How do I become ... a literary agent

A keen business mind and real commitment to the publishing industry are vital for a job that is all about selling – shy and retiring types need not apply Gordon Wise has been a literary agent at Curtis Brown for 10 years, and has a wide range of clients, from celebrities like Miranda Hart to novelists such as Armistead Maupin. He is also vice-president of the Association of Authors’ Agents. But becoming an agent wasn’t part of his original career plan and he reached this point via a varied and winding path through the world of books.Wise studied History and English at Edinburgh university, both, he says, “heavy reading” subjects. But his real introduction to books as business came when, as an undergraduate, he won a place on a scholarship programme at the University of Pennsylvania. “I was allowed to work under my visa and I got a part-time job as a bookseller at Barnes & Noble, which had a big downtown bookstore,” he says. The job gave him an insight into publishing and sparked a vocation that would lead him to his current career. “What I enjoyed about publishing was that it is the place where business and creativity meet; you would be working with these wonderfully creative people – the writers – but trying to turn what they have created into something of commercial value.”If you are made an offer straight away, ask for a better offer. If you don't ask, you will never know Related: Small publishers are benefiting from changes in the industry Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-07-01 00:00:00 UTC ]

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[ The Bookseller | 2013-07-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Decision Time for Barnes & Noble

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Analysis: A Band-Aid for B&N's Gunshot Wound

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Small Publishers’ Catalogue Offers Listing of African Publishers and More

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Nook: Barnes & Noble will hand off tablet manufacturing to a third party

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[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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B&N looks to reduce Nook losses

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[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Engadget | 2013-06-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-05-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-05-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Microsoft Mulling Nook Media LLC Purchase For $1 Billion

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[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-05-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble boosts content on Nook with Google Play

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[ PC World | 2013-05-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Engadget | 2013-05-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Engadget | 2013-04-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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