Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
Location: Books & Such main office, Santa Rosa, Calif.
Yesterday I wrote about a client who engaged in magical thinking when it came to creating a proposal. She thought she could dash off some vaguely formed ideas and get a contract. Today I want to tell you about another client who developed a proposal that just wouldn’t do. But her story is the flip side of the other client’s.
Here’s what happened.The project was complex, with lots of elements to explain in a proposal, including the possibility of a video accompanying the book. She had a powerful idea of how to make the story vivid for the reader. But she had to visit the locale of the book and conduct several more interviews before she could envision its precise structure. Therefore, the proposal was a challenge to create.
When I first read the proposal, I realized that the order in which the elements of the project were presented tended to muddle how the story would be told rather than clarifying. So I did major cutting and pasting rather than trying to communicate what needed to be done to my client. It was simpler just to do the work.
I also added quite a bit to the proposal to help to explain the book’s idea. I’ve found that often an author doesn’t know how to talk about his or her project in the most compelling way. I see it as my job to massage the proposal to highlight what I think are the strong selling points. I always expect the author to do his or her best to figure out the book’s hook and its uniqueness, but when the author fails, I step in.
I invested days in honing this proposal, but I handed it back to my client after I read the sample chapters. They had the essence of what they needed to be, but I thought they were overly literary to the point of obfuscation and too wordy. I did some editing but mostly provided direction to the author.
A short time later, the proposal was back to me along with thanks for the work I’d done. (It’s nice to have hours of work recognized–not a requirement to make me happy, but still gratifying.)
I read over the chapters and found them gaining ground, but they hadn’t arrived at their destination yet. So I dug out my editing pen (figuratively, of course) and went to work. I really overhauled the chapters. By the time I finished, they gleamed.
I sent the proposal off to my client so she could see what I had done. Then I worried. Would she be upset that I had used such a heavy editing hand? Would she think I had exceeded my role?
I’m thankful to say that she responded with a clever email about her overwrought writing, recognizing I had pulled the chapters into the shape she would have formed, if she knew how to get them there.
Now, I have to be careful not to take the chapters beyond the point the author can take the entire book. This particular author has strong writing skills; she just needed help to find the right voice and pacing for this project.
So what can you learn from this example of a good client?
- She was able to see us as a team, putting together the most effective proposal possible.
- She was responsive to suggestions for change rather than defensive.
- She recognized that I was helping to take the project to where she wanted it to go.
When an author and an agent work together hand in hand, it’s a beautiful thing. And everyone benefits.
I do need to add that I want my clients to have the freedom to say, “Um, that’s not what I intended.” I’m not a mind-reader, and I can misstep or overstep.
So,of course, the answer to the question, Who shapes the proposal, often is both the author and the agent. Agents love it when they can read a proposal and proclaim, “Perfection!” But if the proposal’s not there yet; I’m willing to help make it so.
Do you want an agent who would “fiddle” with your proposal? Why or why not?
I would! The agent is the one who will be pitching this proposal to Publishers. So the agent’s reputation is on the line for what they are pitching. If the proposal isn’t up to their standard, and up to what they know the Publishers will accept and respond to positively, then the agent should be able to have input and feedback into the proposal. It is teamwork, a partnership. They both should work on a proposal to make it the most effective in conveying the message of the book.
Bravo to you, Janet, and to your authors that listen and allow your expertise to make a difference in their writing careers!
Yes, yes, and yes! Because this is where my agent shines. This is her area of expertise. She sees tons of proposals and has a discerning eye. If something isn’t working or can be made better, I would certainly want to know.
And wow! Your team gives new meaning to “It’s all in a day’s work.”
Thank you, Janet, for a great series this week!
(I now have the sudden urge to belt out High School Musical’s “We’re All in This Together!”)
It’s got to be a partnership, no doubt.
Enjoying your series.
I definitely want a partnership. As an aspiring author, it’s grandiose for me to expect I’m an expert on proposals! If there is anything I can do to improve my chances of publication, I want to know.
LOL! Cynthia, you’re too funny. Now that song is playing in my head.
Feel free to fiddle away with one of my proposals. It shows me you have a vested interest in the success of my project, which is important if I am to believe you’re going to work hard to sell it. Sometimes authors are too close to a project, and we need someone who cares enough to mold and shape it in such a way that it is marketable.
Thanks for a great series of articles. I hope you have a blessed weekend.
Sure, I think this sort of partnership works well. Especially in the proposal stage, because that is not just a content description – it is inherently a marketing document, too. Writers won’t necessarily have any idea how to approach that angle of it. I sure wouldn’t.
I find that if I am facing a project that needs heavy edits – I always ask first. Well, not ask. I do a survey, make a quick list, and call the edit-ee to say: (1) here is my assessment of where the document stands right now, (2) I think the project needs X, Y, Z, to get it the stage it needs to be, and (3) how about I do a sample to show you, then we can discuss, before I proceed with the rest.
It always works better for me to get buy-in up front, and to show respect for the writer’s ultimate ownership of the piece. Ideally, it also helps mitigate the risk of a bad reaction to a set of edits.
I would absolutely want my agent to fiddle with a proposal if it wasn’t up to snuff. I like that you communicated back to your client so she knew what you changed. That type of two-way dialogue is helpful so that we as clients know what to do next time to make our proposals even better.
Thanks for a great week of posts, Janet!
It’s great to hear you all express your deep desire for input; I think that’s key to being a successful writer.
And, Karen, thanks for expressed something I didn’t bring up in my post: an agent’s reputation is on the line as well as the author’s when a proposal goes to an editor. Through proposals, an agent either improves his/her standing with an editor or shows the editor that the agent didn’t work enough on the proposal.
I’m feeling inspired, Cheryl. Think this will have to be our movie tonight for Friday fun fam night! 🙂
Another plus to today’s post is simply the welcome example that, even if the proposal doesn’t arrive in sparkling, stellar condition, an experienced agent can see past the shortcomings and will have the insight to polish the proposal until the beauty of the story shines through.
With so many books and blogs offering sometimes contradictory advice on writing proposals, it’s no wonder that authors can stress and fret that their manuscript is sunk if the proposal falls short of divine. Thanks, Janet!
Janet, I think it’s wonderful that you take the proposal and work on it as well. That’s what I want. When two people give it their best, it’s got to come out amazing.
I would def want my agent to fiddle with my proposal:) I love getting feedback and it would mean a lot to me if my agent took the extra mile to help me make my proposal that much stronger. Besides, she’s seen a ton of them and knows what sells and what doesn’t.
I keep thinking of the Proverbs 27:6 “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful”
I’d hope for an agent to be a true friend to me, especially when it comes to the proposal! And preserve me from those who simply pat me on the head and say “nice job.”
blessings,
Voni
It warms my heart to hear that you worried you might offend your client. An agent who will invest time and energy while still taking her client’s ego into consideration sounds like just the ticket! I’ve heard writers can be fragile ; )
I’ve never understood why some people think they must apologize for helping others unless, of course, the help is unwanted. But authors want agents to help them get published and, if your corrections do that, why would anyone complain? Of course if an agent or editor changes books into things entirely different than the authors intended they’d be justified in getting upset, but you are obviously careful not to do that. It sounds to me like you’re doing everything anyone could ask from an agent, and more than can be expected from some.
I don’t know what I’d do without an agent who is willing to tweak proposals. She knows the marketplace, I don’t. I know history … and my proposals tend to be too much history lesson and not enough story. I had an acquisitions tell me that once. “Don’t give us a history lesson … win us with your story.” It was a much longer lecture than that, but you get the idea. This is one of the parts of writing that is a journey and a continual learning curve for me. I’m glad I have help!
Yes definitley.
So much of what you said is true with my job as a technical writer. If I change your wording a little, this is how I try work with engineers on my projects:
•The engineer was able to see us as a team, putting together the most effective report as possible.
•He (most engineers I work with are men) was responsive to suggestions for change rather than defensive.
•He recognized that I was helping to take the project to where she wanted it to go.
When an engineer and a tech writer work together hand in hand, it’s a beautiful thing. And everyone benefits.
I do need to add that I want my engineers to have the freedom to say, “Um, that’s not what I intended.” I’m not a mind-reader, and I can misstep or overstep (hopefully not too often).
Hopefully when I am ready to be published, I will have an agent who I can work effectively with.
Energy doesn’t become power until it is harnessed to do work. The same gas that fuels your car, if burned in the backyard, is just a really cool explosion (be safe people!)
I see writing the same way – the author needs to come to the party with the writing and energy, but the agents/editors/other partners are there to help guide the writer to be more productive.
It is VERY tempting to send the proposal right away to the editors that requested it, but I felt it was better to give them a quick update saying I was first seeking an agent to be involved in the next step.
I can read every book and website I can find, and still not know the unknown hurdles and pitfalls – or potential jewels – that can be identified by experience.
Voni, I love the proverb–very fitting here.
I’d certainly want my proposal touched by an experienced hand, and agree that the back and forth, two-way communication is the real key in striking an agreeable balance.
I’d mostly want help, because as the learner–I don’t know what I don’t know. And I won’t learn unless someone is honest enough to show me.
Great story of great dedication. Thanks for being you.
I’m not proud–I’ll take all the help I can get! I love my relationship with my agent, Elaine Spencer, because she excels at this kind of partnership.
Yes I do! I don’t expect an agent to do my work for me, but I do want someone who can be objective to tell me if I’m missing the mark. When I write it’s easy to get lost in the moment and miss the big picture. I sometimes go back to edit my own work and wonder, “where did that come from?” or “what was I thinking there?” So, yes I definitely want an agent who will jump in and muddle a bit when necessary.