I don’t have an agent yet, so I can’t say nothing personally. (Recent Detritus the Troll reading accounts for double negative!)
However, here are some links. It goes without saying, I want an agent. I wouldn’t sell my house by myself either.
1. The Original Article Saying Why You Don’t Need an Agent.
2. Seanan McGuire begs to differ .
3. Stacia Kane also disagrees.
4. Tobias Buckell illustrates with stats from 2005.
5. Miriam Goderich, agent says so too.
6. Jeaniene Frost weighs the issue.
7. Steve Bucheit details his theory of logic fail.
I haven’t seen any solid versions of why you don’t need an agent. Speaking strictly from the stance of argument, at this point, why you need an agent seems to be more substantiated.
Catherine
Uh, wait, Amazon has a meeting with literary agents and that leads one to conclude they’re no longer necessary. Um. Logic, Galleycat is doing it wrong.
I think most of these discussions are also occurring in a sandbox. Sure, if you only want to get your book self published or epublished, yeah, an agent isn’t really necessary. If you want to have a career as a writer, yeah, having a good agent isn’t a bad idea.
For me, if my sole intent was to just epublish or self-publish (and I know people who have gone this route, and they’re perfectly happy with it) I’d just continue to tell myself the stories. It’s a hell of a lot cheaper in blood and treasure and I like my stories. So win win. That, however, isn’t what I want.
What do I want? Well, a little of what Stephen King, JK Rowling, Hamilton, Rice, Grisham, Pratchett (you know, except for the alzheimers), et all have would be nice. Hell, I’ll take half and be happy.
What can I say, Steve? I’m right behind you, 100%.
Catherine