Author Rachel Hauck on Agent/Author Relationships, Last Part
Here's the last part of Rachel's post! I hope you all find it helpful. You can find Rachel at her website, blog or at My Book Therapy.
Here she is:
Already have an agent?
1. Pray. Seriously, pray for your agent, the agency and the other clients.
2. Ask for a call once in awhile to keep communication open. If you’re not working on a project, or needing help, schedule a short call just to touch base. But make it brief.
3. When going into a contract negotiations, schedule a call with your agent to set expectations. Talk through all the possible ramifications of your deal. Ask for a marketing plan as part of the contract.
4. Ask for advice on marketing and promotions outside the publishers plan.
5. Ask your agent to be in the loop with your publisher on book covers, promotional plans, editorial ideas and issues.
6. If there are issues you believe your agent should’ve handled and did not, schedule a call. Don’t fester over it. And pray! Have an honest talk about your needs and expectations. Listen to your agent’s response. Sometimes expectations are not clear. Make sure they are.
Finding an agent is fun and interesting, frustrating and hard. But hang in there. It’s better to have no agent than a bad agent, or one who is wrong for you.
If you have an agent, be professional, pray for him or her, keep communication lines open.
Thank you so much Rachel! I really appreciate your advice.
Have any of you ever thought about praying for your agent? Do you find the agent search fun or grueling?
Here she is:
Already have an agent?
1. Pray. Seriously, pray for your agent, the agency and the other clients.
2. Ask for a call once in awhile to keep communication open. If you’re not working on a project, or needing help, schedule a short call just to touch base. But make it brief.
3. When going into a contract negotiations, schedule a call with your agent to set expectations. Talk through all the possible ramifications of your deal. Ask for a marketing plan as part of the contract.
4. Ask for advice on marketing and promotions outside the publishers plan.
5. Ask your agent to be in the loop with your publisher on book covers, promotional plans, editorial ideas and issues.
6. If there are issues you believe your agent should’ve handled and did not, schedule a call. Don’t fester over it. And pray! Have an honest talk about your needs and expectations. Listen to your agent’s response. Sometimes expectations are not clear. Make sure they are.
Finding an agent is fun and interesting, frustrating and hard. But hang in there. It’s better to have no agent than a bad agent, or one who is wrong for you.
If you have an agent, be professional, pray for him or her, keep communication lines open.
Thank you so much Rachel! I really appreciate your advice.
Have any of you ever thought about praying for your agent? Do you find the agent search fun or grueling?
Comments
Merry Christmas, Jessica!
I haven't officially started my agent search yet, so I have no idea how I'll react to the frustrations and celebrations that will surely come.
Click for my holiday message!
Speaking of lists, I'm printing off this one and hanging it in my office. Such helpful and inspiring words!
Thanks once again, Rachel and Jessie. Hope you both have a lovely and blessed holiday. :-)
Merry Christmas! May you and yours be blessed, Jessica.
Just kidding!!!
Have a merry Christmas, friend!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Ladies!
Merry Christmas.
I prayed for a husband. Why not an agent? God's concerned about every detail of our lives.
While I haven't had any success finding an agent yet, I'd rather get the right fit the first time. Like any relationship, I want to start out on a solid footing.
Blessings,
Susan :)
I could always use a little spiritual help.
Happy Holidays!
~John
I'm sorry I've been absent everyone! I'm heading to your places now. Christmas came early here but now the kiddos are playing. Woohoo!
The prayer thing is so obvious, and yet something I forget to do.
Kristen, your comment made me laugh. I don't know if it's like that, but it did remind me of how Hubby always used to pray for his future wife (moi). :-)
Or, you can pray for your agent - as in getting one!
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
wb
I've been praying for my future agent since I was 17. :)
ANd- I honestly find it grueling. The whole query thing is frustrating to me cuz I feel like it constricts the writing into a small hole. Like colors- you can say something is purple, but the best way to get across what ur trying to illustrate is to say "light lavender" or something...I get the process, but it has just always felt restricting.