Blogger: Rachel Kent
Getting An Agent (Part 1 of 2)
This past week, I have taken on two new clients. I’m excited to be working with both of them! They both are unpublished writers, but certain qualities made them stand out to me and showed me both writers were ready for representation.
Here’s a list of the qualities that these two share and are qualities I look for in clients:
1) They can write. I am listing this first because I’d say it’s the most important to me. Even if the writers is unpublished but the manuscript blows me away, then I’m more likely to represent that person. If I see writing that should be published, I’ll want to take a chance on getting that project contracted.
2) They are friendly and work well with others. I was lucky to get to meet these two new clients at writers’ conferences before I represented them. We also had phone calls together. I always want to at least speak to an author before offering representation because you can tell a lot about a person by how he or she acts on the phone. Meeting in person is best, but phone calls work too. A really demanding person or someone who comes across rude or disrespectful is not someone I need on my client list. I want to feel happy when I’m doing work for that writer, and I want to know that I’m bringing the editors someone who will respect them and work well with the team at the publishing house.
3) They are hard workers. I want to represent clients who are going to work hard to get proposals and manuscripts in on time and who are going to follow agency guidelines for formatting. I’m happy to work with an author on a proposal that’s clean and well thought out, but when I get a messy proposal, I’d rather not read it at all. The writer is creating unnecessary work for both of us. I also want to know that the client will do everything in his or her power to meet the deadline established by the publishing house when a book is contracted. Plus, a hard worker is going to work to promote his or her book after it is released.
4) They are emotionally secure. While I don’t mind spending time encouraging and counseling my clients (this actually comes pretty naturally to me), my main job is to pitch projects. If I’m spending all day helping my clients to deal with rejection or insecurities, then I can’t effectively do my job. I look for clients who are going to trust God’s timing for publication and not let each rejection eat away at their confidence. Rejections do sting, but they shouldn’t break a writer down. It is a very good idea for every writer to have a support team beyond just his or her agent to help with encouragement and dealing with rejection. Find someone who will be there for you to pray with you–and you can return the favor!
Do you have a support team? If not, do you have someone in mind who could help to encourage you? Is there one of these areas that you could work on to make yourself even more desirable to agents?
Tune in tomorrow for a list of red flags that would discourage me from representing an author.
Congratulations on your new clients, Rachel. That’s great. These are good insights for those of us seeking representation.
I have several online support people I depend upon. My hubby wishes I would get a “real” job but my kids encourage me as much as they can–they’re still young yet.
While I am a hard worker, I still find myself wasting writing time during the week. I just polished off edits for my next book over the weekend, but I know there is another project to edit and I haven’t touched it yet this morning. I am still working on the discipline of spending as much time as possible writing, but this post has definitely encouraged me to keep at it.
Thanks for the congrats! I’m a procrastinator myself so I have to entice myself to work hard with little rewards throughout the day. 🙂
Congratulations, Rachel, and big congrats to your new clients! They’re blessed to have you on their team. 🙂
I do have a support group–more than one actually. I have my family, wonderful, funny people, they are! I have local writers who always have the right thing to say. My critique partners know my writing better than anyone, and they’re so encouraging. Plus, I have so many caring writer friends I met online. Sometimes I feel like I was the jackpot winner at friendship!
The most important member of my team is the same as most of the writers who will stop by today–the Lord. When it comes down to it, He’s the one who picks me up and kicks me in the buns to keep going!
Looking forward to tomorrow’s post!
Thanks! 🙂
Great post–very clean cut and to the point, great things to learn from.
Now, I’m anxious to know who you signed so I can cheer for them. 😉
Thanks for this post, Rachel. And congrats to your new clients!
Besides God, my biggest go-to people are my hubby, my critique group, and my blogging buddies. It’s great to have writer friends that know what you’re all about.
Looking forward to reading about those red flags… 🙂
Such great points, and I echo what Heidi and Jill said. It makes all the difference in the world to have a God whose plan we can trust, and to know His timing is perfect. I think this is true in any area of life– “dead ends” are not purposeless (http://bit.ly/yyUTgV). There is trust to be grown, there are lessons to be learned, there’s a heart to be molded on the road, whatever that road may be.
As for a support system, it’s so neat to see who God brings into that role. My husband is such a blessing; always there to pray with me and re-direct my attitude, help me surrender my perception to the One who put me on this journey.
My co-host of our online book club has also become a prayer partner, and I couldn’t be more thankful!
I love how you presented your expectations. A client needs to have trust to go far in the publishing business–trust in God, trust in agent, trust in publisher, and trust in self. I’m so thankful for the writing support team I have. Each person is an integral part of helping me succeed as a writer.
Yay for new clients! They are lucky to have you. 😉
My elementary school teachers always said I “worked well with others.” I hope it’s still true. 🙂
Congrats on the new clients!
A big congratulations to your new clients and to you, Rachel! They are very blessed to be part of the Books & Such crew. 🙂
Thank you so much fro sharing this, Rachel! And congrats on your two newbies.
Loved this!
I look for clients who are going to trust God’s timing for publication and not let each rejection eat away at their confidence.
Great post and congratulations to you and your new clients.
I have great support. Other than encouragement from family and on high, I’ve joined Romance Writers of America. Those members are excited for every success and a great resource on how to improve. I’m also an administrator for the Fictionista Workshop, and those ladies are always supportive.
As for areas to work on, I’m hoping I have these traits already (especially #1!). There is always room for improvement in everything, though.
I’m so glad you shared this. It’s sometimes hard to muddle through all the information on how to get an agent but focusing on a great book, great attitude and personal contacts sometimes miss the list. Well, not the great book part but the personality part.
I’m thankful for a great local crit group, friends who believe in me and will tell me when I’m being a stinker and a supportive husband. I couldn’t do it without them.
Fabulous, to the point post.
Thanks!
Thanks for the comments! I appreciate it. Sorry I haven’t had a chance to reply until now.
My husband, parents and my close friends from church make up my support team. They’re always there for me when I need prayer and encouragement. 🙂