Share some literary agent horror stories.
There was a case where a literary agent took on an author and demanded a large sum of money upfront for 'editing services'. After getting the money, the so - called edits were minimal and the agent did very little to actually market the book to publishers. It turned out the agent was more interested in getting quick cash from authors than actually representing them properly. This left the author in a difficult financial and emotional state as they had not only lost money but also wasted a lot of time.
A literary agent once convinced an author to change the entire genre of their book to something more 'commercial' according to the agent's view. The author reluctantly did so. However, the agent then lost interest in the project. The new genre didn't really fit the author's style, and the book ended up not being published. The author felt betrayed as they had changed their creative vision based on the agent's advice which turned out to be unfounded.
Can you share some literary agent success stories?
Sure. One success story is about J.K. Rowling. Her literary agent played a crucial role in getting her 'Harry Potter' series published. The agent recognized the potential of the story and worked hard to pitch it to publishers. After facing some rejections, they finally found a publisher who took a chance on the book. And it became a global phenomenon. Another example is Harper Lee's 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. Her agent helped her navigate the publishing world, and the book became a classic that has been widely read and studied for decades.
Can you share some insurance agent horror stories?
Sure. One horror story is about an agent who promised extremely low premiums to a client. But later, the client found out there were a ton of hidden fees and the coverage was not as described. It led to financial stress for the client as they couldn't afford the real cost and were under - insured.
Can you share some leasing agent horror stories?
One horror story is when a leasing agent showed a property to a potential tenant who seemed normal at first. But later, the tenant moved in and started causing trouble with the neighbors, constantly making noise at all hours. The leasing agent got countless complaints and had to deal with the headache of trying to resolve the situation, which included threats from the unruly tenant when they were asked to abide by the community rules.
What are the common elements in literary agent horror stories?
One common element is misrepresentation. Agents may over - promise what they can do for an author, like getting a huge book deal, but in reality, they don't have the connections or skills to deliver. For example, they might claim to have great relationships with top publishers but actually have no real influence.
Can you share more travel agent horror stories?
Sure. There was a group who booked a safari tour through a travel agent. But when they got there, the vehicles were in bad condition. One of the jeeps broke down in the middle of the safari and they were left stranded for hours. The travel agent didn't have any backup plan.
What are some travel agent horror stories?
A couple once booked their honeymoon through a travel agent. When they arrived at their so - called 'luxury resort', it was a run - down place with dirty rooms and bad food. The travel agent had promised them a five - star experience. Turns out, the agent had never actually visited the place and just went by the pictures on the website which were clearly very old and misrepresented the actual state of the resort.
What are some customer service agent horror stories?
I've heard of a case where a customer service agent was extremely rude. A customer had a simple question about a product's warranty, and instead of answering politely, the agent made the customer feel stupid for asking. The agent used condescending language and didn't actually provide any useful information. It was a really bad experience for the customer who was just trying to get some basic help.
Tell me some phone agent horror stories.
A phone agent once took a customer's personal information during a call to upgrade their phone service. Later, the customer started getting strange calls from unknown numbers and realized their information had been leaked. When they contacted the phone agent's company, they were given the run - around and no one took responsibility for the security breach.
What are some 'call center agent horror stories'?
Well, a common 'call center agent horror story' is getting prank calls. Some pranksters waste the agent's time by pretending to be interested in the product or service but then start making jokes or just being silly. Agents also face horror when they are transferred a call from another agent who didn't handle the initial situation well. So, the new agent has to deal with an already frustrated customer. Moreover, there are times when the call quality is so bad that the agent can't understand the customer, and the customer gets angry because they think the agent isn't listening.
What qualities should a literary agent for horror novels possess?
They should have a passion for horror. If they love the genre, they're more likely to understand and promote your work effectively. A good network in the publishing industry is essential. They need to be able to get your horror novel in front of the right editors. Also, they should be good negotiators to get you the best deal possible.