Last week, I posted some resources for finding agents.
It’s really tough to find representation. I think, honestly, there are lots of reasons for this.
One is that agents need to believe they can find a buyer for the manuscript you’re pitching.
I have a strong suspicion that another reason is because just one author is a lot of work.
My agent, Ellen Pepus, spends a lot of time just with me. I know this because of the number of emails that we send back and forth when we’re really at fever pitch before deadline.
Ellen likes to edit. Not every agent is like that, but a lot of them are. So she’s making editorial suggestions for me before we send the manuscript to the editor.
Ellen also does other things I don’t want to do—like make friends with industry professionals. I’m really uncomfortable schmoozing and who knows…she might be too. But she does it a heck of a lot better than I do.
She keeps track of my checks—what I’ve been paid for, what I’m due for. Ellen sends me a statement for my taxes. I have a hard time keeping up with the money side of the business. I’m familiar with my contract, of course, but I don’t really want to spend my time hunting down manuscript-acceptance checks, or Kindle-version royalties, or my author copies, or whatever.
If I have any questions about release dates or deadlines or what exactly my editor is looking for? She takes care of that, too.
Basically, Ellen gets to do the dirty work and I get to just write and promote books. Which works out really well…for me, anyway.
There are some weeks that I’m a lot less time-consuming than others. But then—it seems like everything happens at once and I’ve buried my agent again.
Thanks to Ellen for all that she handles for me. And best of luck to everybody on their agent search. It does take a long time to find an agent (years, in my case), but in the end the effort is definitely worth it.
Elizabeth – You are most fortunate that you’ve got a terrific agent! Your story of how well she helps you is a good reminder of how valuable an agent can be. I’m hoping to find an excellent agent like that, too…
“Ellen gets to do the dirty work and I get to just write and promote books.”
Wow – I’m like, SO envious!
Margot–I think I must have wracked up a ton of rejections….I really lost track. The agent search was just so difficult, and I do think the fact that agents are swamped has something to do with it.
Marvin–Well, the promo side of it isn’t my favorite, but I gripe enough about it. :) You do a much better job at promo than I do…I think maybe you even enjoy it? So don’t be too envious because promo is still a thorn in my side!
Wonderful post revealing the best of the author/agent relationship.
That sounds like a good friendship as well as professional relationship.
This is a great reminder of just how busy agents are. Sometimes we forget that when we’re waiting on a response. With dozens of clients it’s easy to see how they can take over a month to get back to a query! Agents are easily some of the hardest working people!
It’s both encouraging and enlightening to read about author-agent relationships. I had a book picked up by an agent a bunch of years ago (when I knew nothing of what to expect). She basically told me she’d let me know if she found a publisher for my work and don’t bother her. She didn’t, I didn’t, and our relationship died a quiet death when the contract expired.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
I suspect also that hard-working agents like your’s want to be part of a writer’s career, rather than representing one book.
Then, all that getting-started groundwork becomes part of a long-term relationship and pays off over and over again for both the author and the agent.
Malcolm
I can’t even imagine tring to do all the things an agent does – there are so many details, so many ins and outs! I hope I’ll be able to find one when I get to that stage!
Karen–Thanks!
Alex–Definitely. And that helps, too.
Heather–I’m overwhelmed by my email inbox, and I don’t even get a fraction of what an agent gets. :)
Linda–What a terrible experience! You’re well-rid of the agent, it sounds like. I’ve also heard of authors who’ve had to fire their agents…it’s not fun, but the whole point is that they’re *helping* us. If they’re not, then they’re not doing their jobs.
Malcolm–I think you’re right. It surprised me when she and I started talking about my career goals (and sometimes I just think about things a day at a time). You’re right…the idea is a vested interest in the writer’s career.
Jemi–I’m not very detail-oriented, so it’s good for me to get some help!
There’s also far more writers than agents!
And it does take time. My buddy p.m. terrell didn’t land an agent until her third book.