Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
When I first became an agent sixteen years ago, I envisioned myself representing best-selling projects that would bring in hefty paychecks for the rest of my life. That meant I could sip refreshing drinks accessorized with little umbrellas and sigh happily when I thought about the Jag in my garage.
That daydream disappeared a long time ago! But don’t you wonder what agents do all day since we claim we aren’t lounging around with our feet up on our desks?
Here’s a peek into one of my days last week.
I start out the work day with a quick social media check-in: read some tweets, write some tweets; skim
my Facebook wall, make comments where appropriate and write a little something; see what’s happening on our blog.
I then make the phone calls I assigned myself the day before. I usually have editors or clients I need to discuss projects with. On this particular day, I have several phone appointments. One is with a publisher and a marketing director set up in response to concerns I had about the marketing plan for a client’s upcoming release.
Another call is with an editor who likes a client’s proposal but thinks it could be improved if the author implemented the editor’s suggestions. I take prolific notes and call my client to brainstorm ways to respond to the editor.
Next up on the schedule: a conference call with a client who sent me five pages of single-spaced ideas for her next project. Talk about an idea machine! We have a stimulating conversation as we discuss which concepts appeal to her most and which ones I think are the best match for the market and her brand.
I have three contracts to negotiate awaiting my attention. Since working on contracts can quickly devolve into nap time (“Whereas the party of the first part assigns to the party of the second part”…ZZZZZZ), I tackle this work while I’m still fresh.
During my work on the contracts, I receive a phone call from a film producer, who wants to update me on his plan to shop a client’s projects to the studios. That’s pretty fun stuff!
I also get a phone call from one of the other Books & Such agents who has a client in crisis. A major disagreement with her editor has boiled over and must be resolved. We brainstorm the best way to address this tricky situation. I so appreciate that all the Books & Such agents are collaborators. We do lots of brainstorming to help each other with the gnarly publishing issues that pop up.
Emails haven’t been attended to yet today; so after going over the contracts and sending in revisions to the publishers, I plow my way through the approximately 100 emails I receive each day. Several hours later, I emerge from the email pile-on having ridden an emotional roller-coaster that can take me all the way from: “Here’s an offer for a three-book contract” to “Great news! I just found out my book is on the best-seller list!” to “We won’t be offering your client another contract with our publishing house” to “My publisher just rejected my contracted manuscript; now what I do!?” to “Here’s a list of ten titles for my book. Which do you like better?”
In the waning light of day, I prepare a proposal to submit. This requires making sure every salable point in the project is highlighted appropriately; the project is focused just right to meet the market’s need; the author’s platform is adequately highlighted; the book’s structure is solid; the writing is strong; the title, hook and book description are honed; ideas for endorsements are strong; comparisons to other titles are fair and well thought through. I’ll do a fair share of massaging on most proposals, and at the end of the day, it will either go back to the author for more work or be ready to submit.
Deciding on which editors to submit to and creating the email that make each editor eager to open up the attachment becomes the next task.
At this point, I’m ready for a break so I’ll take an hour or two to make dinner and eat. Then I’m generally back at work, closing out the day by reading material by potential new clients or one of my author’s completed manuscripts.
Round about 10Â o’clock, I’m starting to fade. That’s when I slip into bed and close out the day by picking up my Kindle and reading either a novel for pleasure or a manuscript. This particular night I’m reading an unpublished novel by a potential client whose style I really like. I get involved and stay up too late.
Thus endeth a typical day for me. No umbrella drinks, no Jag in the garage. But plenty of stimulating work and pretty great people to work with. Ah, that’s the life.
TWEETABLES
A day in the life of an agent. Click here.
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Janet, Thank you so much for your dedication! We appreciate you and all of the Books & Such agents!
Reading this makes me want to take a nap 🙂 Ditto Carol, thank you for all your work. I love that you are making a difference representing work that brings people encouragement and offers hope. I know I want one of you in my corner someday.
You keep long hours and it sounds like you are amazingly productive. I had to chuckle at the idealistic visions you had when you first began working as an agent. This weekend, when I told someone I was writing a book, she said, “Oh, you’re going to be rich!” I laughed and gently corrected her. 🙂
Ideal life and real life often never cross paths. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your day. It’s encouraging to see how hard agents work for their clients.
Jeane, it’s hard to figure out who’s more delusional at the beginning of a career–the writer or the agent. Reality swoops in pretty quickly.
That’s why sometimes you’ll see an industry professional, such as an editor, announce he or she is becoming an agent, and then, one or two years in, the agent turns to free-lance editing. After all, we receive 15% of what you earn! And it takes several years for an agent to receive money beyond a percentage of advances.
Very full days, Janet! I’m curious: When you transitioned into agenting in 1996, you were already well-known in Christian publishing. On the day you hung out your literary agent shingle and declared yourself open for for business, did this avalanche descend on you immediately? Or did these cram-packed days develop over time as news of Books & Such began to spread?
Agents were new to the Christian publishing industry, so I spent a fair amount of time explaining what agents do–sometimes to publishers, who were pretty sure they didn’t want to deal with agents.
But publishers and writers soon learned that good agents can be an important part of the equation for a successful publishing experience for everyone. That’s when the avalanche hit.
And a huge thank you to you and all agents who are representing clients for the CBA. What a difference that makes in our lives, Janet!
Wow!! That is such varied work. It’s no wonder it takes agents awhile to get through the slush pile. 🙂 Gives those of us unpublished, unagented authors a glimpse into why it can take a little time to hear back from an agent we’ve submitted to.
Lindsay, I had no idea when I became an agent that I would need to play so many roles, even in just one day. This job demands a breadth of skills that’s really pretty breathtaking. Some days I’m amazed at the kind of mediation–or triage–I need to do to hold my clients’ world together.
Part of the reason it takes us awhile to respond to unagented writers is that we have to make our present clients our priority. I know that’s what every unagented person would want us to do, if they were our clients, but it does explain the slow-moving slushiness of our pile.
Exactly. It makes complete sense. When I do have an agent, I want one who thinks like you do. 🙂
Thanks so much for this post, Janet. It’s so helpful to have this insight into the life of an agent. It’s easy to consider agents the bad guys–the ones who keep us from getting published. It’s now easy to see your dedication and how much you strive to do your best for all of us.
Many blessings,
Cheryl
Cheryl, your remarks remind me that I sometimes am viewed as a roadblock. I hate that. I’d rather think of myself as a facilitator, but I hear what you’re saying.
Spin the “road-block” a little. Have you ever been stopped and told to wait, then drive slowly by and see what you were waiting on? A tree down, an accident, a sink hole. Road blocks shouldn’t always be viewed as a negative. Sometimes they protect us better than our own judgement.
There. That’s my “Pollyanna was here.” thought for the day.
Oh Janet, but contracts are such stimulating reading! Why, when I was in my first year of law school, I would stay up until midnight reading for Contracts 101…. That was the hour when I would fall asleep at my desk. 🙂
I’m grateful for all the hours you put in to bring us such excellent books to read. Sounds like a fascinating job!
Meghan, contracts are amazing. But they require intense concentration because the reader has to be thinking about all the scenarios to which a clause could be applied. It’s easy to just read the words and not think about implications. So I work on contracts when the brain is ready to engage at a deep level.
Being an agent is unendingly fascinating. I often am astounded at what an email or a phone call can press into my day–either deliriously wonderful or shockingly dismaying.
Wow. Bless you, Janet! What a schedule. Thanks for a peek into an agent’s day.
Like Lindsay said, it makes those of us with queries and proposals out realize why it takes a while to hear back from agents. 🙂
You could still sigh happily after that productive of a day. Wow.
Gnarly publishing issues, and proposals in need of massage are two more reasons why I hope to work with a reputable agent like yourself someday.
See you in the redwoods Janet.
Jenni, yup, we’re just days away from Mount Hermon! See you there.
This reminds me of your posting last week about how difficult and time consuming it is to be a successful writer. An agent’s days are obviously just as full, if not more so! And now, if we could just get a publisher to tell us about his day, I’m betting we’d see more of the same. It’s just hard word to produce a book, from start to finish. And I’m guessing that it is never truly “finished.”
Leia, you’re so right about a publisher’s day. Full to overflowing with work that’s sometimes grinding and sometimes gratifying. Imagine trying to provide leadership to a publishing team in today’s complex industry.
Hydrate, protein, prayer. Repeat as necessary.
🙂
That’s grand advice, Kathryn.
Brilliant! I would add breath to this list.
I’d say not only is this helpful for those seeking to get traditionally published understand why, as Lindsay pointed out, why it can take a while for a writer to hear back from an agent, but is also helpful for those writers pondering going the self-pubbed route, to realize the sort of hectic work they’ll have to do since they won’t have an agent:
Negotiating contracts with cover artists and maybe someone to edit your manuscript; the hours each day of social media promoting / platform building / answering emails and discussing with bloggers and other folks to see if they’ll review your book or let you guest-blog; doing much more research on the industry and successful marketing strategies instead of having someone with tons of experience in the field to discuss with; so on and so forth.
It is good to see the appreciation for hard-working agents here, and the appreciation for all that they do for writers so we can focus more on the actual writing. 😉
Larry, you’re so right. Self-pubbing means you ARE the publisher and agent as well as the author and the techy guru. Lots of roles for most writers who just want to write.
Plus, when a person concentrates on being just an agent or just a publisher, that specialization provides the chance to develop a deeper knowledge than trying to be all things to all people.
What a job! It sounds like you’re easily putting in twelve hour days. And I’m sure that taking a vacation or a day off only means the workload will be that much bigger when you get back. How do agents take time off and survive their return?
One of the things I do like about your agency is that you’re all a team. You and your fellow agents and even your writers. There certainly is strength in numbers, and after a day, week, month at this pace, I’m sure you all need that support from each other.
Thanks so much for sharing, Janet.
Sally, yup, I generally work 12-hour days. Taking time off is scary. A vacation feels impossible. The thought of how far behind I would become gives me a nervous tic. I take one-week vacations–and check emails, which I know is really bad. I’m going to try to have a full-blown vacation in October sans emails because it’s crazy not to. Wish me luck!
Bravo! Mentally planning now should help you let go. It will be a well deserved rest!
Hope it works out, Janet! And checking email on vacation–I think lots of us do it!
Thank you for maintaining due diligence with contracts and negotiations. You have an excellent reputation, as does your agency.
Your day makes me glad to be a writer, not an agent. Maybe those umbrellas were overrated, anyway.
I love what a do, even if I’m not sipping drinks with umbrellas in the glasses. I think you’re right, Marilyn, they’re overrated.
That’s so funny Janet, you and I had the exact same dream, except that I was your best-selling author racking in the bucks for both of us!
It’s a good dream, Leslie,just not our reality. I’d probably be bored anyway.
Wow! Thanks for sharing! That was interesting information!
Janet, may the Lord continue to shine His favor on your effort. Such dedication!
My Jag is going to be British racing green with a tan interior.
Each year I ask my staff what their favorite part of the job is and what’s their least favorite. Then we try to get creative about how to do more of the good stuff and mitigate the necessary but less fun stuff. How would you answer that question?
That’s a tough question, Sarah, because I like so many aspects of my job. The good stuff: getting a solid offer for a client. The best stuff: placing a writer’s first book with a publisher. The less fun: having to let a client go because I’m stuck and don’t know how to help him or her move forward. Also, dealing with someone in a publishing house who is unwilling to engage in real dialogue about a situation that needs attention but instead stalls or puts a PR spin on the issue.
Great post–helpful and insightful, with light, tasty, seasonings of wry humor and good will. Oh, seems dinner prep has assumed a part of the brain. Well, anyway, here’s to lifting our glasses, sans umbrellas, to you and all hard-working agents whose perseverance and passion help light the way for others–authors and publishers alike. Bravo! 🙂
Thanks for the peek behind the curtain Janet. It was illuminating. It’s also a great reminder of how many folks work so hard to get books into the world. That’s exciting to remember since as a writer I sometimes feel so isolated.
See ya soon at Mt Hermon! Busy but fun times!
Good point, Lisa. It takes a village to make a book. Well, unless the writer decides to BE the village.
Janet, after reading about your day, I only have two things to say, ‘Oh, my gosh’ and ‘God bless you.’
Thanks, Carole, I needed that response. :-/
Hi Janet,
I loved this post because it offered so much perspective for those of us who haven’t even queried yet! I can only speak for myself, but I tend to focus on this question: “When agents are combing through hundreds of query letters, looking for the best, how can I make my concept stand out?” While that is a necessary question, it also disregards the hundreds of other emails, phone calls and tasks sitting on an agent’s plate; agents aren’t just sitting around searching through query letters (not that I thought that before, but this post gave me a much more detailed view). That, of course, makes it all the more challenging to get an agent’s attention, but I appreciate the reality check.
I have to say that I’m amazed you all keep up such an active blog, and in particular, respond to comments. It’s extremely impressive that you engage with all of us here. It goes beyond simple blogging to personal kindness. Thank you!
Natasha, here’s a secret we agents seldom reveal: We love discovering new talent. Introducing a new writer to the world is one of the most rewarding aspects of our job. So we plow through a lot of bad queries and proposals, looking for the gems. And when we find one…Eureka! We’re almost as giddy as the writer. That’s why we try to teach how to get our attention; we want to find the gems. Meanwhile, you’re trying write the gem. It’s a match made in heaven. (Once we finally make the match.)
The Books & Such agents enjoy the company of our blog commenters, and while responding to comments takes a lot of time, we savor the connection. The time we spend on the blog is crazy-silly in light of each day’s contents, but I personally have no interest in “freeing” up the time.
What a refreshing secret! Thank you so much for sharing that. I’m so grateful for your blog and comments!
I was also going to mention vacation time, health and fitness. But nothing I could say would add much to what has already been said. How about this one…what do you do for fun? *Non-work related* fun?
I’m a wife, a mom, a writer, etc…but give me beat up antique and a random orbital sander and I am in heaven!! I could spend the entire day in my garage!
Do you escape into something that has nothing to do with work?
I enjoy preparing an artful meal. Chopping, blending, simmering and sampling all are great escapes for me. I’m an inveterate reader, too, and belong to a book club that keeps me reading for fun. And we have fruit trees that demand I deal with plums, apples, pears (and grapes) when the fruit is ready, not necessarily when I am. Dining out and a thought-provoking or funny film also appear on my want-to-do list. Oh, yeah, and season tickets to local theater woo me away from my desk. Not to mention extended family and time spent with them. As you can see, my life does go beyond agenting.
Thanks for sharing what your typical day is like. It was interesting to find out the details of an agent’s work!
I love how your shift in perspective helped you find joy and satisfaction, even without the Jag. 🙂
A Christian speaker once said any time our goals depend on someone/something else, we will inevitably wind up frustrated and disappointed. You make such a powerful point regarding our need (whether we’re agents, publishers, writers, or readers!) to find contentment where we are now. Then if (or “when,” haha!) that book hits the bestseller lists, it will be awesome but won’t MAKE us happy… because we already are.
Thanks for the wonderful reminder.
That’s an important for all of us, Rebekah.
Wow, that was really interesting and informative. Thank you for that. =) It seems like a fun, if crazy, job.
Yup, fun-crazy pretty well describes it.
Wow–this is amazing. Thank you for giving us this peek into all you do for us writers! One thing that especially struck me is how you at Books & Such help and support each other with tricky situations–what a blessing to see. May the Lord bless each of you for all you do!
Kiersti, we Books & Such agents often say we wouldn’t do this job if we couldn’t do it as part of a team. When something crazy wonderful or crazy awful happens, we turn to each other for emotional, spiritual and mental support. Not to mention for great ideas on how to deal with a situation.
Thanks for sharing a glimpse of your day. It is always helpful to get that type of perspective as a writer. It is so easy to forget how hard all of you work while we are writing. A great agent is no small thing. Thanks!
Janet, when I became acquainted with the Books & Such Literary Agency, I was pleased to learn your agency specializes in books under the Christian publishing umbrella. After I retired from public school teaching in June 1992, I had a year in which I used to tell friends and acquaintances, “through the grace of God and the generosity of my husband, I don’t have to be working.”
One Saturday in August 1993 my husband said to me at lunch time, “it sure would be nice if you could find something to help us out some with our income.”
The following Tuesday I stopped at a small Christian book store to buy a birthday card for my grandmother. On the counter was a message on a piece of yellow legal pad paper: “Wanted – Sales Associate. Must have Christian bookstore experience.” My hand was on the door knob to leave when it was as if I heard a whisper from God: “I don’t think the side of the counter your experience was on matters.” I had visited numerous Christian bookstores during my year away from teaching. I returned to the counter, asked it the position was still available, was told that it was and was asked if I would like to take an application with me. I obtained the job as the store’s only Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. sales associate. Soon after I began my employment our manager/bookkeeper said to me, “I don’t see why you can’t keep on with your writing while you work for the bookstore.”
I amended my statement about God: “Then, due to the needling of my husband and the nudging of God, I found employment at a Christian bookstore.”
Barbara, it’s all about perspective, isn’t it? Thanks for sharing your delightful (and well written) comment.
Janet, thank you, and have a good evening.
Janet, now I don’t feel so bad about my workday.
By the way, its a good thing you didn’t buy that Jag — because you’d never have time to drive it.
Peter, ha! Good point about the Jag. *Imagining it languishing in my garage.*
So, if I send you some drink umbrellas,will you take me on as a client … no no no. Just kidding. I know you don’t take bribes … but … how ’bout the jag? Now, of course, you KNOW I’m kidding!!! Jags are too hard to ship.
Keep working hard for your people. I’m sure it’s appreciated. Sounds exhausting to me. So glad we writers have agents to do all that stuff!!!
It’s extremely interesting to see what agents do all day. I for one am amazed at how much they get done, especially with multiple clients to keep track of.
Bless you all!
“Keeping track” is the operative phrase for an agent. We have a TON of stuff we have to keep track of: proposals sent to us; proposals sent out; checks coming and going; which editors have which projects; what editor likes certain authors’ style; what each editor at each house is looking for; where each contract is in the back and forth of negotiations, etc.–multiplied by number of clients.
Wow! Sounds like a LOT of work! Thanks for posting this….Interesting read.
I also see you doing a good deal of hand-holding, pastoring, comforting, planning talks for writers’ conferences and retreats, a fair amount of travel, studying industry trends, interfacing with (and influencing) publishers… an all purpose publishing maven! Thank you.
Oh, yeah, add that stuff to the list as well.
You’re welcome!
Wow. I knew an agent is busy, but I had no idea how busy. Thank you for the window into your world.
I’m glad that you are gifted to do it so your authors can sleep easy at night (well, unless they’re up writing LOL) knowing that their best interests are taken care of so that they can concentrate on what they do best: write.
I got exhausted just reading this post! I guess I can just say thankyou for doing what you do. While you’re talking to that movie person on the phone, you could always try and get yourself a role on the movie, just for fun!;)
Thank you for all the ways you take care of us, Janet!