Blogger: Wendy Lawton
Location: Books & Such Central Valley Office, CA
So, since we keep talking about things your agent prefers not to hear, here’s yet another one: “I just wrote a proposal for a whole new idea and I’m sending it to you.”
You may be scratching your head at this one. Whatever can be wrong with a writer coming up with a new idea and proposing it?
There’s nothing wrong, technically, but. . . Well, let’s just say that if you’ve done this, created a book idea in a vacuum, you’ve missed one of the most important parts of an agent-client relationship—collaboration.
Here’s how it’s supposed to work:
[telephone rings]
Agent: Hello, Jane. Is this still a good time to talk?
Jane: Yes. I’m so glad we could schedule time to brainstorm. I’ve had a fabulous idea for the next book and I want to get your input.
Agent: Okay, sketch out the book for me. I just got back from a series of editors’ meetings and I have a list here of many of the things they are looking for. I also have a list I’ve been compiling of what editors do not want to see. Let’s see how your new idea stacks up.
Okay, that’s simplistic, but you get the point. You will save yourselves hours of work if we talk first, before you begin the hard work of creating a proposal. For instance, if you write women’s fiction and you tell me the book is from the male point of view, I’ll tell you about the brick wall we’ve hit recently with male POV for women. We’ll talk about whether the story can be told from the female protagonist’s point of view.It’s important information you need to make what might be a risky choice if your goal is to sell this book. If you were to tell me you want to write a parenting book, I’d have to tell you that most publishers have their “parenting experts” in place already. Unless you have an enormous ever-growing platform including national radio or TV or your book has such a unique slant (think Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mom), I can’t imagine getting a publisher to request the proposal these days.
As you describe the book I’ll be thinking about editors who may be interested. I may have you do a couple different proposal variations, each aimed at a different house.
I may hear your idea and see a series or a franchise instead of one book. We’d want to put that option into the proposal.
The point is, one of the reasons you have an agent is to help you hone and target your proposals. Take advantage of that.
Your turn: Does this make you crazy? Does it seem to curb the all-important muse? Do you hate having to consider the market realities during the creative process? Chime in and give us your point of view. (Even if it is a male POV. :-))
As a first time author I have one book completed, a second about half finished and a third in idea form. I’ve read so much about how I need to keep writing while trying to place that first book (and I like to keep writing!). How does collaboration work when you already have several books in the hopper?
Every post this week has opened my eyes. I didn’t realize there was so much collaboration between agents and clients about future work. Everything you said makes sense, too. Thanks!
I love this, Wendy. It’s exactly what I’d like in an agent. Doesn’t seem crazy at all.
Yes please! There is nothing more frustrating than knowing your work isn’t hitting the market! Guidance is key–and working as a team. That’s why we want an agent–yes to sell books, but as our inside view on the truth according to the publishing industry. As much as I love what I’m writing, I know being open to altering it for the market is vital to sales. There will come a time when I will be able to write what I want and not worry about it (faith here!) but for now having a clear and concise path is the only way to go.
This post really drives home the point of needing and having a good agent on board. I’ve come up with some of my best ideas during brainstorming sessions with other authors. This takes it to the next level.
Thanks for the info and explanations.
I love the idea of having a brainstorming partner who has a professional interest in whether or not my ideas are any good from the market’s prospective. Why waste time nurturing and cultivating an idea that will be impossible to sell right now? It doesn’t mean you have to deny “the muse” and throw the idea out altogether. Like Wendy said, you can see if there’s a way to adjust the original idea to make it better fit what publishing houses are currently looking for. Or you can jot down the idea in a notebook, work on something more marketable for the time being, and revisit the idea at a later time. I heard a rumor that the market has a tendency to change over the years. 😉
I can’t say that is makes me crazy, but I can say these posts are eye-opening. I want something that will sell, so collaborating with my agent before getting too excited about a possible new idea seems smart. On the other hand, what if you’re in Sarah’s position? Does that mean you put aside your current WIP and take on a new project? Maybe, but what if it is a story you’re very passionate about?
Thanks for another great post.
Cheryl
I haven’t yet quit my day job (thankfully, or I’d be a starving author), and there’s precious little I do solo. It’s all about team work. Sometimes I’m the team leader; other times, I’m not much more than an observer. I’ve seen (and felt) disappointment when someone shoots down what appeared to be a really great idea. But it is absolutely wonderful when multiple minds start to wrap themselves around a great concept–it’s like a sculpture rapidly emerging from a slab. Euphoria. . .followed by the hard work of making the idea a reality (which may generate more statements an agent doesn’t want to hear).
Thanks for the insight into life on the other side!
Just because I haven’t yet commented this week, doesn’t mean I’m not taking it all in.
I’m practicing the zen of listening.
I love collaboration. It makes me crazier to form an idea in a vacuum. Ideas bouncing off multiple minds make better ideas, in my opinion.
This whole series has been so enlightening. Thanks, Wendy. I have learned much from you.
Yes, this series has been informative, enlightening, and encouraging. Like Sarah Thomas above, I have several completed books and continue to write even though I don’t yet have an agent to guide me. I don’t consider this writing a waste of time because I’m improving my skills all along the way. Perhaps, down the road, I’ll have an agent, and perhaps, farther down the road, there will be a market for these books. In the meantime, I’m doing what I love.
Good question, Sarah and Julie. Before you have an agent, you just keep learning and keep revising. You do not have the benefit of getting market advice from an agent before you write your book. (Unless you read agent blogs. :-))
But when you sign with an agent your agent will then give you input on your manuscript. It may mean you need to revise again. In the meantime use wise writing friends for collaboration.
While it might sting if one of my ideas was by-passed during this agent-author collaboration talk, I would be much more grateful just to have the assistance and expertise! I think this post is great reminder to seek advice, too, rather than just barge after ideas on our own.