What’s That Literary Agent Thinking?
Episode One: Will We Work Well Together?
In my past career, I’ve had plenty of experience working with clients, leaders, and team members, helping them overcome obstacles and succeed in their professional lives. I’ve discovered vast similarities in the agenting world. What I wasn’t prepared for is the emotional rollercoaster, such as the heartache of rejecting an author’s manuscript.
I’ve been on all three sides of this equation—working for a publisher, as an author represented by an agent, and as a literary agent. Trust me when I say there are a lot of emotions involved (on all sides of the coin) in getting an idea from laptop to bookshelf.
With the intent to be supportive, transparent, and insightful, I’ve created a series of blog posts focusing on the emotionally charged questions—and underlying logic—critical to a joyful and fruitful author/agent relationship.
Will we work well together?
The first, and probably the most important thing (even above and beyond the manuscript), is building trust and a strong working relationship. This is critical. At The Purcell Agency, we like to call authors before making an offer of representation. There are several reasons for this, and each agent has unique goals for this call, but for me, a big one is determining if there’s a fit.
Can we get along?
Is there friendly, open, and honest communication?
Will we work well together and build trust?
How can I help them and how will they help me help them?
Will they be able to work independently and be patient with the process?
Can they commit to the work ahead?
These are just a few of the questions running through my mind as I spend time getting to know an author.
In some cases, it’s not a fit. We either don’t click, have different expectations, they don’t like me or my style, or we can’t agree on a strategy moving forward. An example of this is when an author wants to enter into the agreement with goals and directives that I can’t commit to. I’m not saying this is wrong; this strategy may be better suited for a season agent. I prefer easy-going collaboration from the get-go. Therefore, as much as I love their manuscript, I need to be brutally honest with them and myself.
Enter emotions.
Severing ties with an author (even temporary) sticks with me for a long time. All I want to do is get on the phone and find an agent that is a better fit for them. But of course, I can’t.
When I meet an author who’s a joy to talk with and is willing to work hard and take a chance on me (and presents a fabulous manuscript), then the fun begins. Yes, we will have our moments and disagree from time to time. But if we can work well together, then we can learn well together, too. This is just one of the agent empathy-infused thought processes that you might not see or guess is going on when your manuscript is received.
Want to hear more? Stay tuned for the next installment in the “What’s That Literary Agent Thinking?” series. While these are my heartfelt, honest, and transparent insights, I know I’m not alone in thinking and feeling this way. I hope they serve to shine a spotlight on the emotional rollercoaster that literary agents ride when embarking on the manuscript hunt.
I hope this article gave you a few useful ideas. I would be honored if you shared it on social media. Speaking of sharing, please share your ideas and experiences below. Together, we can build an uplifting community that uplifts each other’s happiness, well-being, creativity, and success.
Image Courtesy of Pexels
