A reputable agency sells books to publishers you've heard of. Check the clients of WriteHigh and you'll be hard pressed to find someone represented by the agency who has a publishing contract. I made it through the first half before getting the picture. Typical literary agency websites boast of all the books that they have successfully represented, but such information was lacking at WriteHigh. What connections do the agents have with editors of publishing houses? Without a list of publication credits, it is impossible to see where the agents have placed manuscripts, if they have sold any at all.
"How dreadful that a person would not bother to read our website
carefully...Before attacking a new agency, you need to research it
completely."
But I did read the website and I stand over my original post. And I did try to research the agency, but Preditors & Editors doesn't have a listing. Agent Query doesn't have it either, and those are two excellent sources of legitimate literary agents.
"Rather than ask us what we do, and read our website carefully, you, and the website from which you quote, went on the attack without the requisite information."
Actually, I did read the website carefully. And I quoted from the WriteHigh website. Is that akin to being hoisted on one's own petard? Ms. High went on to explain that the editing part of the agency is totally separate from the literary agenting portion. No up-front fees for representation, but editing and coaching will cost you if you choose to use those services. But have the agents sold anything to real publishing houses?
What about the target reader business that is described as "Frank in Indiana"? According to Ms. High, the client pays this Frank character forty cents per page, and Frank gives them a review at no additional charge. Who is Frank? "Private citizens, like your mom or my cousin. Or the grocer." And if the reviews are good? The review gets sent to an editor when the agent submits the manuscript. Lovely that Tony DeBartolo the butcher has extolled the beauty of your manuscript, but I'd much prefer a reference from Stuart Dybek.
In closing, Ms. High waves the flag as she bemoans the fact that we live in a country where one is supposed to be judged innocent until proven guilty and evil people go on the attack without consulting happy clients. I consulted the website. There are no sales made by WriteHigh to legitimate, agent-requiring publishing houses. If someone wants a perfectly manicured manuscript, then WriteHigh is the way to go. If an author needs a book doctor to polish and fix, if an author is grammar deficient, that's a different situation, and a paid editing service could be useful.
Perhaps WriteHigh will one day make a sale. If you're looking for the best agent to represent your manuscript, someone with experience, you'd be better off starting your hunt at the Association of Authors' Representatives.
18 comments:
I did go to their website. It's got to be the most ditzo agent's site I've ever seen. There's this guy with a triple Italian name, like he descended from Sforzas or something...
I checked the 'how to query' part. They want to know WHAT from me? Why I left my previous agent? Excuse me? Ah, I get it. They want virgins only. The innocent to sell into slavery. Sorry, mate. That's gone.
And you mean, she actually answered you on a blog entry? I guess she googles the world wide web widely. Wooops! She's going to see this. Who is AR? Alan Rickman, but of course!
I take great and vigorous exception to comments made here against my agent, Monique Raphel High. Monique loved my novel, Not Famous Anymore, from its first inception and wrote a letter that was instrumental in it winning a support grant from the Elizabeth George Foundation. When she realized that it still needed work, she advised me on how to shape it. She took me on as a client while we became fast friends, even when she still felt the book wasn’t quite in the form where it could be sold. She asked me whether I’d consider sending it out to a very intelligent target reader—the sort of man who’d buy the book at Borders. I was enthusiastic. This man’s detailed critique helped me to finish the story, the characters, and the way my protagonist needed to grow. And we now have a manuscript to pitch.
But more than that, I’m writing because you have totally mischaracterized Monique and her agency. You don’t think she has my back? A critique from “Frank” isn’t Stu Dybek, you say? Okay. Well, you opened this line of discussion. As a graduate student I worked with Stu Dybek in the MFA program at Western Michigan University. He, too, wrote a letter that helped me win the Elizabeth George grant. In my press kit Monique is including that letter from Stu Dybek. I hope that now you will have the character to apologize to Monique and to WriteHigh for having been mean-spirited, not to say perhaps even libelous, in your previous posts. We, her clients, do not deserve it. By attacking a gracious, kind, hard-working agent who tries always to put the interests of her clients first—who can be found working at 2 A.M. and who answers client calls on Sundays—you are attacking us, our choice, and our integrity as well as hers, Susan Chin’s, Ben Pesta’s, and Vanessa Mabourakh’s.
Michael Loyd Gray
So she's sold your manuscript? How much of an advance, and when might the announcement be made in Publishers Marketplace?
I characterized WriteHigh as a book doctor more than a literary agency, and one that has no sales listed on its website.
I'm thrilled to bits that you're pleased with your agent. I'd be far more pleased if she had a track record of verifiable sales to legitimate publishing houses.
As long as you're happy, that's all that matters in the end. I do sincerely hope that your agent gets you a publishing deal. Anyone can work into the wee hours, but not everyone finds success for all the effort.
If you look at Publishers Weekly from July 22, 2007, you will find a book deal for a book written by Jim Potts, represented by WriteHigh, and being published by Sourcebooks, Inc., in July 2008. ("nice" deal). As the editor who purchased the book, I can at the very least vouch for WriteHigh as a reputable agency for dealing with publishers.
From the Sourcebooks website:
"Note to authors: Sourcebooks only accepts and reviews unsolicited, unagented manuscript submissions mail addressed to "Editorial Submissions." Please do not contact or submit directly to any of the editors on this page. Our manuscript guidelines, also on this website, will help your proposal receive proper consideration."
In which case, would Mr. Potts have been able to do it himself, without an agent? Or did having an agent make a difference to a publisher that accepts unagented submissions?
The Sourcebooks language is a bit murky to wade through, but it's pretty clear that their intent is to say they accept "unsolicited, unagented manuscript submissions mail" only if it is "addressed to 'Editorial Submissions.'" They don't state that they will not accept agented submissions. In fact, they only accept children's books through agents and they state that for romance fiction, they accept both sources.
I also found at Writehigh a list of sold authors, several of whose books are on Amazon.com. They include Richard Simmons and Thomas Laird, who is published by Constable, around for over 100 years and in whose stable is Elizabeth Peters and Bill Hicks. Writehigh seems to have some credentials and appears to have sold to creditable publishers.
If you look closely at WriteHigh's list of published authors, you'll find that WriteHigh did book doctoring for them. They were not the literary agents representing those authors.
Selling a manuscript to a publisher that takes unagented manuscripts is not considered a notch in the agent bedpost. You'd want someone representing you who could do better than you could do yourself.
Monique Raphel High has been my manager, coach, and support-system for the past three years. because of her I have a novel published in three languages and a second book about to launch. Just recently she took on the role of agent and has been doing an amazing job- we have my new proposal in the hands of several editors who expressed interested thanks to Monique's presentations to them.
It's very easy to be judgmental and snide when you don't actually know the person you are dissing. Please stop this. You are ripping on a woman who is kind, genuine, and utterly professional. Save your scorn for those who deserve it. WriteHigh is a first class operation run by one of the hardest-working people I've ever known.
Kimberly Greene, Ed.D.
author: My Sister's a Pop Star (Usbourne, 2006) and
I'm So Not a Pop Star (Usbourne, Sept. 2008)
It's not snide to point out the simple fact that WriteHigh has not sold a single manuscript to a royalty paying publishing house that accepts only agented submissions. Sorry the facts are so troublesome to you.
This has nothing to do with personal feelings. It is strictly business. Any author looking for a qualified agent would do well to avoid someone who has yet to demonstrate success.
I have been corresponding with Monique Raphel High for the past 8 years and I vehemently disagree with all the rubbish you have written here to tarnish her name. Monique is an established writer, a sincere coach and an honest literary agent.
If you arent interested in working with Monique just leave her alone. Moreover, she doesnt need your conduct certificate to prove that she is a good agent.
Here is the better idea... Why dont you use your precious time to do something useful for others instead of wasting it to mar decent people's reputation?
It isn't rubbish to state a fact. Ms. High hasn't sold a manuscript to a publisher that requires agented submissions.
Now what could be more useful than advising other writers to find an agent with a proven track record, so they don't waste their time with someone who can edit like a dream but can't make a sale.
I was the one who actually brought attention to your post, last Fall. I was doing research online and came across your original blog about Monique and WriteHigh. I approached her with your concern before I signed with her.
I've been with Monique now for about a year, and she has made great strides introducing my book to editors WHO DO NOT solicit unagented manuscripts. She has never charged me for any of her "services," and she has presented me with standard agent contract.
Monique and her agency is new. They have not made the "Big" sell yet to make her more exclusive. If you are a writer and you've been in this biz as long as I have, you come to realize that agents need to build a stable and groom potential clients. For much of these starts, a new agent, regardless of her contacts in the biz, must still prove himself/herself. Monique is trying her best.
I want to thank you for being vigilant, and posting this blog for us fellow writers, but instead of keeping up an attack here, do what I did: contact Monique's references, clients, and other resources.
I spoke with both Al Longden (AAR) and Victoria Strauss (Writer Beware) and they were just a couple of the people who recommended Monique.
Writehigh is a new agency. This doesn't mean their out to get us.
Mike D'Angelo
Author of "The Light" Aiofe's Kiss, Dec 2006, "Reading Between the Lines", Lost Treasure November 2001, "Oba Nobunaga" Military History February 2002, etc. etc. ;)
From Todd Stocke, VP, Editorial Director, Sourcebooks
I hate to wade into this messy dialogue, but will clarify for you the Sourcebooks submissions and purchasing process. In fact the vast majority of our authors are agented. If you'd like to verify that, just check our website and ask yourself, "is Alan Cheuse unagented? Michael Malone? Frank Deford?" We're one of the few large indie trade houses in the US. You don't get there only off the slush pile.
As a previous poster pointed out, our submissions language specifically tells unagented folks to generically address their proposal to "Editorial Submissions." Why? Because we're a rarity in that we also have a "For Agents" page on our website giving agents specific editors' names and interests. I found over the years that enterprising unagented folks pulled names from that list and tried submitting directly - which misses our review system completely and can cause them to receive no response.
All of our editors don't have the time to wade through the sheer volume of unagented submissions. So we send all unagented to one place where even though a purchase odds may be less, we can give them a fair review and chance. All writers deserve at least that.
Long story short, we do receive and review unagented submissions (though not in fiction [non-romance] and children's). On occasion we buy them. Better than not accepting them at all, no?
On a personal note, I've met and worked with Monique High. We bought a book from her in a traditional trade arrangement and I've found her to be professional and passionate on her author's behalf. Do feel free to contact me if you require further clarification.
I never said they're out to get us. I said that she's running a paid editing service in conjunction with a literary agency and that's contrary to the AAR code of ethics. Ms. Strauss would tell you as much.
After so many months, why is there this sudden surge of comments to an old post? The recent flurry strikes me as very odd indeed.
Thanks a million for stopping by, Todd. Were you just in the neighborhood, or did Monique send you over?
It is quite clear that Monique sent her minions to defend her. Perhaps she "coached" them or simply posted several times under different names!
Be careful about slagging off that agency -its Grande Dame is married to a hot poo poo lawyer called Macaroni or Pesta or suchlike and there are Russian Israeli and Jewish connections too
The dagos, the hebes....sounds like an episode of "Boardwalk Empire". And where's the love for the Provies? Sure Gerry Adams is feeling left out of the clout list.
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