April 24, 2010
Are You Your Agent’s Client From Hell?
Book agents tend to be interesting, intelligent people who love books and love helping the good ones get published. They put up with a lot from writers, who tend to be interesting, intelligent, neurotic/needy people.
Your odds of getting an agent – and getting an agent who will really go to bat for you – are far better if you don’t become a real pain in that person’s neck. Here, in no particular order, are some characteristics of the “client from hell” from the perspective of a book agent:
1. The artiste. Many writers refuse on philosophical grounds to make any changes to their manuscripts. This is fine if you’re OK with having your manuscript remain unpublished, in your desk drawer, rather than out on shelves. Your agent and the editors he or she works with have a pretty good idea of what will sell and what won’t – listen to them.
2. The procrastinator. If you promise a revision, a proposal, a whatever to your agent by a certain date, make sure it’s there when you say it will be.
3. The snob. In book publishing, as in law (and life), it’s best to be nice to everyone because a) it’s the right thing to do and b) you never know where that administrative assistant you snubbed years ago will eventually wind up.
4. The clinger. If you have an agent you respect and trust – and you shouldn’t enter into an agreement with anyone you don’t feel this way about – there is no need to call him or her on a daily basis requesting updates, reassurance, or ego stroking. You’ll get updates when there’s news to report; beyond that, let the agent get back to work. Since agents work on commission, you can rest assured that they are nearly as eager to get your book sold as you are.
