Blogger: Rachel Kent
One of the great ways we can serve our clients is to pass along the surprise publishing opportunities that come our way. A lot of times, editors from publishing houses will send along notes about what they are looking for to agents they enjoy working with and we are able to match a client with the editor’s need.
Here are some examples:
1) An editor came to one of our agents and asked if a big-name author would be available to write a book on a specific topic. That author didn’t have time in her schedule for a new project so the agent suggested another client to fill the need.
2) An editor told us that he was looking for a book in a certain genre and wondered if we had an author who could write it. We suggested a few of our clients who were ready and willing to write that book; the editor picked the best fit.
3) A contracted author at a publishing house missed his or her deadline, and the editor filled the scheduling hole with a Books & Such client’s project because the book was already completed and ready to go.
4) An editor let us know about a new collection that the publishing house was putting together and we were able to send guidelines out for clients to audition for the openings.
I’d say opportunities like this pop up at least fifteen times each year. We love it when we’re able to match a publisher’s need with one of our client’s writing interests.
This does require a writer to be willing to write a book that isn’t exactly what he or she had planned and sometimes requires the author to come up with a story-line for a book really quickly or to change plans to meet a quick deadline. So it’s very important to remain flexible if you would like to fill an unforeseen publishing slot. These openings have allowed some of our debut writers to get books published that have then launched their writing careers.
Having an agent can bring wonderful publishing opportunities your way. It’s because of our relationships with these editors and our reputation in the industry that these opportunities are presented to us for our clients. I hope if you don’t have an agent yet that this blog will encourage you to keep seeking representation and, if you are already represented, know that this is one more thing that your agent is doing for you. While actively working to sell your current projects, we are also promoting you and your ability to write to fill unexpected publishing opportunities.
Do you believe you would be flexible enough to fill a need on short notice?
Does this type of writing appeal to you?
Rachel, what does it take to “audition for the opening”? I’ve approached the query / proposal process from the “I have written” point of view. This would seem to be an “I could write” project. Doable, but different.
* Sometimes God plunks an opportunity in my path, and we have a conversation about it. It is easy to be like Moses at the bush and list all the reasons I can’t do it. But if God is saying, “Now therefore go,” I want to follow the instructions!
Some collections require an audition–these aren’t the typical Barbour romance collections though. Those are proposal based–though a proposal is a type of audition as well. We’ve had authors have to write a sample devotion to be included in a devotional book, for example.
Would have loved to have had an opportunity like these; and would have loved to have had an agent.
* The challenges would have been invigorating; working with a kindred soul would have been fun.
Pursuant to adaptability, one of interesting things about university research was that one had to ‘reinvent’ one’s strengths to go where the funding was.
* My background was large-scale structural testing of reinforced concrete structures. Never did this after grad school/postdoc years.
* It required massive infrastructure of equipment and talent, existing only at few places, and jobs at those places were hard to get (and unpleasant to hold for a junior person).
* State departments of transportation had research needs of which they informed schools, and it was up to interested faculty to bid for contracts from that list. I ended up doing everything from lead and asbestos mitigation to the development of contract management practices, never touched concrete again.
* More telling, had to market myself as having the expertise; not by lying, but by looking carefully at what I had done in past, and applying it to stated needs. Got pretty good at it.
It sounds like you would be ready to be very flexible! You have trained for it. 🙂
*What an awesome way to further promote the writing talent of B&S clients.
*My favorite creative writing class involved several challenges where the instructor offered just a word, a picture or a phrase and then asked us to create a short story around it. Each time I put pen to paper it was a real nail biter, but then creativity kicked in and I loved it. Those stories are the only thing I saved from my college days.
*I think I’d be up for another writing challenge if the opportunity ever presented itself.
Very encouraging. This totally appeals to me because I do this at least once a year. Though not novel size. I’ll be asked to pick up an article someone couldn’t come thru on for the magazine I write for. It may be a topic I know nothing about, one I’d never have picked for myself. But … God always delivers, and He always teaches me something new through the process. And sometimes I’ll have a quick deadline … I’ll sweat it a tiny bit, but I’ve gotten to where I can relax more through the challenge because I’ve seen Him deliver (ideas, direction) over and over. 🙂
What fun opportunities for your clients! I imagine taking on an unexpected writing project could be at first daunting, then exciting as the creative juices kick in.
*I had the opportunity to do a timed write in a genre very different from any I’d written in before. It was so much fun to create a scene and to hear the feedback when it was read aloud. It would take a lot more intentional effort to create an entire story in a different genre, but sometimes doing something unexpected opens up creativity I didn’t know was there. 🙂
*And yes, this type of writing does appeal to me.
Reinvention to do what there’s money for ― I know that one, Andrew! My Ph.D. thesis used magnetic resonance to measure electron transfer in enzyme model compounds. Then I studied the chemistry expected at the wall of fusion reactors using hydrogen plasmas. Then I spent years using lasers and other diagnostics to study properties and reactions of compound semiconductors like GaAs (think cell phone electronics), and a few things in sensors that I won’t mention here. Constant reinvention to go where the funding is ― that’s the research life. But it does create the feeling that you can tackle anything you can get funding for and expect to succeed.
*It nurtures a risk-taker mentality. I feel that way as a writer, too. If I’m being called to write something, even if it’s quite different from what I’ve been writing, then there must be some way to get it to succeed if I just keep working at it. (It’s like the “re” in re-search.)
*I get the strong feeling that the demand for pre-existing platform won’t allow that kind of flexibility as a writer. I’ve read in blogs that an author can’t even expect to shift between different historical periods in the same genre.
*Rachel, do the kind of surprising opportunities that you discover as an agent stick very closely to what your clients already do or do they open wider possibilities?
Sometimes the opportunities are similar to what the author does and can even just end up resulting in a book contract for a book they’ve already written–like the drop-in example. We look at our client lists and find those that could be the best fit(s) for the project, so it is usually related to what the author is interested in. Every now and then it’s something completely different though, and the author just happens to be a great fit even though they aren’t writing in the specific genre.
For two years I wrote for Lilybell Magazine for Girls (which is now morphing to Lilybell Guides for Girls – I think they will actually re-contract to use some of my previous work – yea!)
I enjoyed getting the issue theme and then brainstorming for ideas. I delighted in both the research and interviews I did for the non-fiction (my favorite was interviewing Martha Collison the 17-year-old delight from The Great British Baking Show) and I enjoyed writing themed fiction even more.
So yes, I think that writing assignments are great because in full-length novel writing you get almost no feedback- except the echoing sound of crickets as you wait for query letters to age past 6 months or more….. I loved that at the magazine I got editorial feedback quickly – I guess I am not immune to needing a pat on the back or a kind word occasionally.
Rachel, I recently heard about these “extra” opportunities that having an agent can open up. It’s great to know I heard correctly. I’m currently preparing a book proposal and will continue to seek agent representation for many reasons, the above mentioned included. Thank you for this supporting information. Blessings.
It does appeal to me to write, and research, a given subject. Challenges make me take it up a notch in both skill and delivery, and I like to be stretched. Maybe someday I will have the honor. . .
Years ago I read a book by one of the authors who shows up here once in awhile. It was her first book, one that she had been asked to write because it was a historical record of the hardship of a marginalized group from another country. My Book Dinner ladies thought it was an excellent read. I felt so-so about the writing but appreciated the storyline. Years later, we read another one of her books. Her writing was much improved, tight, grammatically accurate, and quite well done. The first book was a stepping stone to greater writing success. She had been exploring the waters, hoping for a writing career, and eventually found hidden treasure. Rachel, you encourage us “starving” authors to be ready, willing, and eager for any opportunity that comes our way.
Have a great weekend.
This is one of the things I love about having an agent.
I believe I am flexible to fill a need on short notice and would love, some day, to have such an opportunity. Currently, I am seeking representation for a novel I’ve just recently completed. I’m very appreciative of this blog — and am enjoying being on this “writing” journey. Blessings to all of you — the agents who post and the readers who comment!
“We love it when we’re able to match a publisher’s need with one of our client’s writing interests.” — This right here makes me happy to read. Without brown-nosing my explanation, it is nice to read about spreading joy through opportunity. And maybe since I’m unpublished, I see a writing opportunity as joy.
*Worked as a 9-1-1 dispatcher for over a decade, so I love working off the cuff and on the fly. Contests with exact word counts or finding out two days before it’s due always appeals to me. Something about shoving my own perimeters aside and going full tilt is exciting.
*But then again, I’ve jumped out of an airplane…on purpose. 🙂
I am new at writing for profit. I have done a ton of writing in my past positions as an employee or as a board member of organizations. I have written newsletters, employee manuals, workshop training materials and such. In 2016, I self-published a couple small books and will have a new one in June. My question for you is; How soon should I start looking for an agent?
That would be so exciting to write like that. The need to be flexible is obviously crucial and exhilarating at the same time. Yes, this would appeal to me and though I believe I would be able to be that flexible, only being in the situation would be the proof.
Such a timely post; I want to share how it has worked for me. I had finished a historical novel and received positive feedback from industry professionals. It won first place in a competition, and I had acquisition editors praise it, but not buy it. I was told over and over that there were no slots for historical fiction, but I should seek representation. In 2015 I attended three conventions, and used the opportunity to meet with agents and editors that I thought would make a good match. Every agent I met with asked to see more; some asked for a full proposal. But every answer was some version of “we like your voice and writing, but we can’t sell this.” At one conference I spoke with an agent while standing in line. She was not on my list of favorites because she specialized in a genre I don’t write. But she asked to see my work anyway–and a few months later declined representation with a nicely worded rejection–my work was not salable.
But then, one of the writers in my writer’s group had a proposal accepted for an anthology. She spoke to her agent (which was the one not on my list of favorites) about seeing if I could fill one of the nine spots. The agent contacted me with the specifics, I quickly put together a proposal (4 days!) which included the first chapter. She was clear to say it was a long shot, but a couple weeks later, I received an offer and now the contract is signed.
Which opened the door for this agent to look at me again. She knew of another opportunity with the same publisher that she thought I might be a match for and on the strength of that second proposal, she decided to offer full representation. We talked at length about the types of books I’d like to write. It changed my mind completely. Her speciality is not my interest, but she knows what will sell, and has the contacts to sell. We are discussing other opportunities that I would not have considered previously. Having an agent opens doors that were closed to me otherwise.