Website: www.francsart.com
Substack: https://francsart.substack.com
Agent: Justin Nash
Agency: Kate Nash Literary Agency
Website: www.katenashlit.co.uk
Francesco Sarti is an author of (mainly) speculative fiction and a creative writing tutor who writes everyday before he does anything else (except for feeding his dog, Larry).
How did you find your agent?
I got my agent thanks to your beautiful festival! I entered the I Am Writing Crime / Thriller competition with a speculative novel, and even if back then I only had 3 chapters, they were enough to convince Beth, at the Kate Nash Literary Agency, to offer me representation. Beth left the agency shortly after, but I’m now represented by Justin Nash and he has been invaluable in the drafting of my novel.
What was the inspiration behind the story you entered?
I was exploring the most horrible unintended consequences of technology, and a story popped up in my mind, a story in which anyone could be the villain.
Was this story the first one you had attempted to write?
Absolutely not. I have written 3 novels in Italian, my first language, but got nowhere with them. Since I moved to the UK, I had to re-learn the craft, and hide in my drawer a horror novella and a high-concept sci-fi novel before I found my agent with a technological thriller.
What has happened since becoming represented by your agent?
The most important development since I signed my contract is that I am now officially a creative writing teacher! I always wanted to teach almost as much as I wanted to write, and getting an agent was the validation I needed to put myself forward with confidence. I now collaborate with several independent bookshops, I have been invited to speak to festivals and literary groups, I collaborate with renowned authors and I’ve got two courses lined up for next year, each one six weeks long, on the craft of writing novels. And, yes, I get paid to do that!
Did you ever have an #Agent121 before becoming represented?
Yes! I think it was the single most impactful decision of my writing career. I had four 121s, three of which were incredibly positive. I had another two booked when Kate Nash Literary Agency offered to represent me. Funnily enough, I didn’t have any 121s with them.
Roughly how many rejections did you have before becoming represented?
I count my rejections, so I can give you an exact number. Or a few. I received six rejections in Italy, and eighteen in the UK, all of them on my high-concept sci-fi. I didn’t really have time to submit the novel I’m currently working on, so, believe it or not, this one received no rejections at all.
How long did the process of being offered represented take?
It depends when we set the start line. It took 10 years since the day I started writing. 4 years since the moment I decided to be serious about writing. Roughly 16 months since I first decided to submit to agents, and a little over 3 months since I started writing the novel that got me a foot in the door.
What have you learner about the publishing industry since being represented?
I am lucky enough to be represented by a very open agency which makes it a priority to educate their authors about the publishing industry. It seems to me that this is a brutal industry populated by lovely people. I’ve also learned that the joy of being an author comes from the love for the craft more than successes and numbers, though it would be nice to be a full time novelist one day! I also learned that it always pays off to put yourself out there.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors looking to get published?
Focus on the quality of your work. Agents want you to succeed. They crave for an amazing opening chapter, so make sure that you have everything you need to write it. Also, get outside of your comfort zone and try as many routes as possible. Join groups, read your work at open mic nights, run before you walk if necessary. That’s how I got where I am.
Do you have any tips for anyone thinking about entering a writing competition or booking an Agent121?
Use both as a learning platform. Aim at having a clear idea about how to make your book better when your 15 minutes with an agent are finished, and be kind. Agents are people, and they remember who was nice to work with and who wasn’t. Look for incremental improvements, no matter how small, and implement them continuously. Also, don’t take critiques personally! Be happy about any feedback, however brutal. Every piece of feedback is a sign that you can and will be better.
Website: www.francsart.com
Substack:
https://francsart.substack.com
Agent: Justin Nash
Agency: Kate Nash Literary Agency
Website: www.katenashlit.co.uk
Check out our #Agent121 page to book an appointment.