At the South Carolina Writers Association StoryFest Conference, agent Amy Collins continued her discussion of the publishing business with a section on impressing an agent (or editor, etc.) Here’s what she had to say:
First, find your people: authors like you and readers in your genre. Remember: you are not your readership!
Questions:
- Who needs a book like yours? – trick question! Nobody needs books!
- Who reads a book like yours?
- Who buys books like yours?
- Where do they shop for books?
- How much do they typically spend?
How to Find Your Readers: Create a list of comparable authors, then check Goodreads for reviewers:
- What other books are they reading?
- What books are on their bedside tables?
- What books are they buying?
Then, go to Amazon and check out the most recent reviewers and their bios: same questions. Go to Groups and Discussions, then reach out on social media to people who liked your genre and to authors similar to you. Follow these authors and see how they work.
A successful author, Amy says, puts in the work!
