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.
Just what am I doing here?
Tonight, I do not know,
and God’s made it all too clear
that someday, maybe soon, I’ll go
to another, wider place
where life will be more kind,
but is there any sort of Grace
in what is left behind?
Did the ripples of my days
wash some distant shore?
Did the echoes of my praise
to God open a door
through which benighted heathen peered,
finding naught that he before had feared?
The answer to your questions, Andrew is YES!
Thanks, Sy. That means a lot.
I agree with Sy, Andrew!
Dan,
I would never contradict you, and of course you have given the correct answer to the underlying purpose of agents. But in my own experience, (of which you are fully aware) the procurement of financial recompense is not the only thing for which agents are for. A good agent (this is based on my own experience of one) also is encouraging when things look bad, is supportive of their clients’ efforts to promote and perfect their work, gives advice on proposals, subject matter, dealing with publishers (not just financially) and steps in when needed to smooth everything over that can go wrong with getting a book out there for people to read.
So yes, it is all about the money. And so much more. Thank you, Dan.
Yes, there are a lot of things under the heading of being “published well.” All that you mentioned!
I agree, Sy. An agent helps the author sell the book in so many ways. I would want my book agent to be able to make a profitable living, and working with me as an author should contribute as much as possible to that goal. When the agent puts in the time and effort, he should be rewarded. When an agent helps me, I want to see him want to help me in part because of the financial rewards he receives. That can’t happen unless the book gets sold. It’s perfectly understandable for an agent to turn down an opportunity if he doesn’t see it as financially worth the effort. He only has a limited amount of time like everyone else.
If I have a fantastic idea for the perfect kluge, and am able to build everything but-say the casing I want to wrap it in, and I require a machinist to complete it, it’s because I need help with what I don’t already know how to do myself. A big paycheck from it might be a blessing but either way… without the help from someone who knows how to bring it to fruition, my perfect kluge just becomes a perfect paper weight. This, unfortunately, turns out to be the case too, when the machinist requires the inventor to already know how to build the casing then give them a step by step blueprint, which must fit a very detailed procedure, before they will take on the project.
Oh, I love metaphors.
And when you and the machinist work together to make sure it all works and would be great, the machinist takes the kluge to a company to manufacture and sell, and is met with a lukewarm response since they have 200 other kluges to consider for the five available spaces.
Not a metaphor – for every book a publisher publishes, they reject from 25 to 100 proposals.
This is a great mindset clarification! Thank you. 🙂
We all gotta pay our bills, right?
I always think, when an author says money doesn’t matter, that they should be blogging instead of working to get a book published.
I’m not being snarky. If we have a message we want out there but we don’t want to get paid, the logical thing is to start a blog and build an audience, right?
I am glad you were the one to suggest that! Yes, you are right.
I looked at self-publishing and it just didn’t feel right in my spirit plus the ideals I have is far too big and it will cost too much to go book by book.
I’m looking for agent because I don’t have a social media footprint and don’t have any friends because small talk is irritating. They claim my thoughts are deep when it’s barely scratching the surface. If you don’t talk or speak with purpose what is the purpose of it?
In your post you mentioned that some Christian say the money isn’t important. I know that is not true but the money isn’t directly my focus point, it is definitely necessary to provide a living and if my work can provide a good or great living, that would be a greater blessing. But the reason I start writing was two, I need to get the stories that constantly pop into my head out, to continue the story and not repeat.
Second, I desire a source that isn’t determined or controlled by others. If my stories are unsuccessful, it’s up to me to correct it.
I also desire to write diverse stories to correct the stereotype, to prove that conservative thought can be profitable. That integrity, rationality and strong Christian moral values can be combined with imagination and science fiction. Not just in books but all forms of entertainment. Not only directed to those who believe but those who don’t know. Those who think Christianity is a cage of rules and narrow-minded hypocrites.
The way of Christ has so much potential if we can help people see outside the box of religion and stay firm in the foundation of God’s word.
Dan,
You are spot on. The Bible says people should be paid for their work and payment comes after the work is completed. That includes authors, Literary Agents and Publishers. I was a former literary agent and book publisher. Everyone puts in the hard work and hopes to be paid, Pastors and Ministers included.