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Topic: when to switch lit agents?
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| Author | Message |
| Q. Ver | Posted – 2/4/2005 2:54:27 PM | show profile | email poster I'm an experienced writer who was approached a while back by a reputable, established lit agency wanting to rep me. After more than a year of revisions and reworkings, they're still unhappy with my proposal. There's a bit of a moving target happening as well, where first they ask for one thing, and then another. I've put hundreds of hours into several different pitches that haven't made it out of the gates. I'm happy with my most recent proposal, but the agency's most recent revision suggestions are a strong change the intent of the book and I'm just not sure I have it in me to go around the block with them again ... but I don't want to burn bridges or screw myself over by bailing on these people who've had such faith in my writing. Does anyone have any advice? Is my experience totally common and I just need to suck it up? Or is there a certain point when it's time to say ''our visions clearly aren't aligned, I'm taking my work elsewhere?'' HELP! |
| eriksherman | Posted – 2/4/2005 3:40:05 PM | show profile Aside from whether you should find another agent or not, I'd suggest taking a step back and up. It sounds as though you've been tied up with the minutiae of changes that they've suggested. But do you see the overall thrust? You need to understand what they know about the market that they're trying to tell you. In the end, you may decide that you don't like where they want to take things. But it would first help to understand not just the what, but the why. ------ Author of "Geocaching: Hike and Seek with Your GPS" - hidden at a bookstore near you... |
| voxo | Posted – 2/4/2005 5:46:37 PM | show profile I agree with Erik - before you make this determination, you need to have a conversation with the agent about the why. For instance, you mention that the agent's suggestions are a strong change to the intent of the book. What's the motivation? An established agency has ongoing conversations with acquisitions editors - for all you know, maybe one of them asked you agent whether s/he has a book on the subject of XYZ, and your agent is trying to get you a quick sell. It could be many things, I'd ask and then evaluate their answer. BTW Erik, how is your book doing? Looks good - my guess (based on a cursory glance) is that your publisher and their distributor didn't get it into the right markets... probably sold it as a computer title rather than an outdoor one. To hell with being hidden in bookstore, you should be prominently displayed (face out for *free*) at EMS and the like. |
| Q. Ver | Posted – 2/4/2005 6:41:00 PM | show profile | email poster The push is about marketing. I'm deeply familiar with writing to sell, but the new angle is getting so far away from my original intent that it's starting to feel like I''m writing someone else's book. I guess it's just a line of integrity -- do I move forward with a concept that's been developed to sell, or do I back off and say ''It might be an easy sell, but it's not the book I want to write''? |
| voxo | Posted – 2/4/2005 7:08:21 PM | show profile Figured as much. Unfortunately the answer to your question is extremely personal, so you'll have to make your own decision. Half will tell you to stick with your vision, half will tell you to do what it takes to get it sold - if it is successful you will have more leverage to write exactly what you want. Either is an acceptable response. It's really up to you. |
| limericks4all | Posted – 2/5/2005 3:05:04 AM | show profile Ultimately, you are the boss of your writing career. From experience, I can tell you the worst thing you can do is make changes to a project that you don't believe in because an agent tells you too. Maybe the agent is right, maybe the agent is wrong. But you can't be a hamster on a wheel. If you simply disagree with the agent -- after giving sufficient time to weight his suggestions -- you have to say, ''This is what it is. Do you want to represent it?'' And if not, you might need a new agent. |
| caitlinkelly | Posted – 2/5/2005 10:52:39 AM | show profile ''If you simply disagree with the agent -- after giving sufficient time to weight his suggestions -- you have to say, ''This is what it is. Do you want to represent it?'' And if not, you might need a new agent.'' True. You also may find that another agent, or several, agree with your current agency. It's difficult to know when to shoot the messenger or listen carefully to them, even if you hate what they're telling you. Have you run this idea (or its iterations) past a few experienced writers whose judgment you trust? If it's just a tennis game between you and your agent, it's hard to get any sense of perspective. I'd also question why this process has taken a year. Seems like a long time to whip a proposal into saleable shape. (Not you, necessarilly, but them.) ------ Freelance writer Caitlin Kelly, has written for The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and other publications. You can read samples from her new book at blownawaythebook.com |
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