Comments on: Five Mistakes Authors Make While Hunting For An Agent http://www.jordansummers.com/2007/10/17/five-mistakes-authors-make-while-hunting-for-an-agent/ Romance Writer & Urban Fantasy Novelist Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:07:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Jordan http://www.jordansummers.com/2007/10/17/five-mistakes-authors-make-while-hunting-for-an-agent/#comment-12381 Jordan Thu, 18 Oct 2007 21:43:32 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2007/10/17/five-mistakes-authors-make-while-hunting-for-an-agent/#comment-12381 Sarah (and Bernard), Thanks! :) Love that list. ;) *g* There is another thing that I touched upon that would work in this situation. If your agent is part of a larger agency, then in all likelihood you'll have other agents who represent your new genre. So if your agent really isn't into the new stuff, but they know agent so and so with the agency does rep these types of books, then they'd probably pass you over to that agent. This of course is dependent upon how big of an agency you sign with. Sarah (and Bernard), Thanks! :) Love that list. ;) *g* There is another thing that I touched upon that would work in this situation. If your agent is part of a larger agency, then in all likelihood you’ll have other agents who represent your new genre. So if your agent really isn’t into the new stuff, but they know agent so and so with the agency does rep these types of books, then they’d probably pass you over to that agent. This of course is dependent upon how big of an agency you sign with.

]]> By: Sarah McCarty http://www.jordansummers.com/2007/10/17/five-mistakes-authors-make-while-hunting-for-an-agent/#comment-12380 Sarah McCarty Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:51:09 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2007/10/17/five-mistakes-authors-make-while-hunting-for-an-agent/#comment-12380 Excellent discussion Jordan. It's not inconceivable that I would want to write something my agent wouldn't want to represent. Unlikely, but not inconceivable. I'm not sure what direction I'd take with that. I'll have to put that on my plan-ahead-for-any eventuality-to-do list. *G* Excellent discussion Jordan. It’s not inconceivable that I would want to write something my agent wouldn’t want to represent. Unlikely, but not inconceivable. I’m not sure what direction I’d take with that. I’ll have to put that on my plan-ahead-for-any eventuality-to-do list. *G*

]]> By: Jordan http://www.jordansummers.com/2007/10/17/five-mistakes-authors-make-while-hunting-for-an-agent/#comment-12379 Jordan Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:33:03 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2007/10/17/five-mistakes-authors-make-while-hunting-for-an-agent/#comment-12379 Catherine brings up a very good point. This goes back to having a lot of authors in similar genres too. Whether it's bestselling authors or too many authors in the same genre, a newbie author/midlist author can be in the same neglected boat. Catherine brings up a very good point. This goes back to having a lot of authors in similar genres too. Whether it’s bestselling authors or too many authors in the same genre, a newbie author/midlist author can be in the same neglected boat.

]]> By: Jordan http://www.jordansummers.com/2007/10/17/five-mistakes-authors-make-while-hunting-for-an-agent/#comment-12378 Jordan Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:31:02 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2007/10/17/five-mistakes-authors-make-while-hunting-for-an-agent/#comment-12378 Bernard, There are occasions when you might work with two different agents (ie your first agent works exclusively with young adult novels and you've written an adult thriller), but it's rare. Most agents prefer to handle ALL of your work.<BR><BR> If you have a project that they don't like, then in all likelihood they will just toss the book back at you with a 'thanks, but no thanks' kind of note attached to it. At this point, you have to decide how important the new work is to you and your future (ie do you plan to write a ton more books in this genre or is this a one off situation). If it's a one off and you really like your agent, then you have to decide if you can live with shelving the book. If it's not a one off situation, then you are going to have to take a look at your agent and decide whether you're going to stay or leave. You could always submit the work yourself (after speaking with your agent about it), but most agents don't like for you to do that either.<BR><BR>I've been through this situation and it's far from easy. :/ Bernard, There are occasions when you might work with two different agents (ie your first agent works exclusively with young adult novels and you’ve written an adult thriller), but it’s rare. Most agents prefer to handle ALL of your work.

If you have a project that they don’t like, then in all likelihood they will just toss the book back at you with a ‘thanks, but no thanks’ kind of note attached to it. At this point, you have to decide how important the new work is to you and your future (ie do you plan to write a ton more books in this genre or is this a one off situation). If it’s a one off and you really like your agent, then you have to decide if you can live with shelving the book. If it’s not a one off situation, then you are going to have to take a look at your agent and decide whether you’re going to stay or leave. You could always submit the work yourself (after speaking with your agent about it), but most agents don’t like for you to do that either.

I’ve been through this situation and it’s far from easy. :/

]]> By: Jordan http://www.jordansummers.com/2007/10/17/five-mistakes-authors-make-while-hunting-for-an-agent/#comment-12377 Jordan Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:23:10 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2007/10/17/five-mistakes-authors-make-while-hunting-for-an-agent/#comment-12377 Sarah, Good point. I forgot to mention that about agency contracts. They can (and probably should) be negotiated if there is anything in them that sounds 'off'. Also a good point, contrary to the 'feeling' we are NOT powerless in these business dealings. Sometimes (as Sarah can attest to) being willing to walk away is the BEST thing you can do for yourself and your career. Sarah, Good point. I forgot to mention that about agency contracts. They can (and probably should) be negotiated if there is anything in them that sounds ‘off’. Also a good point, contrary to the ‘feeling’ we are NOT powerless in these business dealings. Sometimes (as Sarah can attest to) being willing to walk away is the BEST thing you can do for yourself and your career.

]]> By: Catherine Morris http://www.jordansummers.com/2007/10/17/five-mistakes-authors-make-while-hunting-for-an-agent/#comment-12376 Catherine Morris Thu, 18 Oct 2007 18:45:50 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2007/10/17/five-mistakes-authors-make-while-hunting-for-an-agent/#comment-12376 I'd also like to add that a lot of writers think they want an agent who has several bestsellers on their client list, but I always caution people to think about it long and hard before signing on with that successful, "big dog" agent. I made that mistake my first time around, and found out that agents with bestselling clients tend to spend their time and energy on those clients. It makes sense, of course: that's where their money is coming from. But the little guy (me) gets shuffled to the bottom of the stack, especially if they don't sell right away. Different agents are different, of course, and the above isn't true for every agent who handles bestselling clients. It's just something else to consider, anyway. I’d also like to add that a lot of writers think they want an agent who has several bestsellers on their client list, but I always caution people to think about it long and hard before signing on with that successful, “big dog” agent. I made that mistake my first time around, and found out that agents with bestselling clients tend to spend their time and energy on those clients. It makes sense, of course: that’s where their money is coming from. But the little guy (me) gets shuffled to the bottom of the stack, especially if they don’t sell right away. Different agents are different, of course, and the above isn’t true for every agent who handles bestselling clients. It’s just something else to consider, anyway.

]]> By: BernardL http://www.jordansummers.com/2007/10/17/five-mistakes-authors-make-while-hunting-for-an-agent/#comment-12375 BernardL Thu, 18 Oct 2007 14:19:40 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2007/10/17/five-mistakes-authors-make-while-hunting-for-an-agent/#comment-12375 One other thing I thought of last night, Jordan: can you have more than one agent for different projects, if your main agent isn't interested in your new project? One other thing I thought of last night, Jordan: can you have more than one agent for different projects, if your main agent isn’t interested in your new project?

]]> By: Sarah McCarty http://www.jordansummers.com/2007/10/17/five-mistakes-authors-make-while-hunting-for-an-agent/#comment-12374 Sarah McCarty Thu, 18 Oct 2007 10:56:22 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2007/10/17/five-mistakes-authors-make-while-hunting-for-an-agent/#comment-12374 An important thing to remember about an agency contract is, just with any other publishing contract, it is the opening of negotiations and not the end of them. One big mind set mistakes I think many of us make when we are approached with an offer of representation or publication is to believe we have no power when we come to the table. As such, we tend to be grateful for anything that's handed us but in reality the reason we're at the table at all is the other party's strong belief that an association with us will make them good money. That's a pretty strong bartering chip. IOW, we shouldn't be nervous, but we should be reasonable and confident. Certainly confident enough to discuss aspects of a contract that just don't work for us. An important thing to remember about an agency contract is, just with any other publishing contract, it is the opening of negotiations and not the end of them.

One big mind set mistakes I think many of us make when we are approached with an offer of representation or publication is to believe we have no power when we come to the table. As such, we tend to be grateful for anything that’s handed us but in reality the reason we’re at the table at all is the other party’s strong belief that an association with us will make them good money. That’s a pretty strong bartering chip.

IOW, we shouldn’t be nervous, but we should be reasonable and confident. Certainly confident enough to discuss aspects of a contract that just don’t work for us.

]]> By: Jordan http://www.jordansummers.com/2007/10/17/five-mistakes-authors-make-while-hunting-for-an-agent/#comment-12373 Jordan Wed, 17 Oct 2007 19:30:48 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2007/10/17/five-mistakes-authors-make-while-hunting-for-an-agent/#comment-12373 Bernard, LOL! But seriously, you really don't want to make that mistake. It can do more harm than good to your career. I'd say the average contract lasts a year. Some contracts just say that you have to give a certain amount of notice once you fire the agent. I agree that desperation and unpublished author go together like ham and eggs, but it's amazing how fast things can go from tasty to tasting like ash. Bernard, LOL! But seriously, you really don’t want to make that mistake. It can do more harm than good to your career. I’d say the average contract lasts a year. Some contracts just say that you have to give a certain amount of notice once you fire the agent. I agree that desperation and unpublished author go together like ham and eggs, but it’s amazing how fast things can go from tasty to tasting like ash.

]]> By: BernardL http://www.jordansummers.com/2007/10/17/five-mistakes-authors-make-while-hunting-for-an-agent/#comment-12372 BernardL Wed, 17 Oct 2007 19:15:45 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2007/10/17/five-mistakes-authors-make-while-hunting-for-an-agent/#comment-12372 I'm going to make mistake #4 the moment I get the opportunity. :) Seriously, how long is the average contract? Since agents normally take between two and three months to get back to an author on a submission, it would seem like they'd need a few years to get anything done. Desperation and Unpublished Author go together like ham and eggs. They're bad for you, but they sure are tasty. :) I’m going to make mistake #4 the moment I get the opportunity. :)
Seriously, how long is the average contract? Since agents normally take between two and three months to get back to an author on a submission, it would seem like they’d need a few years to get anything done.

Desperation and Unpublished Author go together like ham and eggs. They’re bad for you, but they sure are tasty. :)

]]>