I kinda need some help because... I'm an idiot

[BonzoEqualsGoodStuff]

So I compiled a book from my journals and ridiculous blogs that people seem to love and am calling it Inside the Mind of an Unmotivated College Student. I've emailed it to a few people and they really like it, so I'm trying to see if I can get it published. A few of the English professors at my school have advised me on how to write a cover letter and all that nonsense, but I'm kind of stuck on what to do afterwards.

I know generally you would need to get a literary agent who would shop your manuscript to publishing companies because those companies almost never deal directly with authors. Only problem is, I can't seem to find any local literary agents who seem legitimate when I've googled and looked through city directories. Is there any way to use an agent who is not local and could correspond via email? Do any of you happen to be literary agents? haha Or maybe know some? Or have any experience in this field that could help me? I would really appreciate any guidance anyone could offer.

Thanks!

[manderlyh]

See if you can ask a few more English Profs. I'm sure that there's GOT to be someone in the English department who could help.

Go and see the writing center director--I bet he'd be helpful--he could probably at least tell you where to go to find someone legit.

[zepyep]

Hi all,

1)You ae not an idiot! I have that mantel! Your a collage student,see the diffence?

2)Go end-around,llook for an internet solution.Most,if not all publishers,ext are on line,why not an e-book,or an e-magazine?Let folks print it out,tell your friends to bombard who ever you have wrote,'push,push,push'

Got it?

KB

[BonzoEqualsGoodStuff]

^ Yeah, I guess I could consider the "e" option haha, but I like printed books. I don't know. I guess I'm a book snob. If nothing else, I'll certainly look into it, though! Thanks!

Go and see the writing center director--I bet he'd be helpful--he could probably at least tell you where to go to find someone legit.

You know, that's a really good idea. I don't know why I didn't think about that! It's good to have another BSU student on here indeed.

[manderlyh]

LOL

I work in the writing center, remember?

I know Mike well. He's pretty cool--I'm sure he'd be happy to help.

[BonzoEqualsGoodStuff]

Good. You should put in a word for me about this haha.

[Aquamarine]

E-publishing is certainly a good idea, about which I know very little, however.

The thing with academic publishing , which is what your English profs would know about, is that it works differently from this kind of publishing (in that you do deal directly with publishers), EXCEPT!! the stuff published by creative writing profs. They'll have literary agents, so start with them. It really is a word-of-mouth thing, finding the name of an agent who would be able to market your work appropriately, and the best way to find one is by finding someone else--preferably someone who has produced the same kind of work as you--and getting a name or an introduction. Or just the address of an agency (unlikely to be local--many of them are in New York, still the publishing capital), which has a reputation for taking on new young writers.

But I'd suggest starting with the creative writing profs. And maybe someone else will have advice about e-publishing. There are lots of e-journals, too.

[manderlyh]

I can ask him--but I'm not going to be working in there until NEXT Thursday--unless I get bored and decide to volunteer for a shift of re-filing and dusting, etc. I guess it wouldn't kill me...they're paying me this semester instead of me paying them for internship credit.

At a whopping $8 an hour!

[BonzoEqualsGoodStuff]

Haha sounds like a fun job, and all the campus jobs pay SO well. (I make six dollars an hour working at my residence hall's front desk... oh yeah, I'm so rich. ) Anyway, no worries. You don't have to talk to him haha.

And thanks for the suggestions, Aquamarine.