Postscripts

"As a result of their growing significance as arbiters and gatekeepers ... agents have in effect supplanted the roles once played by the legendary figures (Alfred Knopf as publisher, Maxwell Perkins as editor)," John F. Baker writes in Literary Agents: A Writer's Introduction (Macmillan, $14.95 paper), a thorough, surprising book that should be required reading for any budding writers intent on getting published, and even for experienced writers. Baker, the editorial director at Publishers Weekly, interviews 44 established agents; the conversations routinely depart from topics like "what kind of writing I'm looking for" to broader and typically depressing assessments of the publishing industry. "It seems to me that publishers want everything served up on a silver platter," agent Ellen Levine tells Baker. "There aren't so many editors around with superior editing skills, and in general I sense a shrinking market. Too many people are trying to do too many things, and there's a sense of no one in charge." So you can read it and weep. Or you can search for the little nuggets of hope interspersed throughout the book. Baker quotes Albert Zuckerman, the head of Writer's House Inc., one of the largest independent agencies, as saying that writers come to his agency "because they know we have the ability to help talented writers improve their work. ... Every agent should write a book and try to get it published, just to see what it's like."

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Seeking Editor

The Austin Writers' League is looking for an editor for its monthly newsletter, Austin Writer. The League pays a stipend. Send e-mail letter of interest to jimbob@writersleague.org or call 499-8914 for more information.

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Readings

Spike Gillespie will read from and sign her memoir All the Wrong Men and One Perfect Boy tonight (August 19) at BookPeople at 7pm and at Borders on Saturday, August 28 at 2pm. Louise Redd will read from and sign her new novel set in Austin, Hangover Soup, at BookPeople on Tuesday, August 31 at 7pm.

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Poets: Make Money!

The New York Poetry Alliance is offering $1,000 to the winner of its free poetry contest. Send your poem of 21 lines or less by August 23 to: New York Poetry Alliance, Box 1588, New York, NY 10116-1588. Or enter online at http://www.freecontest.com ... Borderlands: Texas Poetry Review is holding a poetry & prose reading at Gallery Lombardi (920 W. Third) on Saturday, August 21 at 7pm ... The "farewell presentation" of Poesia y Sur, hosted by Sue Littleton with readings of Octavio Paz, Sor Juana de la Cruz, Federico Garcia Lorca, and Jorge Luis Borges (among others) provided by Dr. Miriam Balboa Echeverría and Thom the World Poet will take place at Mexic-Arte Museum (419 Congress) on Thursday, August 26 at 7pm; free.