I’m repped by a well-respected agent who has made a few decent sales and is an all-round awesome human. Problem is, in the three years we’ve been together, she has shopped six of my books and none of them has sold. A couple have come close and been taken to acquisitions, only to be shot down. I’ve talked to her about our lack of success, and each time, she says, “I don’t know why they’re not buying!! Your writing is amazing!” We have a great rapport with each other, and I have zero complaints about her. But...well, something is obviously not working. I’m also aware that she’s doing a heck of a lot of work for me and not getting paid for any of it, which makes me feel really crappy. At what point should we part ways?
I've had this happen at least three times.
In two instances, the client called to say "this isn't working" and I said "I know," and we agreed a change was needed.
The third was Kari Dell. I found her a new agent.
Your agent is probably as frustrated as you are.
Nobody making money is not a good thing.
Make an appointment to talk to her and lay this out.
See what she says.
Don't just send an email pulling the plug or call her out of the blue.
You want everyone rested and ready for this call. They're not easy.
I will say this: the two clients who left cause I couldn't sell their books are now very happily published. And Kari? Well she's clutching a bestseller ribbon and some very nice awards.
10 comments:
First, Opie, let me say "wow!" Six saleable books in three years? That's excellent! I'm impressed, anyway. :)
I'm definitely with Janet here. Talk to your agent, voice-to-voice if not face-to-face. Hopefully, if your agent is the wonderful person you say she is, she'll advise you in a way that's best for your career. Even if all she gets out of all this is a good conscience.
As for feeling crappy about your agent working hard for you with no return, I get it. I would feel badly too. But she understood the risk when she took you on. It's the same for every client. And, as I understand it, this is par for the course when it comes to being an agent. Each new client is a risk. But the agent takes them on because they believe that writer is worth the risk. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn't. But if she thought you worthy of her time and energy, she'll no doubt do whatever's in your best interest.
All the best to you! :D
OP, congratulations on great forward movement! You aren’t alone in your dilemma!
This column is why I love QOTKU so much. Such a gracious discussion and acknowledgment to those who’ve moved on! Class act!!
Class act, indeed!
Best wishes for you, OP. Your day is coming!
Publishing isn't a market, it's a bunch of markets. An agent who's great at selling some kinds of books into some markets, who knows those markets, their editors, and what those editors are buying, can't necessarily sell into your market, or can't necessarily sell your book into that market. It's not a flaw: everyone has limitations.
Besides, wouldn't you prefer a specialist who knows everything and everyone that might be involved in selling your book to a generalist who knows a little bit about sellingevery book?
The problem is finding that specialist. Keep trying until you do.
I may someday need to find an agent who can sell 150K+ word debut SciFi. That won't be easy, but they're out there, because it's been done.
My Queen, have you started that exploratory thing for your run towards the Presidency yet? We really could use an honest person or two in government.
O.P.: Talk to your agent. I am sure she sees the futility of her approach too. If you don't mind being traded for a six pack, or something, press the issue. You can only be frustrated for so long before something breaks.
Best of luck to you, but I think you will be fine in the long run. I think part of the problem is this era of escapism we are currently in. People need something to remove them from the reality of our current political situation, worldwide.
Question: as these six books have already been on submission, would it be fair to expect that if the OP found a new agent, it would have to be with new book #7? I remember many posts about how difficult it is to sell a book that's already been submitted to publishers.
I have a question for Janet: what changed when the writers found new agents?
Thanks for this. I have a ms that isn't selling (at least I don't think so) and I need to pluck up some courage to ask about it. I'm well into #4 Ms, but don't want to give up on #3, yet.
Oof. Sorry to hear this, OP.
I am curious what one (hard-working, experienced) agent might have over another, if they rep the same genre.
Sarah G, I think the answer in the past has been yes - that OP wants to query a Book 7. Once Book 7 is successfully published, Books 1-6 have a greater chance of being reviewed again.
Lennon/Liz: I think the answer is the fact that even seasoned agents have their strengths and weaknesses. They have different relationships with different editors. One agent might have a "magic touch" with certain kinds of novel. While Janet may be comfortable in a certain genre, another agent may have more sales in that genre, and could perhaps leverage that experience and those contacts to sell a novel Janet might not be able to sell. It might simply be that another agent has a different strategy that works for her, and happens to work for a client Janet was unable to help.
Thankfully, agents are author advocates. So while there is a certain amount of competition, ultimately they all (well the best ones anyway) want what's best for the author. If that means passing the author to a colleague at another agency, then so be it.
That's my take. I too would be interested to know what Janet has to say about it. :)
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