Debut Author Interviews

Is an agent useful or necessary for a first-time author?

• Marlane Kennedy on...Agents
• Heather Tomlinson on...Agents
• Sarah Aronson on...Agents
• A.C.E. Bauer on...Agents
• Carrie Jones on...Agents
• Paula Chase on...Agents
• Kelly Bingham on...Agents
• Stephanie Hale on...Agents
• Ruth McNally Barshaw on...Agents
• Melissa Marr on...Agents
• Greg R. Fishbone on...Agents
• S.A. Harazin on...Agents
• Sarah Beth Durst on...Agents

Is an agent useful or necessary for a first-time author?

My publisher, Greenwillow, is closed to unsolicited manuscripts. I never would have a chance with them without being repped by my wonderful agent. So, yes, I find it useful to have an agent. However, during my pre-agent days I didn’t have any problem at all getting my manuscripts read by publishers who had an open door policy. I had many requests for sample chapters and fulls just by sending out query letters. It isn’t necessary to have an agent—but I guess you could say it sure helps (as long as you have a legitimate, enthusiastic agent, of course!).

Is an agent useful or necessary for a first-time author?

Useful, yes. Necessary, no.

As Marlane said, agents can open doors to publishers that are “closed” to unsolicited submissions. Also, your work will be seen much more quickly if an agent sends it to an editor than if you send it to the company’s slush pile. But in the time you’re querying agents, you could be getting direct feedback from the editors who will actually buy your work.

If you’re just starting out, my advice would be to focus first on improving your writing, and second on selling it. When you go to conferences and workshops, meet other writers and read their books and blogs, you’ll get a sense of which agents you might want to work with. In my experience, the children’s literature community is extremely supportive, and full of matchmakers! As others read your writing, they’ll naturally point you in the direction of editors and agents.

Is an agent useful or necessary for a first-time author?

I love having an agent.

Having a person—not a relative—who believes they can make money representing you is the greatest confidence boost. My agent is also a great editor, advisor, and friend.

And could I have read and understood the contract without him???

No way.

My advice to new writers is to look for an agent. And if you get a contract without an agent, use that offer to find one. Then you can concentrate on writing…and blogging…and emailing!
:-)

Is an agent useful or necessary for a first-time author?

I sold my novel without an agent—it came out the slush pile. I hired a literary attorney to negotiate my contract, which was money extremely well spent. Would I want an agent for future books? You bet. I’m slow with the submission process, and research about publishers takes time away from writing. But to answer the question: Is an agent useful for a first-time author? Yes. Is one necessary? No.

Is an agent useful or necessary for a first-time author?

In about a month and a half I sold two books to one publisher without an agent.

Do I wish I had an agent then?

Yes.

I panicked. I called all the attorneys I knew. Friends donated their dads who were attorneys. A friend’s BRILLIANT agent kindly advised me, and didn’t mind that the entire time I talked to him I was itching because all the stress gave me eczema.

I did the contracts on the first two books myself. I got my Sweet Editor Man to increase the advances by myself. It was lovely and cordial and fine but I still hated it.

Fast forward about two or three months and I was talking to my Vermont College mentor, Kathi Appelt. She said in her beautiful soft Texan voice, “Honey, you really need to get an agent now.”

And I said in a shrill New England voice, “What?”

I thought, “Agents give me eczema.”

I told her my story. She gave me two names. I emailed the first name. He emailed back.
He and I meshed. Except for the fact that he’s NEVER worn a flannel shirt. How can a Maine author have an agent who has never worn flannel? I don’t know. Still, I love him.

So now I have an agent and when I write things, I get to send them to him, and he gives me lovely revision ideas. Then I revise. Then he sends them out. Then I don’t have to worry and I can just write.

Why is having an agent amazing?

1. Like Sarah A says, you have a brilliant industry-knowledgable set of eyes looking at your work.

2. They say things such as, “This is brilliant.” And that really means something.

3. You don’t have to get eczema when a production studio wants to look at optioning your second book, which hasn’t even been revised (by editor and you) yet. Why? Because Super Agent Guy will say, “I’ll have our movie rights people handle that.”

4. Sometimes agents are cute and sign their emails xo.

5. If you have an agent you don’t have to break out in hives when you see the contract. Or call in favors from attorneys. This is a DANGEROUS practice. Believe me, I know.

6. It’s nice to live somewhere like Maine and have your agent call you on the cellphone during a junior high soccer game. It makes you feel all cool inside.

7. They really do know so much more about the industry than the typical writer, meaning me. They really do casually mention things to editor types at lunch or while sipping martinis. They open doors.

But you don’t HAVE to have an agent. Stephen King has brilliant anti-agent advice. By the way, Stephen King, a Mainer, does wear flannel.

Kelly’s answer to this question is pretty much right-on so I won’t repeat it, except to say that you have to find an agent you mesh with, someone who suits you.

Is an agent useful or necessary for a first-time author?

I really think that whether an agent is necessary or useful is dependent upon 1) how much you have on your plate as you’re establishing a writer career and 2) how far you want to take it.

I’ve heard of many authors who went it without an agent. I admire each and every one of them.

For me, I felt having an agent was necessary. Why?

Like any industry, there’s turnover in the publishing industry. Editors move from one house to another. As a matter-of-fact the editor that acquired So Not The Drama had just moved from Hyperion to Kensington right before we subbed to her.

Keeping up with what editors were where was something I didn’t have the time or patience for. There are so many imprints and houses to research to find the editor that may be most attracted to your work. When I set out to sub, those things overwhelmed me. The pool of agents who acquired YA was a much more manageable thing for me.

What it all boiled down to, for me, was time and expertise. When I began submitting my mss I was coming off of a layoff and back into the workforce. Realistically, I couldn’t juggle the editor research as well. So I stuck with agent research.

I knew I wanted to agressively pursue writing full-time and figured it would be much easier to let my agent know that so she/he could help me set a realistic timetable. Not to mention, the ready-made connections my agent would bring to the table.

Since it’s equally as difficult to secure an agent vs. an editor, my advice is to pursue both avenues, if you have the time to do so diligently.

Is an agent useful or necessary for a first-time author?

There is no question an agent can get your work read at places that would be otherwise closed off to an unpublished author with no representation. And yes, an agent can be an ally in shaping your career.

But an agent can bring their own handful of complications to the process, so choose wisely. Most agents now are something of editors: You may hear, “I’m not submitting this, I just don’t think it’s that good,” on a project you adore. You may hear, “I know you love this book but I really don’t get the ending. Let’s revise it together before we consider sending it out.” You may even hear, “Probably somebody would publish this, but it’s not going to make any money, so should we really be spending our time working on this project?” They may ask you to rewrite something in a way you don’t agree with, and you may reach an impasse on a book you slaved over for years.

You have to decide if you can deal with this. You also have to get as much information as possible about an agent you want before you sign with them. Find their clients and talk to them. I’m sure most agents are fantastic, but there are stories out there about agents that do not return phone calls, give mixed messages and little feedback on an editor’s response to a manuscript (even a rejetcion often comes with positive comments, and you need to hear those), some take lengthy vacations, a week or a month off, etc, etc. Some will not submit picture books. You need to understand what to realistically expect before you sign anything with any agent.

I had an agent myself for the first book I sold, and could not have sold it without her. Greenwillow is closed to unsolicited submissions—not to mention the personal contact my agent had with my editor there which went a long way towards getting the manuscript read right away—and this all resulted in my first sale.

I later parted ways with my agent, and am now agentless. I sold my second book, this novel (which is going to be my first book, as it turns out) on my own, with help from a fellow author who thought his editor would like my book, and let me use his name when sending it in. I handled the contract myself and did not use an attorney.

So, your options, when starting out, are limited, since so many houses are closed. But no, I don’t feel an agent is absolutely necessary. I would advise knowing who you are getting involved with and honestly assessing your personality type before agreeing to any working relationship.

Everyone is a different case. Do your work, get it great, then do your research on selling it after that. And whatever happens, keep trying. If you have a good story, agented or not, it will find a home.

Is an agent useful or necessary for a first-time author?

I don’t think I would have ever submitted directly to a publisher, I just always wanted an agent. I love having someone in the business that can look at my new work and get excited about it and know exactly who they are going to send it too. With everything else to keep up with (websites, loops, blogs, in-person visits, not to mention writing) I didn’t want to have to worry about researching the perfect editors then just have to worry about getting thrown into the slush pile for a year.

I’ve heard that it is harder to get an agent then it is to sell your book. I believe this! Agents have so many people to choose from you really have to make yourself stand out. I think attending conferences are a must just for some actual face to face time. Just make sure you research your potential agent thoroughly because there are a lot of scammers out there!

Is an agent useful or necessary for a first-time author?

I think having an agent is useful but not necessary for selling kids’ books in today’s climate.

I didn’t seek out an agent. I thought no agent would want me until I had a bunch of proven sales. But I was wrong about that. She found me.

And boy, do I adore her. I’m grateful for her support and finesse.
I know my book would have sold without her.
But I know it wouldn’t have sold so quickly and the experience wouldn’t have been so sweet for me.

Having an agent gave me boatloads of confidence where I had none before.
In those tough days while waiting to hear back from the editor, I kept telling myself, the agent loves the book, the agent is very smart and she knows the market, she wouldn’t have signed with me if she didn’t think it would sell, thererfore the book will sell and only needs to find the right editor, first.

I grew up with a huge inferiority complex.
I was the most insecure person I knew, unworthy of anything good.
Impressing a smart agent with my work did more for me than eons of therapy could ever achieve.

Is an agent useful or necessary for a first-time author?

Like all answers in the writing world (the world as a whole?), the answer to this is subjective. For me, I find my agent quite necessary. I would be completely & utterly lost without her. (Disclaimer: She pretty much went out & brought me back a bag of stars and continues to deliver meteors and other celestial goodies to my door every so often. I’m really biased.)

My manuscript didn’t need much editting according to her, so the time between signing with her & getting the deal was about 3 weeks. The time between signing & her contacting editors was about 10 days. It was a big, overwhelming, intimidating blur. Afterwards, we had almost 3 months of contract negotiations between agent & publisher. During that, we had subrights sales and queries on film rights. I couldn’t have handled any of that without her. It was very stressful every with her handling the bulk of it.

Shortly after that I was summoned to NYC for 2 days of meetings, greetings, & discussions. Again, she was there to facilitate the process & assure that my rights were well looked after.

Now she’s giving my detailed editorial notes for the second book (it was a three book deal), helping me cope with oddities I couldn’t have been prepared for (dual editors, pre-publication tour, et al). I cannot say frequently enough how much I rely on my agent’s wisdom & support. From the onset of our relationship, I have found her not just “useful” but very, very necessary.

That said, please remember that there are scammers & other foul beasties out there. Check up on any agent before you sign your name. Good agents don’t require reading fees. Good agents don’t feel threatened by polite questions or requests to confer with other clients. (I’ve willingly & gladly answered questions for writers interested in checking out Rachel’s credentials.) Like anything else in business, do your research & trust your gut.

Is an agent useful or necessary for a first-time author?

I sold my first book without an agent. It can be done. I just had to research the publishing market to determine which publishers best matched my book, and which imprints of that publisher, and which editors of that imprint. Then I had to research submission guidelines to know who wanted a query letter, who preferred to receive the first three chapters, who wanted all queries by email after 9/11/01, who would blacklist you forever if you sent an unsolicited email, and who only looked at unagented submissions during certain months of the year. I read each year’s CWIM, joined SCBWI, attended conferences, subscribed to newsletters, and used industry websites to track editors as they moved from house to house and from Assistant Editor to Associate Editor to Senior Editor status. I made a database and learned to juggle multiple submissions. For me, the entire process took about seven years.

I also handled the contract without an agent. It helps that I’m an attorney, since I had access to a law library with books of standard forms and the latest case law on the topic of subsidiary rights and copyright reversion. It took an afternoon of research, a stack of photocopies, a day to scour over the contract, and a couple months of back-and-forth negotiations.

Then I rushed to sign up with an agent, because there’s no way I’m doing all that again by myself. I wouldn’t have time to write or to promote THE PENGUINS OF DOOM if I also had to try selling a second and third book on my own! My agent also provides marketing advice and editorial review to make the book proposals as good as they can be before an editor sees them.

Is an agent useful or necessary for a first-time author?

My agent sold BLOOD BROTHERS. I am not a submitter. I’ve had friends who would tease me—before I became agented—that an editor was not going to come to my house and go through my files.

I think it’s good to have an agent. He does more than submit a manuscript and negotiate a contract. After my editor left to pursue another career, my agent provided support and reassurance.

Is an agent useful or necessary for a first-time author?

Yes. An agent is necessary/useful for a first time author.

Or at least that’s been my experience. My agent, Andrea Somberg, is my hero. Within six weeks of signing with her, we had multiple offers for my book. She’s smart, friendly, and has been an absolute pleasure to work with. And let’s face it, she made my dream come true. Enough said.