In the classic 1999 movie comedy Office Space, there are many memorable lines, such as, “The people to cake ratio is too big,” describing an office party, and “Yeah, I’m going to need you to …” sentence starter for anything the boss wants, to my favorite, delivered by one of the consultants tasked with finding inefficiencies, “What is it you do here?”
I have thought of asking that question any number of times in my career when the role of someone I encounter seems “ambiguous” at best.
So, when an attendee of a Christian writers conference asked me that question in a panel Q&A a couple of years ago, I knew what to say. But I paused for a few seconds, since the real answer is not something many Christian writers want to admit.
A literary agent’s role is to help an author be published well and maximize financial compensation for their work.
Some Christian authors seem compelled by the Christian subculture to give a disclaimer before meeting with anyone about their work: “Money is not important to me. I don’t care if I make any money at all.”
If you genuinely mean this, you are the only one in the book-publishing ecosystem who isn’t considering the cost or potential financial return of a book. Even self-publishing or hybrid publishing companies regularly reevaluate their pricing and royalty structures to ensure they make a profit on every project.
Everyone else is considering the financial aspect of publishing books. Authors need to as well.
Why are we embarrassed to discuss it?
Let’s face it, every church needs money to continue its work. If a congregation meets in a church building, there are expenses like any household would encounter. At some point, the roof will need to be replaced, and it will incur a cost. Also, the pastor and most staff need to be paid.
Any time you feel uncomfortable when a church discusses money, you need to get over it.
Authors who get a book published deserve to be paid for what they do. Everyone else in the process is paid, so, too, should the person who writes it. Of course, an author is writing for free until someone decides to publish the book, but agents are there to make sure they are treated fairly.
I am much kinder about this subject than I am likely to come across in person. When I am in a meeting with an aspiring author to discuss their work and they say that money is not important, I don’t respond with the obvious, “Then why are you talking with an agent whose primary job is to maximize your compensation?”
On the other hand, I wouldn’t look kindly on a Christian author who came to me and said, “I am only in this for the money.”
“Virtue signaling” is a derogatory phrase that has been used in recent years, referring to actions or statements made to make others view the person in a favorable light. For the sake of clarity in the publishing/money discussion, assume everyone knows the proper place for a financial discussion and leave it at that.
Even agents, if you can believe it.