Before the Publisher: Finding the Right Agent

Agents come in all sizes and shapes. By that I mean, not that they vary in height and breadth, but that they are highly individualized in how they function within the publishing industry. Some agents are heavy weights in the best sense of the word. They are well-connected, have worked long within the industry, have a strong sense of where the industry is headed, represent authors who have created a significant presence in the market, and know how to be tough when necessary and nice when necessary.

Other agents are just beginning.  That’s not necessarily a bad thing. When starting out, they need to build a client base and make sufficient sales to continue as an agent. These are highly motivated people.

Agents also can be divided into two other categories: good and bad. A good agent works hard for you, is responsive to communication from you, has a good sense of what will sell, and is an able negotiator and strong in keeping track of details (a very important quality in an agent).

A bad agent doesn’t get your projects submitted, doesn’t know where to submit them, doesn’t have a publishing network, isn’t willing to work hard, can’t tell what makes a project salable, has a soiled reputation in the industry, isn’t liked by others in the industry, isn’t trusted, isn’t trustworthy, isn’t a competent contracts negotiator. Sounds awful? Sounds unbelievable? Uh, no. Such agents exist.

So decide right now that you will live by this mantra: It’s better to have no agent than to have a bad agent.

A bad agent is a career killer, not a career starter.

Connect with the Right Individuals

How do you know if an agent is bad? Ask around. Obviously, if you’re reading a blog, you’re connected in some way to  the publishing community and to authors. Ask who their agents are and why they like that person. Become involved in writers loops, where such questions are easy to pose. If you attend writers conferences, you’ll meet editors. Ask them which agents they regard highly. Never ask about a specific agent unless you put that agent in a grouping.

Think about it. If you’re an editor, you have to work with agents of all stripes. Should a writer ask you about an agent you’d rather take a dive into an alligator-invested swamp than work with, how can you answer honestly? If you diss that agent, word could get back to him or her. Then you’re left with still having to work with that person, only now the waters are even muddier than before.

But you can ask, “I’m interested in the following three agents. I don’t know if they’d represent me, but if you could choose between these people, whom would you rather work with?” Editors generally will respond to such a question, and you’ll soon see a pattern as you ask various editors. (It’s especially helpful to ask editors who work in the genre or category you hope to publish in.)

Selecting an Agent Fitting for You

Another way an agent can be a bad agent is by being a bad agent for you. If you’re looking for a shark as an agent, then a dolphin won’t do. Or vice versa.

Ask yourself, how do you want an agent to represent you? If you think having a tough, nail-chewing agent will serve your purposes, then ask any agent you’re considering if they fit the bill. Or if you want an agent who is more of a consensus-builder, mediator, make sure that’s whom you’re signing on with. Maybe you want an agent who has a reputation of having a good eye for your type of writing. Or you want an agent who works regularly with a publisher that you think would do well with your project.

When I became an agent in 1996, finding out what distinguished an agent was tough. Few had websites, social media was nonexistent, online research was not commonly done. So many online resources exist nowadays that enable you to be a savvy agent-shopper. Including, of course, reading agents’ blogs and following and befriending them in social media. You actually have a chance to get acquainted before you even  submit your query. And, yes, when someone’s name pops up in our lives regularly, we immediately recognize it.

What Do You Think?

What are some of the questions you’ve asked agents (either on their blogs, in personal conversations, on the phone, or via email) that you found instructive in deciding if that agent was someone whom you’d like to have represent you ?

This blog is reprinted from Books And Such website. For more great information on selecting and agent read the articles on their website: Choosing an Agent.

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Janet Grant

Janet Grant, the founder of Books and Such, understands the inside scoop on publishing as well, having helped to launch Here’s Life Publisher, managed her own imprint with Zondervan, and served as managing editor of books for Focus on the Family. Working in these capacities provided her with a strong publishing network, experience in negotiating contracts, and comprehension of each production stage a book must move through, from acquisition to printed matter.