An A+ Agent
Allison Winn Scotch on May 13 2010 | Filed under: Business
I was chatting with a friend recently who was lamenting that she felt like her agent wasn’t the right fit for her, that she felt like she (my writer friend) was manning her ship on her own, and that she really needed guidance when her agent wasn’t offering any. She asked me if her solitary writing life – ie, without the constant support of her agent – was normal, and if not, what she should do. Is leaving an agent who isn’t the best fit for you a smart move when we all know how difficult it can be to get an agent in the first place?
I hesitated to advise her about specific direct action because, well, those big career leaps of faith are best left to each individual alone, but one thing that I could tell her was that from my experience, your agent needs to be your best, most supportive and loudest ally. And I know of what I speak: I’ve been fortunate enough to have found just that in my own agent, though this wasn’t always this case. In fact, before she and I found each other, I had signed with someone else, and the differences were (and are) startling.
Now. Let me say clearly from the get-go that I have a unique and wonderful relationship with my agent – we’re friends, no just peers – but all of what I’m about to say applies, in my opinion, to any agent-client relationship. And that is this: your agent should be availble to help steer you through the roadblocks that more or less define our industry. He or she should return your phone calls or emails (if you don’t abuse such a thing, and by that I mean reach out to him or her at a reasonable rate) within a day to two. He or she should be there as a sounding board if you don’t like your cover art or any thing else that pops up along the way to publication. He or she should have her mind and ears open to help you with publicity, marketing, foreign rights, and in many cases, shaping and brainstorming your next book.
My agent, Elisabeth Weed, does all of these things for me. My friend’s appeared to do none of them. Essentially, her agent sold her book (which, sure, in and of itself is great), and then, well, that’s about it. Is that worth 15%. No, to me, it’s not. The sale is, in some ways, the least important factor in the equation, because let’s assume that most good agents can sell a good book. (I know, it’s an assumption but let’s play it out.) If that’s the entry-level expectation, that’s just not enough when there is so much more than comes into play that an author needs guidance on.
Look. I’m sure that some of you guys are doubting me, thinking, “It’s hard enough to get an agent, should I really be that picky?!?,” and the answer is, YOU HAVE TO BE. I sincerely think that there is no more important decision in your career than who will represent you. Our industry can be a bloodbath, and you both want and NEED someone who will have your back at all times, even if having your back means telling you to take less money or to suck it up and go with the cover art you hate because it will sell more copies. So much of what we as writers do is solitary but working with your agent is one way that our jobs become a team-effort. Please don’t compromise on this. Please don’t settle for half-baked because a half-baked agent can be, in some ways, worse than starting over. I know. I did. Did start over. Did say sayonara to my original agent when it became clear that she didn’t believe in me the way you need your agent to.
My friend and I chatted about all of this, and I know she’s taking steps to figure out how to ensure that her career is safeguarded. I’d urge the rest of you, if you’re truly dissatisfied with your situations, to do the same. There are some INCREDIBLE agents out there, and you shouldn’t have to settle for one who you think any less of. To that end, I do want to encourage you to swing by my blog: my agent is opening up her submission box in the last few weeks of June. Check out her contest for more info.
So, agree or disagree: how proactive should writers be in their relationships with their agents and when is it time to throw in the towel if it’s not working?
Photo courtesy Flickr’s Maco@Sky Walker
Kathleen Bolton
Therese Walsh
Ann Aguirre
Porter Anderson
Brunonia Barry
Carleen Brice
Keith Cronin
Anna Elliott
Jane Friedman
Donald Maass
Juliet Marillier
Sophie Masson
Jael McHenry
Jan O'Hara
Debbie Ohi
Barbara O'Neal
Crystal Patriarche
Ray Rhamey
M.J. Rose
Chuck Sambuchino
John Vorhaus
Yuvi Zalkow
Sharon Bially
Anne Greenwood Brown
Tracy Hahn-Burkett
Suzannah Windsor Freeman
Kristan Hoffman
Jeanne Kisacky
Erika Robuck
Lydia Sharp
And that agent is…?
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Great advice. It’s so important to be able to move forward with an agent that works with you as well as for you.
It almost comes across as the agent is your business partner. You work together for that common goal. You both win.
This can be found in other business models. This works best for all involved, but most of all this is one of the most important aspects of a writers career; The agent.
Take Allison’s advice, as I sure will, and make sure the partnership works. When in doubt, don’t.
Love this post. Thank you Allison.
.-= Daryl Sedore´s last blog ..Advice. Or is it? =-.
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I know that’s good advice, but it’s also got to be difficult advice to take. Good luck to your friend! It makes it even more important to ask the tough questions up front, when you’re first offered representation, e.g., what you can expect of the relationship.
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A “contest”? You have to buy/pre-order a book to qualify for the “contest”.
I’m really not sure how legal or ethical that is.
If I’m wrong, do steer me right.
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Jeff-
I wanted to address your question immediaely because I don’t want to see my agent disparaged. You are, of course, welcome to submit to her at any point on your ow without supporting the book. There is nothing that precludes you from doing that, and nothing to stop her from offering you representation. But she is putting A LOT of time into offering to read each and every first chapter-this is an incredible abberation in the submission process-and asks that you support one of her authors in return. Illegal? Not by a long shot. Writing is a community, and she is not the first agent to say, go buy books, support your peers, which is what she’s
saying here. If you take issue with it- and I say this sincerely and with no rancor-obviously, you opt not to participate.
Allison
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Wah, you’re making me love your agent even more than I already do… {does not want heart broken…}
But seriously? Great advice. It is SO hard to say no to a good thing — or really, an okay thing — and take the risk that you could get something better. But sometimes it’s necessary. I hope I never have to face that situation, but if I do, I hope I’m brave enough to trust that I will find what I deserve.
.-= Kristan´s last blog ..C’est la vie =-.
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Allison,
I see from where you are coming; it’s all good.
Perhaps if I were more flush with cash, it wouldn’t have knee-capped me so.
Maybe when I get my huge break, I’ll be in a better frame of mind to absorb this scenario. Check back with me in 2024.
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Andrew, her name is Elisabeth Weed. She’s my agent as well, and she’s as fantastic as Allison says. You can check out her website here: http://www.weedliterary.com/
Jeff, I think you might be wondering over the legalities of buying something for contest purposes because of the “no purchase necessary” caveats we always hear associated w/ contests on radio and through the TV. Here’s a good rundown explaining why those caveats are included; it’s to do with the lottery feel of a contest, when chance is involved. But there is no chance involved here. You buy a book, you earn a critique, period. Which loops back around to what I told Andrew: Elisabeth is fantastic.
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I’ve made the difficult decision to part ways with an agent before, and it was tough, but made somewhat easier by the fact that we both agreed everything possible had been done to sell the book and it just hadn’t sold. Rather than work with the same agent on the next book, I jumped out into the query waters again, which (eventually) landed me in the right place with the right agent and the right book. And if I’d stuck with the same agent I don’t think I’d be in the great position I’m in now.
I’ve heard it from the other side, too, though — from agents who are sad or angry or mystified when an author decides to cut them loose. Every situation is different, but the most important thing is communication. If you’re unhappy, speak up. In any business relationship it’s the only fair thing to do.
And, all the more reason to do thorough research before you start that initial round of queries. A bad agent — or an indifferent one, or one who just isn’t a good match for you — is definitely worse than none at all.
.-= Jael´s last blog ..wordless wednesday xxxvii =-.
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I don’t have an agent yet, and I think a big part of that is because I’m being very picky, like you said. I am an extremely diverse writer, and finding someone who not only jives with my style and can get excited about my projects, but who is also just as diverse in what they represent, has proved a challenge (and that’s the main reasons why Elisabeth isn’t right for me, awesome as she is). I know that perfect someone is out there, though, so I keep searching.
Great post, Allison!
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I hereby pick up my penalty flag. Please reset the game clock to 10:23.
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Jeff, I’m kind of glad you asked, because others might have wondered too. No penalty flag necessary.
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I definitely agree with this. Recently my agent and I had a difference of opinion about one of my novels, and I was worried that I would have to seek representation elsewhere. I think she might have been worried herself (though I doubt nearly as much as me). What I advise for your friend, and what I did, was to have a sit down conversation with my agent about what I needed from her, i.e. more feedback on my current writing. Of course, I wouldn’t send her every draft of everything I was working on, but I definitely wanted guidance on something I had worked on for a long time, and thought was fairly polished, but didn’t know where to go from there.
The conversation was a good one, and she was able to give me what I needed, and we are moving along quite nicely.
I think that sometimes before you end a relationship, especially one that’s as important as the agent/author relationship, you ought to give it the best chance of succeeding, and that’s with good, open communication.
.-= Tracey´s last blog ..Tweet, blog, and be merry =-.
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Before I signed w/ my agent, I was being wooed by a big-name agent who I knew in my heart wasn’t right for me or my novel. I am SO glad that I held out for the perfect fit (special thanks to Allison for advising me to go with my gut!) because I have no doubt that my book would not have sold as well with someone else representing me. It really takes someone who is thrilled about your work to get others excited about it, too. And I agree that a good agent won’t just sell the book; she’ll help you craft your career, too.
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Camille, that’s how I knew my agent was right for me too — the level of enthusiasm she had for the work. I knew it was genuine, and I felt that level of energy could in turn excite editors (and it did!).
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I think many frustrated authors miss the equally important, but more painful question: Is it really her, or is it me?
I’ve personally known far too many authors who ditched their agents for problems that turned out to be the author’s fault. Maybe, just maybe, you really do need to grow as an author, or stick to a defined genre, or write something new. Maybe the agent is telling you a truth you don’t want to hear.
Your agent needs to be your counsel, your consigliere, someone who watches your back and tells you the unvarnished truth. My agent does that, which is why I trust her. When she tells me, “This ending sounds cliche. We need to change it,” she’s usually right.
Quiet your ego and listen, and see if there’s any kernel of truth in what you’re hearing.
.-= Laurence MacNaughton, Author´s last blog ..Wednesdays with David Weber, Part 2 =-.
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Allison, this is a very good and important topic. I have worked with many authors and been privy to all sorts of situations with both their agents, and their editors. They have not all been pretty. (This is a very polite understatement.) It’s so true that finding a good match makes a huge difference, but what I’ve seen is that more often than not it can be really hard to tell at first blush what will turn into a good match — and what won’t. There’s often a certain level of excitement in the early phases of contact that leaves everybody feeling pretty good. I liken it to getting married after just one first date that happens to go well. There’s quite a bit of trial and error involved in finding a better match, and sometimes, the only way to find out, especially if there’s only one option presenting itself, is to try.
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I have an agent and am working on my second book. But…I don’t have a signed agreement with her although we have been going back and forth on editing my proposal and sample chapters for almost a year. Maybe more than a year. So I’m wondering what your thoughts are on not having anything in writing…and about the process of perfecting your proposal before sending it in. When you get a second!
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Allison, I’m not on sub yet, but your personal experience echoes what all my other writing friends would say, and my own experience as a physician. It’s worth some extra time and effort to have trust in one’s comrades-at-arms.
.-= Jan O’Hara´s last blog ..Get Yer Insults Here =-.
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Fantastic post. I think sometimes authors think that getting an agent is all that really matters, when that isn’t the case. If we want to succeed, we really need to surround ourselves with positive, knowledgeable people. Thanks for this!
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As it took so long to garner an agent (my subject matter is rather taboo), I was ecstatic to finally find one who seemed in love with my work! But as the better part of a year wore on, and I heard little from him, had very little to go on, and felt as if I was floating about on my own, I knew it was time for mysef and my partner (the person I wrote the book about/with) – to go. Scariest thing I have ever done. If you are lucky enough to score an agent, I thought you were never supposed to let them go!
Even worse, as this agent had halfheartedly shopped the manu to a few houses, new agents I began to query saw it as tarnished goods! I fully understand the “move on to the next book” idea (and I have done so), but I have a partner in this book, and cannot give up on it just yet!
As a result, though I have not yet found that perfect new agent, what I have discovered is that there are some really kind agents/editors out there who will at least send a little advice my way as I am working my way along. One agent, who teetered on the fence of repping me for quite a while but has decided to bow out, still (amazingly) answers questions and gives wonderful and thoughtful advice.
I was also very pleased to find out that a few editors were willing to answer my followup mails, as this agent even left some submissions in the lurch, not following up once we terminated our agreement, which was KILLING me – imagine knowing that your proposal or manu is on a great editor’s desk, but you know that as a writer, you are not supposed to contact them, and your former agent will not? One editor even passed it on to another imprint more likely to take it on!
To be honest, there has been more interest/action around the manuscript in question after I parted ways with that agent, than when I was with him – even that tells me I made the right call.
So I could tell you about the frustration that I felt with the fact that one “not-for-me agent” backed up my progress by more than a year, and may have made it so that this particular book may never get to see the light of day, or I can tell you that I have met (electronically) a dozen amazing people in the industry that may not have taken the work on, but have kept nudging me along the path.
So I prefer to share the second idea.
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Allison, this is really great and really true advice. I signed too quickly with the first agent who showed interest after dozens of rejections, and it was not a good experience at all. Absolutely night and day different from my current–and definitely A+–agent.
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