Blogger: Wendy Lawton
Are you tired of hearing us talk about the agent time crunch? Unfortunately, it’s the reason for much of our agent angst. Most of us maintain a set level of clients and it takes more than a forty-hour work week to serve them. Sometimes considerably more. But we love it, and we wouldn’t do anything else. I’m guessing we’re not so different from anyone else reading this. Time is in short supply for all of us, and it causes us to have to make hard choices. Right?
Time realities cause an unfortunate logjam in my practice. When clients send a new proposal or a new manuscript, they begin counting down the time until I make comments. You’d think I could get to a proposal in a couple of days and get a manuscript read and assessed in a week to ten days, wouldn’t you? That would be in a perfect world. Because I represent more than one client, I tend to get a number of manuscripts all at once. The same with proposals. These submissions go into a priority pile as opposed to the requested proposals from potential clients which have to come second. I get to that priority pile as quickly as possible. Never as quickly as I’d wish.
Bless my clients, they understand the delay. It takes time to read the material, comment, perhaps send it back for changes and finally get it to the place I’m ready to shop it. It’s frustrating for me, as an agent, because we make our sales by submitting the material. I’m guessing that some writers who are not yet agented think that signing with an agent means all the roadblocks are magically gone. Not true. Picture that logging operation where all the logs are floating down the river until they hit the narrows. Everything jams and backs up. The much-dreaded logjam. It happens in your agent’s office as well.
If I didn’t believe in God’s perfect timing, I think I might give up. The process of the first sale is so circuitous that it hardly seems possible that this whole industry works. But it does. Despite logjams and a reportedly slow market I have sold thirty-three books so far in 2016. And it’s only just revving up.
Delays in finding representation, delays after representation. Does it discourage you that this process is so convoluted and fraught with logjams? Are you philosophical about it? Got any solutions? Got any comments? Got any logjams of your own?
A logjam of my own. I completed the first draft of a novel eleven days prior, let it rest for a week, and started the editing three days ago. Between then and now, I’ve not edited fifteen pages. Fifteen of three hundred and counting.
I get this knack that all the engagements and assignments were awaiting the completion of the first draft. Now, I can’t even get two hours to work. Two of twenty-four.
And I wonder how what my expression would be when I get a proposal packaged and there’s no response in a week. Or a month.
Solution: As pointed out in the post, ‘… I believe in God’s perfect timing.’ It’s why I persist, well assured that the path would clear soon. When the time is right. And in a way, learning that those long in the industry are encumbered with a similar load eases the stress.
God’s timing often looks better in retrospect than in real time. We think, “Time’s a-wasting.” God says, “You’re a-learning.”
*In God’s good timing, Wendy, may your logjam break in a rush of the Spirit’s flow that lifts your heart and amazes all who watch. Make it so, Lord.
Amen Shirlee!?
Shirlee, yes & a giggle to: “You’re a-learning.” 🙂 I love this, and amen to your prayer.
Thank you, Shirlee!
Yes, the process is so very convoluted. I just got a request for a ms. I started eight years ago. Time to update the story with all the new things I’ve learned and pray that I do not “fix” the charm right out of the thing. But I will plug along, do my very best, and continue to hope. Thank you for this peek into the agent day, always fascinating.
Congrats on the ms. request, Kristen!
Thanks, David. I love this group. Always so encouraging.
If you are aware that you can “fix the charm right out of a book,” I’m guessing you are in no danger of doing so.
I know so many people who rush the process, and it’s so tempting, but I’m leaning on God’s timing.
Thanks for sharing and reminding us God’s timing is perfect!
Waiting is never easy. But I believe it’s a test of strength and persistence. And courtesy. What will we do in the wait? Will we throw back our hands, plop up our feet? Or will we persist, ready ourselves, to press forward in any way possible? Inch by inch. Utilize the time wisely. Waiting always reminds me of my girls … waiting years for a family. But I didn’t just give up and let the loss or wait kill me. I kept pressing forward, asking God for direction, and stepping through open doors of healing or encouragement with my wobbly knees. More than anything I’d realized that God’s way, coupled with His timing, was the only fulfilling plan. Why would one desire another? And the first time you hold that baby … 🙂 The wait brings about a great level of appreciation, the on-bended-knee kind.
Shelli, I agree that nothing compares to holding a long-awaited child. I remember the nurses commenting among themselves about my exuberance. They hadn’t waited a dozen years for that moment like I had. May our writerly wait also bring “on-bended-knee” appreciation.
Yes, yes!!
“Waiting is never easy.” *Guilt* So many on this list know about my logjam first hand.
No guilt, sweet lady. No guilt.
Interesting look into an agent’s life, Wendy. Thanks.
* It also may be that logjams are the Almighty’s equivalent of a BRIDGE OUT sign. Motivational posters would have us believe that we should push down on the accelerator and do an Evel Knievel, heedless of the risk and eyes only on the prize, but some ardently-desired futures are just not meant to be and would be awful should they arise. (Remember some of the people you dated in college?)
* Keep in mind that you’ll want to have a life whose salient memories you will choose to scrap-book, and not wish you could simply scrap.
Excellent point about the potential for a “BRIDGE OUT sign”, Andrew.
Wise advice, Andrew. Did you feel our prayers last week. We found out it was not a crisis but our whole Books & Such team went to the mattresses for you. 🙂
Hopefully you were blessed.
Wendy, thank you so much for the prayers! I did feel them, and have needed them.
* My doctor does not understand why I’m still here, but when I told him it’s the Power of prayer and not much else, he nodded and said, “Yeah, that makes sense. Prayer is a magnet for daily miracles.”
Growing up on the West Coast, I was able to see actual logbooms and jams up close. Massive amounts of cedars, floating on the ocean. Little islands capable of greatness. But believe me, there is only one way to deconstruct a boom or a jam-carefully and with extreme precision and well planned team work. Those logs weight thousands of pounds and one bad move will ruin everything.
And only the bravest of the brave have the guts to do the job.
I’m perfectly okay to wait until things are sorted by the pros.
😉
I love how you put this, Jennifer. As a West Coaster, I can perfectly picture those brave souls at work on a logjam. Praise God for professionals.
Good background info, Jennifer. Can’t wait to see you in just days.
It can be discouraging, but waiting is part of life. Waiting for the coffee to perk, waiting for the pie to bake, waiting for the baby to be born, waiting for Jesus to return. In the waiting, let’s fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
Congrats on the thirty-three books, Wendy!
Thanks, Meghan.
Thank you, Wendy, for reminding us that logjams are part of the publishing journey. Yes, “I believe in God’s perfect timing.” I’m befriending logjams because while those logs sit still they’re seasoning into what God thinks is best. Doors may remain shut in one area of our writing journey while other doors such as platform growth, professional contacts, and improvements to one’s craft may fly wide open. A thankful and positive attitude opens up opportunities. And besides, nothing can hold back God’s perfect will and God’s perfect timing.
Blessings ~ Wendy Mac
“A thankful and positive attitude opens up opportunities.” So very true.
Wendy, please don’t feel badly about not being able to do everything at lightening speed. We know you don’t have any super powers. And you’ll never know this side of Heaven how many lives you’ve touched by helping to get books to the readers who needed them. Your job is a ministry.
I do pray so, Janet. My authors are positively amazing.
My current logjam appears unsolvable, so I’m just trying to tackle one thing at a time. And, most of it has nothing to do with writing and publishing; rather, it’s drawing me away from writing. Here are the logs:
.
– find whatever it is that’s dead in my garage and is causing a big stink. That would be easy, except…
– …with the garage full of things, waiting for that garage sale, I need to make a major effort in getting ready for that.
– finish the front yard flower bed project. I’m two hours of work away from that. I think.
– ongoing: be the primary caregiver for my 91 year old mother-in-law while my wife is out of town, helping our daughter’s family following the birth of their fourth child.
– either figure out cover design with G.I.M.P. or find a designer who can do quick work on the cover of my first baseball novel; it would be nice to get the print version out before the Cubs win the World Series. E-book is already published.
– ongoing: finances and filing. Will I ever catch up?
– ongoing: participating in my wife’s home business
– start preparing for the family to come for Thanksgiving; yes, it takes that long.
– ongoing: this pesky day job.
– If time allows, add 500 words a day to my novel-in-progress.
.
I do see light at the end of the tunnel, however, and the logjam will break significantly in 2 years, 2 months, and 20 days.
We had something die in under the floor once. Very hard to find.
I’m tired just reading this. My husband and sister just did three garage sales at her house (busy street) and I finally have no more junk– just the stuff that needs to go on eBay. Feels amazing.
That’s quite a logjam, David, but at least one problem will solve itself quickly. In a week or so, the dead thing won’t smell anymore.
Dead thing found and removed. It was a chipmunk. Nothing added to the logjam yesterday. No words written, either. Logjam 1 day closer to breaking.
I assume that 2 years 2 months 19 days is counting down to the day you hit escape velocity from your day job. If so, I’m excited for you. Being able to work 12 or more a day on writing is marvelous, and I’m loving it.
David, my parents were ready to tear out the walls to find out what was dead behind them. After a week of searching they discovered that my brother had put his Easter basket full of real eggs in the back of his closet.
It is so cool to see agents such as yourself who have such passion for doing what you do day after day – it certainly takes God-given talent. My “logjam” right now is finding representation, but I don’t get discouraged because I know it is all in God’s hands. It’s nice to find good Christian-based agencies such as yourself. Glad you post your blogs – I really find them helpful!!
Thanks, Shawn. Your job is just as complex as mine. Here’s wishing you the very best as you find perfect representation.