In this era of, “What can an agent do for you?” I thought a blog about the intangible benefits of visibility and relationships would be worth your time.
As a literary agent, I am blessed to speak with a great number of talented authors. Many of them are where I once was — mothers with young children at home. They are lucky to have any time to write. Travel to a writers conference? Maybe once in a while, but at great personal sacrifice. At least, even with a supportive husband, that’s how it was for me before my daughters were grown.
You don’t have to be a young mother to feel this pinch. Any writer can be overwhelmed with commitments, and perhaps financially and geographically. Family responsibilities vary. Just because your elderly relatives don’t live in your house (or maybe they do) doesn’t mean you feel you can leave town easily. And what if you’re responsible for livestock, or even family pets? “Footloose and fancy free” no longer applies to you.
Of course, conferences aren’t the only way to foster relationships. Those develop over time, for different reasons, and through various interactions. Here again, most writers are at a disadvantage over literary agents. They don’t have the opportunity or reason to interact with publishers and editors, and certainly not with a number of them, so those relationships simply don’t have a chance to be initiated, much less mature. A writer may, over time form a friendship with an editor, but casting a wide net isn’t likely for the typical writer. Not so with agent interacting with editors every day.
When a writer signs with an agent, the writer is benefiting from the agent’s relationships with publishers and ability to be visible. The writer benefits in part because editors take our calls.
Have you ever tried to telephone an editor as an unknown writer? I have. (Good luck. Results may vary!)
Every interaction I have with your editor or potential editor won’t be about you. But if I represent you, that interaction stands to benefit you, because my reputation and interactions have the potential to benefit all of my clients.
So while authors do have the ability to be visible and to interact with their editors, because of the nature of their careers, literary agents have the opportunity and ability to cast a much wider net. As always, we are here to serve you.
Your turn:
Can you name some other intangible benefits of having a literary agent?
How visible to you want your literary agent to be?
Speaking of Dialect—Yea or Nay?
Hi Tamela,
I can’t imagine trying to get published without an agent. I respect your knowledge and guidance.
A person can only juggle so many balls. For me I want to write and keep learning as much as possible to write better stories. I’m also trying to keep up on social media. I can’t imagine not having an agent to lead me down the road to publication.
I appreciate stopping by and reading your posts to learn more about the industry. Thanks for all you do!
For me, gaining an agent/client relationship with Karen Ball meant tapping into a lifetime of knowledge and experience that are simply unattainable for me as an unpublished author. She speaks, I listen. She recommends, I agree. She points, I go. The relationship is two-fold. The client must be willing to listen and learn and absorb. What do they receive in return? Nothing, unless your book is published. Heck, if Karen lived closer I’d happily get her cofee every morning. Thank you, Karen, for all you do!
Tamela, great post. Thanks for the opportunity to discuss this subject.
About one year ago Steve commented on a James Scott Bell post on the kill zone. I had an agent problem at that point. I very much appreciated the comments. I later terminated that agent relationship and sold my book directly to a small ACFW approved publisher.
Now, that publisher is running into some problems, so I knew it was time to begin looking for representation.
The first place I looked was your agency’s website. I was impressed with steve’s listing of what he reads and represents.
I’m following Steve’s blog to get acquainted with him. Watching for the next conference I can attend, where he will be meeting with writers.
Thanks for everything you all do for the Christian writing community!
I tend to spew out lots of new book ideas. (Can’t help myself!) Insight and perspective from Dan helps me see that some projects are just not attractive or publishable. So I guess the instant benefit is saving me from spinning my wheels on titles that would never get any traction.
Tamela, I appreciate this perspective. It’s a good reminder that agents help their clients in a number of ways. I hadn’t considered that you are able to help multiple clients with a single editor meeting. That makes a lot of sense. And working with an agent who is proactive in forming relationships with editors and publishing houses is a definite plus.
Other benefits . . . one I’ve heard about from agented friends is that though their relationship with their agents are professional, they also go beyond this. Some of their agents have been great encouragers for them, and they have shared publishing wisdom with these friends. I know there are other benefits as well. 🙂
I’m not sure I can say anything meaningful on the benefits of having an agent, since I don’t have one.
But it does seem to me that having an agent does fulfill “where there are two or more of you gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of you”.
Great post.
Another advantage is that when you get some not so great news from an editor, you can vent to your agent and he or she will listen, and then take time to encourage you. What your agent says in encouragement carries weight because he has the experience in the industry and represents many other authors. I have found this to be true!
Beth
Great post.
I think we get so caught up in a myriad of details–we honestly don’t consider that an agent can and wants to handle these details. In fact, it seems the agent prefers to handle the details using their experience.
Hubby and I recently had a run in with our state. They bought property bordering ours and felt we were trespassing. A friend of ours happens to be a real estate lawyer, top in the field. We went to him for help. I don’t know what he said in his conversations, but the matter was settled to our benefit. I am convinced the result would not have been the same without him. And I am convinced writers/authors would not have the same results without an agent.
One thing that occurs to me is that there are writers who simply can’t make personal contacts with editors and publishers – like me.
Email is the only way I can effectively interact now. Illness has taken a toll on my energy, and even a short conversation is exhausting. I had to speak with someone on the phone yesterday, and it was an ordeal. Talking hurts.
Meeting in-person is worse, because I can’t stand for more than a couple of minutes before I get doubled over, or worse.
And speech is very slow.
Not the impression one would want to make on an editor one meets ata conference.
So I need an agent. I need someone who’ll walk in the world for me, as far as my writing is concerned.
I expect to start querying seriously within the next four months, so I don’t have an agent yet. I do plan to try to get good one. I expect the greatest benefit of representation will be the opening of doors. My career was accelerated by three older colleagues who chose to increase my visibility with the right people at the right time. Those opened doors made all the difference. As I gained influence, I loved doing the same for younger colleagues. No matter the field, who you know can be as important to success as what you can do.
The other benefits I expect are help in removing roadblocks, guidance in making the decision of which road to take when options present themselves, and warnings before something turns into a problem.
On a more personal level, I hope to have a kindred spirit working with me, someone who will share my vision of how my books might serve God’s purposes, someone who will work and pray with me as we turn the vision into reality.
I found this site a few months ago. I have learned so much. My writing abilities have improved by leaps and bounds. I have found encouragement, and my world has been widened. Not only have I gained info for my writing but my walk with GOD has been strengthened.
I found an upcoming writers conference in Indiana, and I am excited about attending.
I have purchased books on writing that have been mentioned here and I have new direction.
Above all, I feel so blessed to be in the company of other believers. I am thankful for all who make up the Steve Laube Agency and all the work you do. I have been blessed, encourage and as the song says “I feel like traveling on”. I feel like writing on.
Linda
My agent has become a friend and collaborative partner in ensuring my book is the best it can be. He has challenged me to reposition it (which I did) and it made it so much stronger. He pushes me to focus on felt need so my reader will stay engaged with the learning presented. He encourages me in my efforts to polish and shine my little gem. His professional expertise combined with his heart for God have been of great benefit. I know I could not make my dream a reality without him. . .but most importantly, he prays for me and believes in me. That’s priceless.
There are 2 very important things that I think an agent (yeah, Steve) brings to my career:
1) experience, which is priceless
2) objectivity, which I desperately need
LOL, as a full-time teacher with husband, ten-year-old, and aging FIL among the other every day responsibilities, I need an agent to call when I’m thrilled, worried, or questioning. The can guide to opportunities, help with career detours, and often provide the yellow and red lights when something is wrong.
Best of all is when they listen 🙂
Thank you all so much for your comments, encouragement, and additional insights. I have enjoyed reading them. When this blog posted, I was flying back from a conference in Oregon. Going there — for you! 🙂
A friend had a conversation about Writer’s Agents with me ithroughout the Winter. Searching around what was available, your site become my pre-Writer’s Agent. I continue to follow your written encouragement and direction.
I have hired one of your listed Editors to check content and flow. Yesterday, the 14th, I sent the package containing 6 of the 7 books in my first series. I don’t know if my project will be excellent but I’ve enjoyed working dilligently on it and now we’ll see how it goes.
It has been 20 years from starting the idea for myself and then working on presentation to others. So I celebrated yesterday. Big wonderful day.
Thank you for giving me the information I needed to go from where I thought I was done to closer to where I need to be. And with your wide information I kept a good attitude because I knew better how normal goes.
Now I’ll read a couple older posts as part of my new habit. You are, for now, my Writer’s Conference also.
tangible benefit–
Learning about Writer’s Agents brought me to the thought that you will exponentially increase the territory that my information will get to. And you will do it all smoother than I ever could.