Alma Alexander (author of Worldweavers, first in a trilogy) gives her clear opinion on how to approach the author-agent relationship, which I found refreshing. Sometimes I think I lose a little focus in my continuing search for an agent. I get too caught up in tweaking one or two words in a query that, in reality, aren’t going to make a big difference. Query letters are important, yes, but it’s the writing and the story that is going to finally nab someone’s attention.
Anyways, here are her thoughts on how to balance the between the extreme perspectives of, as she puts it:
“The agent works for YOU – what they do benefits you, and they get paid out of your slice of the pie, technically they are your employee.”
vs.
“The agent is GOD, you are so lucky to have one, don’t do anything to get them mad at you, worship them, bribe them, sweet-talk them, do whatever it takes to keep them.”
The (Mutual) Care and Feeding of Authors and Agents
She reminds us that an agent and author are in a business partnership, and should work to benefit one another instead of everything going just one way. Authors shouldn’t expect the agents to be acting as a personal valet, nor should an author sit sniveling in the corner, thrashing themselves and calling out “I’m unworthy!”
Agents are vital in the publishing industry, though it is entirely possible to forge a writing career without one…just incredibly more difficult. They dig through all the complicated contract jargon, they can often help the author get a higher advance, and they can be an invaluable source of advice and a reasonable voice as a story and career is developed.
I would rather keep looking for another six months and find a good, strong agent that works well with me and I can work well with in return, rather than land an agent tomorrow who goes about the job half-hearted and doesn’t really believe in the stories I am trying to tell.
I see that smile.
This makes me wonder… how does one choose the profession of agent to begin with.
On the topic you posted, I agree, the agent is your employee and this is a business relationship. It always confused me to see people talk about the people they hire as if they don’t deserve to have them. That made absolutely no sense to me. It’s rather unproductive to always feel worthless instead of inspired and supported, no?
A good question to put to any agent, though I’m sure the answers are as diverse as any career path. Publishing is a wide industry with a lot of niches for people to fill, and while agents are an important part of the process (kind of in the “gatekeeper” function along with editors) there is a huge crowd of people working alongside them. I could guess that agents become agents for some general reasons…they love books, they want to discover and build the careers of fabulous authors, and they likely have a passion for good stories.
Any agents dropping by this blog want to give your reasons?