Blogger: Wendy Lawton
Location: International Christian Retailers Show, Denver, CO
I’m blogging this week from our annual trade show, ICRS, in Denver. It’s always a heady atmosphere. Picture a convention center filled with books, authors, editors, book buyers, marketing excitement, talk and ideas. it always reminds me just how much I love my job as a literary agent. Yes, we’ve got back-to-back appointments that go from early morning to late night but the energy and enthusiasm keeps us all going. It’s hard to believe that we’re in the midst of an economic downturn when you start talking books. Editors still love to find wonderful new projects, and publishers always know that each book stands a chance of being that next miracle.
If you read many agent blogs, you’ve probably been treated to an overload of complaints. Sometimes the frustration with the day-to-day avalanche of work overflows onto agents’ posts. Yes, there are too many queries to be able to handle them helpfully. Yes, publishers sometimes care more about the platform of an author than about his ideas. And yes, writer-hopefuls do send us the strangest queries, but, press any of us agents, and we’ll admit there’s nothing we’d rather be doing. So as I spend the next few days doing what I do best, let me tell you a few of the reasons I love my job.
A little background: For thirty years I’ve been considered one of the world’s leading sculptors and doll designers. I had my own company for a quarter century and won every top award in the industry, including a Lifetime Achievement Award. I also wrote books at the same time. I have more than a dozen titles in print. All that to say that I have had my turn in the spotlight. When I began itching for a new challenge, my own agent, Janet Kobobel Grant, asked if I’d be interested in joining the agency. It didn’t take me long to decide. I knew that all my experience in marketing, product development and the toy industry (a parallel world to publishing) would translate to a perfect arsenal of skills for literary representation. I said yes and began to build my client list and learn the business under Janet’s mentorship.
It wasn’t long until I discovered that I had chosen the perfect third career. The first (and best) thing an agent learns is that “it’s not about me.” After two careers in which I was the “brand” or the personality, I would now be behind the scenes. It’s a healthy change. A little bit ago, I was looking back in my prayer journal and found an entry where I prayed that the Lord would help me develop a servant’s heart. Bingo! This new career provided that opportunity.
My philosophy as an agent is lifted from Henry Blackaby’s wonderful book, Experiencing God. To paraphrase, he says that God is already at work. Our job is to see where he’s at work and come alongside. That’s exactly what I’ve done. When I’m evaluating potential clients, I get most excited when I can see that God is already at work in their lives and their careers. All I’m called to do is come alongside and work with them.
For me, some of the unforeseen benefits have been a delight. I’ve found that I love getting my fingers into so many different projects, different careers and different ministries. This job is never dull. And when you get to handpick the people you work with, well it just doesn’t get any better than that. Just think, I get to be involved in books that touch millions of readers. I celebrate every victory with my authors–bestseller lists, awards, starred reviews and lives changed. I also get to be part of the disappointments that only make the later victories all the sweeter.
Agents don’t have to hog all the fun, however. You don’t have to be an agent to get your fingers into lots of projects and come alongside fellow writers. I did it long before I was an agent. I’ve been critique partners with six other writers for more than ten years. I belong to two local writing groups. I’ve been on writers’ prayer teams. That made me part of their projects and allowed me to come alongside them.
So tell us–how have you come alongside other writers? How has it enriched your writing and your own walk? Ideas? Comments?
What a wonderful story about your background! I inherited my mom’s doll collection about twelve years ago when we moved my Grandma out of her house. As a child, I was never allowed to touch Mom’s dolls (though I secretly did). She had dolls from all over the world, thanks to an aunt who traveled. I chose to collect Sleeping Beauty dolls because she’s my favorite princess. The doll world is very interesting! I wish I had more time and money for it.
I was in a great daytime women’s writing group for two years before I went back to work last April. Luckily I’ve stayed in touch with a few great women from classes and that group. This fall I’m taking another fiction class- old school, meeting every week vs. online. It will be a challenge for me with the job, but the idea of weekly contact with an instructor and other writers is a huge draw to keep my motivation up.
I think it’s very important to know at least a few people in the same stage of writing as you. (There are three of us looking for an agent right now and we cheer each other on.) It’s equally important to be around others who aren’t. Sometimes you get to mentor, sometimes you are mentored. It’s all good.
Thanks for sharing that, Wendy. You sound like a dream agent.
I’ve been motivated and inspired by meeting and sitting in classes by Christian authors who so willingly share their knowledge of the craft. ACFW and The Christian Writers Guild have blessed me beyond measure.
I’m so impressed with the Christian authors I’ve met. I remember sitting in John Olson’s class hearing him say how thrilled he was to be able to teach us because he felt there were authors sitting in the room who would be far better than he is and would reach people for Christ that he never could. The man’s a Christy finalist! His humilty and desire to help aspiring authors inspired me.
Then about five months ago, a friend and I thought of starting a local Christian writer’s group. We wondered if anyone would even be interested, but we sent out notices. We’ve been thrilled at the response and now have a healthly group started with published authors, both fiction and non-fiction writers, a publicist, and even a poet!
We’re the Rio Grande Valley “Pens on Fire”. We thought the name appropiate for three reasons. 1. We want to light a fire under each other to motivate and hold each other accountable. 2. Here at the border of Texas, it’s Hot.
3. Most importantly, it’s a symbol to us of the Holy Spirit whose guidance we all desire.
I thank God for the opportunity of being around Christian writers.
The other thing I’ve done is to teach six homeschool students in an attempt to share the things I’ve learned with a younger generation. It’s wonderful to think they can start learning these things at a much younger age. I had six of the most dedicated students a teacher could ever hope to have. Let me tell you, when these kids get a little more life experience behind them, they will be knocking at your doors!
As a result of my blogging and book reviewing, I’ve “come alongside” a few published authors and it’s been a lot of fun. All I done is what I would have done any way, which is read their books and tell them what I enjoyed about them. As a result of doing that, I’ve been asked for first draft critiques by a few authors, and a few have included me in their acknowledgements.
I always read acknowledgements. Imagine my surprise when I discover my name. The first time was a complete shock. Every time I do, I’m always pleasantly surprised and humbled. I mean I get so much encouragement from these multi-published authors who are doing what I dream of, I’m surprised when they gain encouragement from me, an aspiring author.
I agree with Dawn about the value of working with writers on many levels.
I requested assignment to a critique group and met, pot luck, five wonderful encouragers. At the time all but one were beginners, but the array of complementary talents helped us grow.
Through an online class in Deep POV I met another critique partner. We give each other’s writing that nudge to the next level, and when she finished her most recent wip, I was almost as jazzed as if it had been my own.
While standing in line for an ACFW conference interview, I saw the name of my very small hometown on someone else’s nametag. Who knew I lived so close to another aspiring author, much less a Christian? Weekly “writers group” meetings at Starbucks ensued. This friend is, IMHO, light years ahead of me in her writing career. I have grown so much from our relationship, but have also enjoyed proofing for her. I pick up tips and tricks just from noting how she handles various scenes.
As with learning to speak a foreign language, there’s no faster way to learn written communication skills than to immerse yourself in real life interactions.
So much of what you say about being an agent exactly reflects my experience being an editor. I love to write, yes, and to see my own ideas move forward… yes yes yes! But there’s something almost more rewarding when I get to team up with another individual whose project I believe in and lend whatever expertise I have to that project and root them on. As a writer–I put everything I can into a work and then have to let it go and move to the next thing down the line. As a project editor, my fingers are in every single step of making a book come alive–so there’s a crazy amount of my time and heart invested in that printed paper when it hits the market…
…hmm… so one of the morals of my story has been–make sure you choose great people to work with. From the agent, to the writer, to the editor–there’s a fair amount of interaction–and if an author gives the hint of being difficult–my vote typically goes toward a thumbs down.
And the same moral applies to me–I need to continually struggle to be the best editor/writer I can be. And at the end of the day–I seek to be diligent in the work, but want my work to point to Christ. We’re not walking this earth ultimately to get books on the shelves–but to come alongside one another and help usher each other into the kingdom of heaven…
Wendy–enjoy your time at ICRS!
Nice! Thanks for telling us more about you, Wendy. Awesome.
I kind of fell into the world of writing (I call it a God thing) and I’m loving it. I’ve come along writers via FaceBook, Twitter, writing groups (local and online) and critique groups (local and online). It’s been a blast.
What I appreciate the most are the mentors coming forward to share their knowledge and helping me grow in the craft. Such a blessing.
Great post, Wendy! Hope you have fun at ICRS!!
I love to see how excited you are about this phase of your career, Wendy. I feel blessed that God has brought you, Rachel, Janet, and Etta into my life. Praying for you as you’re at ICRS.
Coming alongside for me has mainly meant critiquing, either privately or in a group setting, and participating in the Absolute Write forums. Of course, in all these cases, it works both ways.
Thanks for this insight into relationships. Last week the prayer team from a writer’s group notified me my name had come up. They would be praying for me all week, and wondered if I had any specific needs.
I participate in this group from a distance and was overwhelmed by their care. I felt the whole team come alonside me, and that was delicious.
Getting to work with other writers of all ages has been one of the biggest perks of being a writer. As both author, artist and freelance editor, I get to teach in schools, at conferences, have participated in several online mentoring programs and am part of both “in-person” and an “on-line” critique groups. Even when you find talent that far exceeds your own, there’s the thrill of being “Aaron holding up the arms of Moses.” Sometimes, even the thrill of seeing your own work published can’t match the excitement of seeing someone else achieve their dream. You know how hard they’ve worked, how committed they are and you always thank God when He rewards their dedication.
Good comments – I always enjoy reading your blog.
Terry Burns
My favorite examples of this phenomenon in my own life is helping expose really good writers to new readers via twitter and blogging, etc. I love watching the way a writer reacts when they see someone sincerely loves their work.
I have had the fun of working with a couple Kenyan publishers to train writers for children. The most exciting was following last year’s post-election violence. I blogged about it at the time at http://leannehardy.blogspot.com/2008/04/writing-for-kenyas-children.html.
I see Robin Jones Gunn on the list of speakers for Litt-World in Nairobi in November. It’s an exciting biannual conference for Christian writers and publishers in the developing world. Not everyone will be touched by the books we produce in North America. God is raising up writers and publishers in other cultures to communicate effectively with their own people