Blogger: Rachelle Gardner
If you’ve been reading our blog and other agent blogs for awhile, you’re aware that the agent-client relationship can be a wonderful, long-term, productive association, but like any important relationship, it’s not always easy. Sometimes it takes work to make it succeed. It has a better chance of working well if each of you has a bit of understanding of what it’s like on the other side of the table. So today I’m going to give you a few reminders that might help.
Your agent…
…is not a mind reader. If you’re having an issue—if you feel the agent is inattentive, or you need more feedback or more frequent communication—it’s best if you let your agent know. They can’t fix a problem if they’re not aware of it.
…has dozens of clients, while you have one agent. Of course, we try to help you feel like you’re our only client, but you know that’s not true. There’s no excuse for poor communication skills or lack of timely interactions, but if you have a realistic picture of the situation, it’s easier to maintain reasonable expectations.
…wants to hear from you! My clients often start their calls or emails with, “I know you’re busy, I don’t want to take up too much of your time…” and I do appreciate how conscientious people are. But if I’ve agreed to rep you, then I WANT you to take up my time when you need to. So don’t hesitate to make contact.
…is dealing with the same overwhelming and rapidly-changing publishing landscape you are. And your agent has an inside-view, helping them to navigate the new waters and steer you in the right direction. Don’t be afraid to ask questions; but be assured, to a certain extent, we’re all going to have to figure this out together.
…is probably an agent because of a genuine love for authors, books, and publishing. Don’t forget this basic truth! We are all on the same side. Agents exist to partner with, and advocate for, authors. It’s not an adversarial relationship, and if it is, it’s not working right. Agents aren’t in this business because they want to get rich – if money was the most important thing, they’d be doing something else. Like you, your agent appreciates the written word and wants to see great books published.
This is perfect. I have nothing to add!
I would reiterate your point that agents aren’t mind readers. When I recently hit a rough patch, I was honest with my agent about what I was going through, and she gave me the boost that turned my jumbled mood around.
Have a great day!
Sometimes it is helpful to understand the part of writing that an author loves best. For example, a plot driven writer will struggle more with recommended plot edits than they might with character edits. Both are needed, but if an author has a specific thing that they feel is their strength, it is tougher to hear those recommendations. It doesn’t change the importance of having a teachable spirit and changing what needs to be changed for publication, but it may save time for the agent to know when an author is more likely to struggle with something and to be prepared to encourage more at that time.
For me, you could tell me my characters need more depth, my dialogue isn’t what it needs to be, or something like that and I wouldn’t be as greatly impacted. But if someone told me my plot sags, then I would be harder hit. I guess it all goes back to knowing each other as agent and client.
Thanks for the wonderful post, Rachelle. Great insight!
Great author viewpoint, Michelle. Spot on!
This is so helpful to remember.
I wouldn’t add anything. It seems like you’ve covered the “biggies.” For me personally, it’s good to know that an agent wants to hear from the writers they represent. I would tend to be one who would worry about intruding in an already busy day. I’ll have to ponder your question more and see what I come up with. 🙂
I’m looking for that right agent! It will be worth it when we finally “meet”. My one suggestion for agents is to be open to a book’s thesis even if it doesn’t meld with personal beliefs. (I often wonder who took, “Fifty Shades of Gray”.)
So many agents who are parents are turning away from my narrative memoir about choosing not to parent and looking back asking if it was the right choice. If they would only read a chapter or two, they would see how this book is not against parenting.
Of course, the writing has to engage, enlighten and entertain.
I appreciate your post and will remember it…. once I find my agent.
Marcia, while most of us don’t want to take on books that contradict our deeply held personal beliefs, I think many agents are open to books that don’t reflect their personal situation. For example, I think your book has a fascinating topic and even though I have kids, it’s a memoir I’d love to read (as a reader). The problem you’re facing is probably not about agents/editors personally disagreeing with your premise; more likely, it’s about whether they can see themselves successfully placing the book with a publisher. Bottom line, that’s what it’s always about! And although I’d be interested in reading your book, I think it would be hard to sell, so that would probably keep me from taking it on.
I think you’re absolutely correct and value your sage input. One objection I’ve faced is publishers feeling childfree lifestyles are now acceptable, therefore there’s no need in my narrative memoir. Although it is more acceptable, on the surface, they have no idea how much it’s still considered to be a selfish choice. They have no idea how women may second guess that choice as they age because of our cultural pronatalistic society! (I’m almost 70.)
I wonder how many publishers passed on “Fifty Shades of Gray” thinking it would be too offensive. Now, they see the want and need for reading something other publishers thought was too risky to take on.
I guess the land of agents and publishers have challenges we all face, on different levels.
I’m glad you’re here to listen, respond and teach.
Marcia, as a nonparent (by choice!), I would dearly love to read your memoir. More than 40 percent of college-educated women do not have children, and this is a very large demographic to which publishers can appeal. I strongly believe that the “childless/childfree” issue is going to become more topical in the near future. Good luck with your memoir — if you ever need a beta reader, keep me in mind. I am a professional editor. 🙂
Lisa, Just sighed with delight. I absolutely know there are so many people like you who would want to read my journey. I tell it like it is, the good, bad and ugly of this choice. Unlike other books, I look back and not forward through rose colored glasses. if you go to my website, my email is there.I would be happy to share.
I have worked with one amazing editor for three full years. She taught me that “revise” is not a dirty word. She also taught me to celebrate the many rejections we writers must get. (I’m thinking of covering my bathroom wall to make them useful although they also showed me reasons to revise!)
Good post – I think everyone needs a reality check every so often. Often, we can get too wrapped up in our own world, our own project, and forget that there are others out there who can help us, if only we’d let them.
Now, about the mind reading part – are you sure you can’t do that? 😉
Wow! This is a fabulous post. I think it can be hard to remember that last point when some see agents in a less than positive light–that they act like gatekeepers who only allow a sacred few to enter the folds. I’m glad you reminded us.
I like Michelle’s suggestion. In addition, it’s important to me that a potential agent respects my time as much as she expects me to respect hers. Going back to what you said about an agent having dozens of clients, authors and agents might have different expectations of what “timely” communication consists of. Clarifying points of view and setting expectations early in the process, could prevent future misunderstandings. I honestly wouldn’t know right now what would be the proper time frame. All I know as an author is that there is a flurry of activity with my publisher, then I hear nothing for weeks, maybe months. Suddenly, my galley is ready for me to approve, and I have to make sure I hit a deadline to ensure a release date. It’s a bit frustrating.
Thanks for a wonderful post.
Putting on the writer cap, I’d say writers need to be encouraged from time to time that their agent believes in the quality of their projects, even when things look discouraging.
My writing cap has been on for three years. My amazing editor has done what you suggest over and over. I see the need for both agents and editors to find the time to support and sometimes, give their clients a swift kick… in the you know what.
Sending out emails of support, calling to say she just pitched the memoir, hearing my frustrations and helping me to get back to the task is so appreciated. She believes in my project and encourages me to keep on keeping on. I know I have an ally. It feels good.
When there’s a project which many publishers feel is not worthy of taking on, it’s even more challenging.
If I could only have this problem.
I once had a highly respected editor say to me, “I love your book. I love, love, love, love, LOVE, your book.” After he gave me several reasons for his love, he said, “I couldn’t finish it. I tried. I wanted to. I just couldn’t read one more page. I hope when you read my notes in the margins you hear me screaming at you.”
I love that editor. He probably doesn’t even remember who I am, but I will always adore him.
He could have told me to rewrite half the book because before he jumped in to tell my which tick of mine was driving him batty, he convinced me that he loved the book. Because he loved the book almost as much as I did, I could trust that he was telling me to make changes for the good of the book. I could trust that we were on the same team.
It’s like with family. People in the family can discipline my kids, but if people don’t love my kids, I don’t trust them to discipline my kids.
I think sometimes agents and editors forget how needy most writers are. If you love our books, and tell us that every once in a while, we’ll love you forever.
Great, great post, Rachelle. I will tuck the knowledge away for whenever I do get an agent. 😉
I think it would be a struggle for me to bring something to my agent if I was afraid it would change his/her perspective of me. For instance, if I had been confident when we first met but experienced a period of doubt and fear (definitely common for a writer, I think). I’d probably tend to talk mostly with my other writer friends about the doubts and try to filter through what my agent needs to know and hear from me. After all, an agent who is constantly reassuring me can’t be spending that time selling my work and helping me improve it.
I think in the end that it’s all about balance.
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I wish I had the problem of how to deal with my agent, but alas I just don’t have one at all!
Change that to , “I don’t have an agent….yet!”
Keep on keeping on. Value every rejection as getting closer to that “yes”. Listen to all the agents taking time to tell you raw reactions and embrace the word “revise”.
Helpful post. Now that I have an agent, it’s good for me to understand how the relationship works. This is a straightfoward post on understanding that relationship and communication. Good post!
I haven’t dealt with any agents yet, but this is a good post to help me keep my ego in check when I land one. I’m sure the “open door policy” applies only when there is a legitimate need. A histrionic author can get tiresome, I imagine.
Well said! Good tips.
Great tips. Thanks, Rachelle.
Wait. What??!!! I thought this was all about me!
Grrrr.
Actually VERY glad for the last point you made – that you’re doing this because you love books. And narcissistic writers.
Rachelle, I’m afraid I (and other agented authors) pay more attention to #3 because we’ve heard #2 and #4 frequently.
Before we acquire representation, we put agents on a pedestal, just out of our reach, so once we have one we tend to treat them differently. We know you’re busy, we know you’re running six ways from Sunday (as we say in Texas), so we naturally hesitate to bother you.
Of course, now that you tell me you want to hear from us, you can expect your phone to ring constantly and your email inbox to fill. Would that work?
Seriously, thanks for sharing. This is helpful.
I’m very thankful to have an agent after over 10 years of sending out scripts, stories, ideas and query letters. The advice I was given from a published writer and mentor was, “Trust your agent.”
Rachelle, I love my agent! I agree with Doc above. And I’m determined to never be perceived as a whiny, clingy client, so I’ve tried to touch base only when necessary. It’s reassuring when she says, “But Cindy, I want to hear from you!”
I think when agents/authors mutually respect and value each other, and we can be totally ourselves (unvarnished truth and all), those are truly the God-connections.
“I know you’re busy …”
Oh, Rachelle, I’m so guilty of this one. But I know that it’s true. I’m a fledgling. A guppy. My very wonderful agent has NYT best sellers to coddle, and I’m just starting out of the gate. I try to move past this, but the “I’m such a lowly little creature compared to other writers” mindset creeps in a lot, and I’m sure it shows. I do appreciate my agent’s time and attention, every second of it. 🙂
“What are some hints you’d like to give agents so that they’ll understand what it’s like on YOUR side of the table?”
Honestly? Bluntly?
Okay…you asked. And please hear my respectful and professional tone in these words.
I honestly feel like Susan Boyle, rough and raw but given the chance, I can knock the smirk off Simon Cowell’s face and blow the world away.
I love having an agent who just out of the blue sends me a quick twitter note. I love having an agent who celebrates her authors, so that I can see the pride she feels for the others who rely on her like I do. I love having an agent who regularly knocks the socks off the publishing world.
What a ride!