from the President of QCorp Dr. William
Brown, Ph.D.
QCorp was started in 1989 as a critique
service. Our philosophy was that good writing is not a matter of opinion or
popular fascination. Good writing arises from the way humans think, feel pain,
make love and laugh. So there is a science to writing because we are human. The
science involves how plots evolve and characters are developed and context is
used.
But the passion and tears -- and giggles
-- the adventure, the tension of a novel or a film or a theater performance is
not just a science. For creativity leaps beyond logic and science. The
Experience of Art be it a good western or romance or science fiction novel dips
its wings in curious mists and ominous shadows then rushes into the fire.
So there it is. A writer must know her or
his craft -- the science -- well enough to go beyond it. An agent or an editor
must also know the craft and the fire. And be able to explain, in clear words,
why the craft or the fire has failed or succeeded. As a writer that is what I
want a Literary Agency to know and explain.
My academic background is physics and
astronomy, therefore I am not inclined to view anything, even creativity, as
simply arbitrary.
Even more important, I have struggled
through a novel myself, 124,000 words, 548 pages (still unpublished). In the
process I suffered the Lonely Craft made sporadically sweet only when my wings
occasionally dipped in dark shadows and rushed toward the fire.
After having been ripped off by critique
services and agents I founded QCorp in 1989 -- the kind of place I wanted and
failed to find as a writer.
Non-fiction has many connections to
fiction. The substance is different but it still must intrigue. A physics book or
a self-help book or a reference book on legal terms must still do what it
intends with clarity and logic and with an eye to how humans think and react.
Again, the writer must know his or her craft.
QCorp handles all genres of fiction, from
6 page children's books, to romance, experimental, erotica, occult, science
fiction, fantasy, mainstream to literary novels and poetry.
QCorp also handles non-fiction including
biographies, sports, the outdoors, reference books, texts, self-help,
computers, religion.
QCorp also handles screenplays. Screenplays are not books. They are the outline for a very visual
and extensive collaborative venture.
Good writing is still good writing. But the methodology is different and part of a much larger
process. Plot, dialogue, character
development still matter, for all the reasons they matter in a book. But the journey is very different.
This is the
day of email, faxes and cell phones.
It takes an extraordinary time on the phone calling contacts, making
“pitches” (short for generating enough interest for the editor in question to
give your project serious consideration), and insuring your project has not
been tossed out by some evil underling.
We never send anything out before calling and pitching and generating
interest in your project. That is
the key: call, pitch, follow-up.
Call, pitch
and follow-up: that’s how we sell
your project.
With
respect to books and selling foreign rights, particularly translation rights, QCorp
works with another agency:
FrontMatter & Associates, which specializes in those rights. There are simply too many cultural
nuances, business customs and legal differences. FrontMatter knows the territory, has the contacts and speaks
a number of languages.
Selling
screenplays virtually requires the agent involved be an Agent Signatory to The
Writers Guild Of America (WGA).
The WGA is the screenwriter’s labor union and negotiates, every three
years, a telephone book contract with all of Hollywood (Studios, Production
Companies, Producers, Directors, everyone). Few studios, production companies and so on will even open
up a letter, much less a screenplay, unless it comes from an Agent Signatory. There are too many legal problems
otherwise.
QCorp is an
Agent Signatory to the WGA. This
not only opens doors for screenwriters but also for book authors and the fabled
“movie deal”.
One more
thing. How do you keep track of
what QCorp is doing with your project?
You use Tracker. We
give you a Username and a Password and any time, day or night, you can go on
our web page, see your project listed, read the synopsis of your work and click
on Tracker. Tracker
is secured by your personal Username and Password and details each Company
your project was sent to, Who it was sent to, When It Was Sent, When
It Was Received, When They Responded and What They Said.
We cannot
possibly read every novel, book, screenplay sent to us. Too many of you and too few of us. So please follow the process
below. A cover letter with contact
information and any relevant background on yourself would be helpful. By “relevant” I don’t mean that your
Aunt, the English teacher, liked your book. And remember, there is nothing wrong with simply being a
first-time author. Finally,
we would prefer you use the Postal Service and not email or fax your
submission.
Books
Send a
synopsis and the first chapter or two (10-20 pages, double spaced, 12 point
font). We will read it and
evaluate it and send it back with a cover letter indicating if we want to see
more. Give us a month or two. Include a SASE for return of the
manuscript.
Screenplays
Send a one or two page synopsis (double spaced, 12 point font). We will read it and decide if we want to look at the screenplay. Include an SASE for reply.