An Agent’s Favorite Words

Blogger: Cynthia Ruchti

An agent’s favorite words?

A joke used to make its way through the family circle whenever someone took out a checkbook (remember those?) to repay another family member for borrowed money or for his/her portion of a group wedding or baby gift. The recipient would wait until the payor’s pen touched the check and then spout, “Million is spelled m-i-l-l-i-o-n.”

Laughter ensued. Every time. We were easily amused.

One might think an agent’s favorite word might be million. But the last time I or any other agent I know negotiated a million dollar advance for a client was…

An agent’s favorite words–to speak–fall along the lines of:

Congratulations!

Way to go!

They’re offering you a contract!

A murder of crows (just because it’s such a cool and unexpected literary device for describing a bunch of crows).

An agent’s favorite words–to hear from publishers, readers, and reviewers:

We’re prepared to offer your client a contract.

Yes to all of your negotiation requests.

An important book and an author to watch!

Great book. What else has your author written?

This book spoke to my heart.

An agent’s favorite words–to hear from clients and prospective clients–sound more like this:

Is it okay if I turn this in two days earlier than anticipated?

Bring on the critique. It helps me grow as a writer…and as a person!

I don’t mind waiting.

I made the changes you suggested.

Other projects? Yes, I have several in the works.

I’ve been studying the market.

I followed your advice and…

I’m seeing a rapid trajectory in my platform numbers and an uptick in social media engagement.

Thank you (in an email, publicly, in the book’s acknowledgments…)

An author’s favorite words likely mirror the first two subhead lists.

Yes, these are a few of our favorite things. Sing it with me.

Or favourite, if you live in Canada, the UK, or Australia and related islands.

 

What are among your favorite words to hear from an agent, editor, or reader?