Blogger: Wendy Lawton
The last two Tuesdays I posted blogs about what I’m looking for in both newly-published writers and unpublished writers. Today I’ll talk about the well-published writer. This writer:
- Has a following and a built-in audience for each book.
- Has an ever-growing reader list and carefully cultivates those readers.
- Has a distinctive brand and is well known for it.
- Is known by most of the publishers. And most would love to have a chance to make an offer for this writer’s next book.
- Usually has a regular rhythm to his or her writing and publishes on a set schedule.
I love representing the well-published client. From an agent’s point of view, it’s a great opportunity to take someone who’s already doing everything right and strategize ways to move them up to best-seller status. I love this challenge!
Perhaps the biggest obstacle in considering this writer is that most well-established writers are already agented. We agents have an unspoken agreement never to poach one another’s clients so the only way we’d be able to sign the well-published author is if he or she has left his agent for some reason, the agent has retired or, the rare case of an author who has never been agented. I’ve had established writers who changed markets–from ABA to CBA–and looked for a specialist in that market. And I’ve had editors bring the client to me.
As for what I look for, it’s the same as with other writers: great writing, voice, professionalism and personality. For me, it is a special delight to sign a writer whose work I’ve long enjoyed as a reader. This has happened a number of times, and nothing is more fun.
If you missed any posts on what I’m looking for in a client at every level, you can read here about unpublished authors and here about newly-published authors. Next Tuesday I’ll write about A-List authors.
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Thanks for sharing these thoughts, Wendy. 🙂 I’m not close to publishing my first book, yet, but I enjoy reading what agents look for in authors furher along their journey.
Thanks, Jeanne. I think it helps, no matter what point you are in your career, to see what’s possible– what’s up ahead.
I love knowing that you look for some of the same thing in clients regardless of their status: professionalism, courtesy, great writing, and voice. Those are all things that I can cultivate and keep in mind now, regardless of where I’M at. Thank you!
And the funny thing is, those things are the same in almost any professional endeavor.
Thank you for giving fledgling writers a vision to aim for. So often we make the mistake of thinking that publication is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, without considering what we’re going to do with that gold once we have it.
Well said! You took the words right out my …keyboard.
I think one of the biggest shocks to a writer who’s finally gotten that first contract is how much work is left to do. That first contract is just one destination point on a long journey.
Great post, Wendy. Have you ever been in a situation where you have regretted taking on a well-published client? Seems to me, offering a contract to an author can be like choosing a new pair of shoes–sometimes they look wonderful, but after you get them home and wear them a bit, you discover they pinch your toes.
Looking forward to next week’s post.
Love that analogy! I have the cutest pair of brown pumps I’d just love to give away.
I have had clients who ended up not being a perfect fit for one reason or another and we parted ways but I don’t know that I’ve regretted taking on a client. (There are days, however. . .)
You just gave me something to shoot for!
It’s a nice level at which to be. Of course, those who are steadily published are usually focused on how they can take their career to the consistently bestseller level.
Funny thing about us, isn’t it?
Hi Wendy, I’m new to this blog and this is the first post I’ve read here. I am a pre-published author, always on the lookout for tips and guidance along the way. So thanks for giving me a new outlook!
Yvette Carol
Welcome, Yvette.
Hi Wendy:
There are some good thoughts here.
I liked last weeks blog as well. You said something to the effect: “I want friends who add richness to my life” I couldn’t agree more. I’m not into wasting precious time on ‘fluffy’ relationships.
Annie