there that what is legitimizing now is more readership, “buzz” (being talked about in big places) and I guess maybe awards?

  140. L.

      It sucks, but no matter what the “legitimizing” factor in an art form is, the vast majority of practitioners are not going to be on top. That’s just life, isn’t it?

      Also, I think I’d disagree that publication is really legitimizing anymore. It is so easy to self-publish and there are so many tiny presses out there that what is legitimizing now is more readership, “buzz” (being talked about in big places) and I guess maybe awards?

  141. Schulyer Prinz

      That’s pretty good vague memory, considering this is an internet pseudonym and the hat in question was taken over 4 (?) years ago. Straw-woven. You commandeered it to write ‘a year without maps.’
      I’ve got some stuff to show you, next time we’re in the same area code.

  142. Schulyer Prinz

      That’s pretty good vague memory, considering this is an internet pseudonym and the hat in question was taken over 4 (?) years ago. Straw-woven. You commandeered it to write ‘a year without maps.’
      I’ve got some stuff to show you, next time we’re in the same area code.

  143. Pauls Toutonghi

      Aha! I remember all now!

  144. Pauls Toutonghi

      Aha! I remember all now!