On Being an Agent for Eighteen Years
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Hi friends,
Eighteen years ago this week, I joined the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency. Back in 2006, I was a wide-eyed and eager young agent ready to tackle the world. Now, I am a wide-eyed and still eager older agent who’s tackled some parts of the world and still ready to take on others. Today I’m going to share with you some of the things I’ve learned over the years, in brief. (For the long version, you’ll have to pre-order my book. I’ll let you know the link when I have it!)
So goes the proposal goes the book.
If it feels like pulling teeth to write the proposal, the book is not going to get any better. If you’re having a hard time supporting your argument in a proposal, it’ll be even worse over the course of the book.
You can’t make anyone take you to the prom.
You can’t make an editor buy your book or an agent rep your work. The only thing you can do is write your own book the best you can.
As soon as you think you know what’s going to happen, it won’t.
Nothing’s a given in publishing, and no two books work the same way.
That thing you don’t want to say or do? That’s the thing that needs the most saying or doing.
You have to do, say, write, edit the hard things. There’s no getting around it.
Publishing is a small, small world.
We all know each other, or know of each other, or know how to get in touch with each other. If you’re thinking of pulling a fast one on someone, it won’t go unnoticed.
Earning royalties feels great.
Getting random surprise checks in the mail is fantastic. Remember that if you get an advance that has a zero or two fewer than you hoped.
I’m going to be wrong sometimes and so are you.
Just because I’m an agent doesn’t mean I’m going to be right all the time. Just because you’re the author doesn’t mean you’re going to be right all the time. We’re just people and we’re all fallible.
I can’t make you any promises.
I can’t guarantee your book will sell or get a certain advance or hit the list or anything else. I’m going to try my hardest, but no agent can make you a guarantee.
I’m the least scary person I know.
People are so scared of agents!! They shouldn’t be! I know it seems like we have so much power and influence, and I won’t lie and say we have none. But we’re just people with a job selling books. Don’t be scared of agents, or your agent, when you have one.
Maybe equals no.
If I’m on the fence about something, it’s probably a no for me. It’s better to get out of the way and make room for more enthusiastic people than to hem and haw.
I’m not the right agent for everyone.
No one is. Some authors are going to choose me, and some aren’t. I’m going to choose some authors, and not others. I’m just one of many agents out there.
It’s not an offer until it’s an offer. It’s not a book until it’s a book (or proposal).
Editors can sing an author’s praises until they’re blue in the face, but I’m going to be over here saying show me the money. Authors can wax poetic about the amazing book they’re going to write, but I’m going to be over here waiting for that email with an attachment.
No one is being successful AT you.
That writer who got the big advance did not take it away from you. That agent’s award-winning clients are not taking my clients’ spots. Not everything is about you, or me.
Every book is an individual product launch.
This is why marketing is so hard!! There’s no one way to do it! Every book is different! If there was one way to do it, we’d all only do it that one way!
Your pub date is not a deadline; it’s a starting line.
Your book’s life starts on the day it comes out, and hopefully it’ll be around for a long time after.
If you notice the trend, it’s already too late.
Popular stuff you see on the shelves was sold two or three years ago. It’s tough to catch up. This is advice for me as much as it is for you.
Everything takes forever.
I’ve sold books after being on submission for a year. I’ve taken months to read a draft that we sell in five minutes. Everything should take less time but it doesn’t because there is too much stuff and not enough people. Everyone deserves some slack.
Work hard and be nice to people.
I have this on a poster in my office. My drafts folder is littered with angry emails I’ve wanted to send. But I waited, sometimes weeks, sometimes forever, and let a cooler head prevail. It doesn’t do any good to yell at people, belittle them, or say snarky things, even if they deserve it. Your firm but kind response goes much, much further.