January Meeting
Insider Tricks to Getting Published
Presenter: Jeff Herman
The Jeff Herman Agency, LLC
PO Box 1522 * 29 Park Street, Stockbridge, MA 01262
413-298-0077 jeff@jeffherman.com www.jeffherman.com
JEFF HERMAN, Literary Agent
Jeff Herman opened his literary agency in the mid-1980s while in his mid-20s. He has made over one-thousand book deals, including many bestsellers. His own books include JEFF HERMAN’S GUIDE TO PUBLISHERS, EDITORS & LITERARY AGENTS (more than 500,000 copies sold), and WRITE THE PERFECT BOOK PROPOSAL (coauthored with Deborah Herman). He has presented hundreds of workshops about writing and publishing, and has been interviewed for dozens of publications and programs.
Shortly after graduating from Syracuse University, Herman was riding the subway on a hot summer day when he spotted an ad stating: “I found my job in The New York Times.” He promptly bought a copy and answered some Help-Wanted ads. A few days later he was summoned for an interview with the Publicity Director at an independent publishing house, and was hired on the spot as her assistant for $200 a week (1981). Showering, shaving, wearing a suit, saying little and promising to show up were the clinchers.
The publicity department comprised Herman and his boss, who took her summer vacation his first week on the job. He was left “in charge” though he knew nothing about publicity, publishing or how an office functioned. But he was a quick study and soon helped make WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE a massive bestseller.
In time, Herman followed the money into corporate marketing, where he worked on various product promotion campaigns for Nabisco, AT&T, and many other large and small brands. But books were his passion and calling.
Today, Jeff Herman is an exceptionally successful veteran literary agent, entrepreneur and author. His areas of editorial expertise include popular business, spirituality, self-help and much more. “If I feel I can sell it, I’ll represent it”, says Herman.
Topic: Insider Tricks to Getting Published
Are the best writers more likely to get published? Not necessarily. Many excellent writers never get published, while many less than stellar writers are serially published. Why?
Getting published involves numerous skill-sets other than writing. Many successful writers are better at getting published than they are at writing. Conversely, many superior writers don’t get published simply because they don’t know how to. Good writing is the first step towards getting published, not the last step and not necessarily the most important step.
This class will show writers how to greatly increase the odds that they will get published regardless of editorial talent.
Event Contact: Jim Misko: jim@jimmisko.com
