Blogger: Wendy Lawton
My colleague, Rachel Kent, wrote about agent/client communication just a couple of days ago, here, and did a wonderful job. Since I had already prepared my blog, I decided to tag along and add a little more to the discussion.
Here’s what got me started: A friend recently posed a question about agent/author communication. He asked the question, “What do agents owe clients?” and answered it with a one word answer–communication.
He was right. Agent/client communication is important but here’s how I answered the question:
I don’t like to talk about what we “owe” each other. That takes the relationship to an uncomfortable place. I hate unfair expectations just as much as my clients do. I’ve worked with some clients for years before making a sale, expending the kind of time and energy that, if considered on a ROI basis (return on investment), would put me far, far below minimum wage. But I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t believe in that client and in most cases it has eventually paid off. Sometimes very handsomely for both of us. I’m investing in careers. My clients don’t owe me a return on investment anymore than I owe them.
One thing to remember: When agents spend time talking with clients it is time we are not able to spend working on their behalf. The real work we do for clients is done behind the scenes with publishers, editors, publicity people and media. It takes getting out of our offices and putting in time on the road when we may seem unavailable.
That said: We do need to communicate with our clients. This is a topic that always engenders guilt for agents. We can never do enough, especially in the CBA when our client load can be many times heavier than that of ABA agents. We almost always fall short but that’s the nature of the job. We grant grace to our clients and they grant grace to us and, in what may be an imperfect relationship, we make exciting things happen.
Personally, my biggest shortcoming is that I hate to give bad news. I’ll sometimes save up rejections and try to figure the best day on which to communicate those. Never on a Friday, never when the writer has talked on Facebook about being discouraged, never near a holiday, never when they are sick or worried or broke or. . . well, you get the picture.
Other reasons an agent may seem silent:
- The proposal you sent needs so much work it’s going to take thirty+ hours to get it into shape and the agent has no idea how he/she can possibly fit that in. Perfect proposals for fabulous ideas get sent out right away and always engender editorial excitement. The communication flies back and forth. Too many proposed books are just sort of meh. We’re always going to work on those “tomorrow.”
- There may be no communication because the client has presented nothing to the agent in a long time and the agent sort of pictures them on the bench– on the inactive list. If there are no books releasing and no books to present, there’s little to say.
- Sometimes it is because we just can’t get anything going for that client. I am an encourager by nature but one of my goals for this year has been to temper encouragement with reality. To be a truth teller. I know that rather than be non-communicative, I need to be quicker to let clients go when it seems as if I can’t get any traction for them or when sales numbers make it almost impossible to get a publisher’s sales team to give a nod to the project. That’s when I’m guilty of poor communication. There’s nothing to say. The interesting thing is, when I’ve let a client go, or a client has let me go, I’ve often been able to celebrate with them as their new agent makes a sale I could not seem to make. We all have different contacts and an agent who hasn’t heard all the negative stuff I’ve heard from editors may approach the client with a fresh enthusiasm.
- Every agent has his or her own style of communication. Some are natural communicators and want to know about the client’s family, hobbies, children and pets. That agent might be hurt if you don’t include them in everything. Others are the strong silent types. It’s like the difference in physicians– bedside manner. That’s why it is important to understand at the outset how the agent communicates.
That’s the way things look from this side of the desk. Don’t forget, the phone lines go both ways. If it seems like a while since you’ve heard from your agent, pick up the phone and call. We signed you because we like you– really, really like you. Your agent will be happy to hear from you.
Now it’s your turn. Remind us what it looks like from your side of the desk. In a perfect world, what would agent/client communication look like?
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How refreshing Wendy. I’d give you an A+ for your truth-telling goal here. It gives so much insight to your side of the table.
I think I’d need some bread crumbs along the way, just hints and updates with the reasons for the trends in the process. I wouldn’t like to be hit with news, good or bad, out of the blue without any forewarning that it was trending that direction–if possible that is. I’m sure there are times when an agent gets good news and is very excited to drop that bomb! 🙂 Sometimes even good news is scary though. At least some idea ahead of time would give the author time to discern, work, change, grow, pray, chew on things and prepare.
In a perfect world…
I love it. Breadcrumbs! I think I’m going to start referring to those quick check-ins as breadcrumbs along the way.
LOL. 🙂
It certainly paints the picture well!
I agree with Anne–it’s so good to see an agent’s side of the relationship. Not being agented, I’m soaking in everything I can so that, if/when I have an agent representing me, I can be a good client. Thanks so much for your transparency, Wendy!
I agree, I’m soaking it all in. So thankful for this blog.
Trust me, our blog community here will do any agent proud. The time you invest exploring the industry will stand you in good stead. You will be head and shoulders above the pack.
Okay: marketing suggestion alert!
For those of us wallowing in the joy of having an agent for the first time, this type of information would be SO helpful to include with the contract. When I signed with the impeccable Mary Keeley, I had no idea what to expect. I’ve treated her as a business associate, but not everyone has those experiences on which to pattern an agent-author relationship. Couple this post with Ms. Kent’s excellent blog, and share it formally with incoming B&S authors inexperienced in this professional dance. I believe it would enlighten them, and lay valuable groundwork for the long road ahead.
Good idea, Norma. We do communicate a lot of this when we call you but a sort of handbook– especially about the things you need to communicate to your agent– would be excellent.
Now, how to find the time to create it. . .
Time is always the elusive variable, isn’t it?
Thank you for the agent’s perspective, Wendy! Although I am not agented at this time, if I imagine myself in that situation, I know that I might believe the ‘ball is in the other court,’ if I was the last to initiate contact, and feel that I might be causing my agent aggravation by approaching her once again if I hadn’t heard from her after my last contact. Perhaps a good dose of self-assertiveness would help in the case of someone like me, who tends to be reserved–always keeping the communication gracious and professional, though!
Oh no, never look at it that way. Trust me, your agent is not going to remember where the ball is and where it was last. 🙂 If you need something or have news to share, it’s time to rattle the cage.
Thank you for sharing that behind-the-scenes look at the perspective of an agent in communicating with their client, Wendy.
I suppose for me, the ideal agent / author communication would involve, on the most basic level, a once-a-week update on what editors or publishing houses have looked at the novel, and why they are excited for it, or why they are not.
Having that information, as a writer, would help decide what sort of novel to focus on: if there a writer has several ideas they are thinking of, or are already in the process of writing, then the writer would have a better grasp on the publishing environment for their WIPs, and focus accordingly.
That would be ideal. My guess is, you’ll not see that level of communication this side of heaven. Things move very slowly in this industry. After you sign with an agent your proposal will join a queue waiting for the agent’s work on it. when the proposal is finally ready to send out, it will take a loooong time to hear back.
I don’t know any agent who could stand calling week after to say “nothing yet.” That’s implied in the silence.
Wendy, was it wrong of me to giggle (just a little) at your lovely photo (the one with tape over your mouth?) 🙂
I must sing the praises of my wonderful agent. In short, she’s warm, personable, sweet, and has a heart for Jesus–all the qualities that are important to me as I walk the path to publication. I’m not a stoic kind of gal and I’m so thankful my agent isn’t either!
An encouraging spirit is central to any author’s mindset and success, as well as knowledge of the publishing idustry and the ability to tell-it-like-it-is with Christ-like compassion. (Go, Team Mary!)
Oh…I almost forgot to answer the question. My vision of “perfect communication in the agent/client world” would be my agent sitting beside me at my desk 24/7 snacking on bonbons, sipping afternoon coffee, and chatting away as I write. And please don’t tell me that’s not going to happen. I want to be Pollyanna at least for today. 😉
Thanks for asking, Wendy!
Who buys the bonbons?
And about the photo– as my husband said, “Yeah, right. LIke anyone’s going to believe you can be silent.”
Wendy, thanks for sharing. I bet it is hard giving out bad info. It can be tough receiving it, and that’s just one person. But when you have to give it to maybe a couple people a month, month after month–yes, I can see how that would be hard.
I think the most intimidating thing from the client POV is not knowing the agent well enough, maybe, to know what they think is okay in communicating. To know what is too much to them. I didn’t discuss this with my first agent, being a clueless newbie, and I felt intimidated which was totally my fault, not his. It probably takes some time and some sort of real relationship to understand what your agent is okay with and what they’re not. And in my case, he’d taken me on through a cold query. We’d never met.
The good news is that I learned I can take bad news. 🙂 And I suppose it helps the agent to know that this client isn’t going to fall apart on me on the phone–or in private!–and can handle hearing that this publisher passed as well.
Sally, knowing you can stomach the bad news is the sign of a writer who can be in it for the long haul.
And if you don’t know your agent well enough yet to understand the rhythm of communication, ask. It’s like I said, we really like you or we would never have signed you.
Like Cynthia, I couldn’t help laughing at the unexpected picture– oh, the stories to be told in just a photograph! 🙂
Thanks for the peek behind the scenes. I’m always impressed when I gain a little more insight into the depth of an agent’s job, the lengths to which you go, the things you consider and juggle. You certainly have my respect!
But, we have a long ways to go. We wish we could spend more time communicating (and just visiting) with the clients we love. Amanda. . .
Well, that just made my week! Wouldn’t a chat over tea be grand? Maybe someday. 🙂
Great photo!! I think a good author/agent relationship takes time–like my fabulous slow-cooked ribs! When you’re comfortable together, you don’t expect non-stop communication. You trust your agent is working on your behalf.
If I check my ribs every five seconds, the oven loses heat and I don’t get that perfect, tender meat. I’m not checking with my agent every five minutes either! 🙂
Great analogy, Jill!
And now I’m hungry for ribs.
Awesome analogy, Jill. Good thing I ate lunch before checking this blog. 🙂
I want ribs, too, you guys!! Is it wrong I plowed through a Coke and Dove chocolates just to edit my synopsis?? Ugh!
Ummm, recipe? Perhaps on FB?
Great picture, Jill!
The clients I’m most comfortable with are the ones who’ve been with me the longest. Friendship begins to mingle with business relationship and it is all good. But it takes working together for a while to build that.
You can send some ribs my way! Just sayin’. 😉
I admit…I want to be friends with my agent. I want to feel comfortable approaching her without feeling like I’m bugging her. I want her to know more about me than just my writing. But then again, that’s just how I am — I like to know more about people than just the surface. I like relationships that are multidimensional–professional and personal. However, it’s definitely important to respect the professional sphere. You can’t expect an agent to chat with you for two hours–or play favorites–just because you’re friends.
Love your honesty, Lindsay, and I always look at the flip side of “favorites.” If an agent plays favorites, who’s to say I wouldn’t be on the non-favorite side? Eeww! I would hate that!
Lindsay, I feel the same way. Knowing a little more about the agent’s life outside work would make me feel better connected, but I certainly want to respect their boundaries in that regard.
Lindsay, that’s an important thing to know and to communicate to your potential agent. Some are not comfortable with that and others can’t have it any other way.
This is a photo I will treasure. On our next panel discussion may I request that we reenact it? !!!!
Your comment made me laugh!! Heh-heh!!
Comment-of-the-Month Award goes here.
Steve! Oh, BRILLIANT!
Wendy, looks like you might’ve stirred up a hornet’s nest with this one – you may NEVER live it down! Hee! But then, this is one of the reasons we all think you’re so awesome!
This post made my morning, and Steve’s comment made my afternoon – THANK YOU!
C’mon, Steve. I hardly talk on a panel. (I can just see you whip out the duct tape next panel.)
I so much appreciate every post about communication, Wendy. Love the picture! I hope for the sake of removal that duct tape is photoshopped!
I don’t expect to be able to call my agent to ask if I should serve ranch or bleu cheese dressing with my salad, but I would like a bit more relationship than I have with my dentist who expects me to answer polite questions with one of those suction thingies in my mouth. 🙂 There’s a lot of in-between there that I’m sure depends on the agent and the author. Praying that we all get to find where that comfortable ground is some day!
Great visuals Meghan.
Mmmmrhhh. Brummmm. Awwwf.
Yep, I hear you. I’m the same way with clients. I want them to communicate as well. (I hate hearing that a cover was approved between the author and publisher when I never even saw it!)
I’m trying to come up with an insightful response, but can’t get past the duck tape. Thanks for the giggle, Wendy. 🙂
Just try getting the adhesive off. (Why didn’t I think of Photoshop?)
Vaseline.
The petroleum jelly breaks down the adhesive.
Love the post and the photo, Wendy. Definitely gave me my daily giggle. One thing I try to remember is that communication is a two-way street. If I meet a friend on the street that I haven’t seen in months and her first words are, “Why haven’t you called me?” then I’m wondering, “Gee, your phone works the same way mine does. Why haven’t you called me?” That’s the wrong way to look at it, but do I get an A+ for honesty?
When I reach out to my publisher, she responds. It’s up to me to provide her with proposals, which initiates communication. It’s not like with everything else she has to do, she has the time to contact me if she’s looking for a particular project. I feel responsible for making it happen. Once she gives me a contract for a book, then I expect more communication from her end.
Exactly!
Please tell me that was stunt duct tape??? Or at least you put up a fight?
I’d *like* to say I’m all cool and collected when it comes to agents, basically, Chuck Norris in a skirt. But since I’m not agented >>YET<<, I'm just gonna eat another carrot stick and read the other comments. Mmmmm, carrots and hummus and agents, oh my!
Unless you want to surprise on my birthday and spring some exciting news on me!?!!??!!
No? Oooooookkkaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy, back to the veggie tray.
🙂
And BTW, I’m all about the open communication. Phone, email, sky writing, it’s all good. And I can too act like a grwon-up. Grown up. Yeah, that’s it.
Sometime communication is more fun when we’re not so grown-up. Right?
People are, umm, sort of occasionally astounded when I do speak in public that I possess a vocabulary fit enough to expound on my…total awesomeness.
Yeah, growing up is for the birds!
Carrots are just a vehicle to eat hummus. That’s all I’m saying! ;p
Hahaha! True! But, actually, they are the only veggie, other than lettuce, I can eat right now. Sniff. I bear wounds of battle…with the dentist.
Love it, Christina! Our family loves hummus.
Phone or email is fine with me.
Do you ever have face-to-face time with your authors? I know you probably run into your clients at conventions and that Books and Such has a yearly get together but do meet with an author besides those times?
I make a point to do that whenever I can. When I’m at a conference we always schedule a sit-down with each client– just to touch base and enjoy the time together.
My nearby clients and I meet for lunch and when I travel, I can often work in stops to visit. Face-to-face is very important to me.
Love it! It’s been said that the best relationships are built from spending quality time with one another.
It’s very interesting to remember that agents are people too (ha ha). Delivering bad news would be difficult. And receiving “meh” proposals would be discouraging after a while.
Hard to believe, huh. You have no idea how difficult it is for us to receive rejections as well. It’s almost as hard as communicating it to our client. We have hopes and dreams just like writers only ours are behalf of these writers we shepherd.
It would be fun to have coffee once a week with your agent, or a phone call or two. The reality is I appreciate that she’s at her desk or on a business trip making contacts to help all of us. Thanks for doing your job–all the time.
Thanks for saying that, Marilyn.
Love the picture, Wendy! 🙂
I have just entered a new relationship with my lovely agent and I feel comfortable contacting her, and I’ve been impressed with how fast she gets back to me.
As a mom with four young children, I’m often bombarded with question after question after question! This one need this, that one needs that, this one needs to be run to the ER for a chipmunk bite, while that one is playing in the mud and needs a bath…the endless needs of my family can become overwhelming. BUT–as a mom I’ve learned how to prioritize the needs of my children. I can tell when one of my kids just needs that little extra time to be held, kissed or offered more attention. I look at my agent as a mother-type figure of all her clients. And I look at myself as one of those “children.” I need to make sure that I “wait” my turn, approach her when something is necessary and appreciate all she does for me, both seen and unseen–knowing she has my best interest at heart.
And we like hearing from clients, especially those with chipmunk bite stories.
My two daughters (age 8 & 6) came across our cat attacking a chipmunk, so they shooed it away. The chipmunk was already paralyzed, but my 6 year old thought she could nurse it back to health by feeding it a BBQ flavored sunflower seed. 🙁 After the chipmunk bit her index finger, we brought her in to the ER, just to be safe, but all’s well.
Wendy,
This is such a good reminder that the lines go both ways. Because I only have one agent, but I know she has a gazillion authors, I made it MY commitment to communicate with my agent. So, whether she’s contacted me or not in a week, every Friday, I send her a bullet-list update of what I’ve done that week, and what’s on my docket for the following week. That lets her know that I’m staying on track without her having to bug me–keeps me accountable knowing I’ll be sending in my “weekly report”–and it gives us specifics to communicate ABOUT when we do need to talk on the phone. It works really well for both of us, and helps to keep our phone conversations short and direct and PRODUCTIVE.
Great post, Wendy. Thank you!
The key here is “It works well for both of us.” That’s what we need to do, find the happy medium for both.
For me prompt is the main thing–and you are awesome at that!
From your mouth, dear friend, to God’s ears.
Wendy, seriously thinking about a great resource book “Duct-tape Therapy”. Could I use you as a reference :~D
You’re just plain cruel, Miss Marci.
Oh, this photographer’s heart loves her agents sense of humor and photo!
I also appreciate and respect her honesty. Growing up in, and raising children in active homes of perpetual motion, the silent lulls are harder for me. But in business, I’ve learned this is a requirement.
And the lines of communication work both ways.
My responsibility to my agent to keep refining in the quiet.
Grateful for the chuckle today! A little duct tape and those expressive eyes brought laughter in the midst of clicking computer keys and a trying rewrite!
And Kathy knows those in-person get togethers (especially in a centuries-old mining town) are worth many phone calls, right?
Yes they are ~ good as gold!
You communicate a lot here, even if it’s not specific for each client. Frankly, I’m in awe over all you Books & Such people manage to accomplish.
*Blush* Thank you, Janet. But we all fall short too often.
Thank you for the view from your side of the desk, Wendy. It’s good to know.
I have experienced you as an encourager and I like that. Also I appreciate your sensitivity in terms of the timing of bad news. I do encourage you, though, not to feel guilty about or hesitate to discuss reality with your clients. As you mentioned, you’ve let go of clients who have moved to another agent and eventually have been published. For myself, I would rather know sooner rather than later that my agent has tried her best and doesn’t think she can do anything for me. It would free me up to give the manuscript to another agent or to consider self-publishing. Yes, it would feel like rejection, but it’s better to know the reality and deal with it than to wait around dreaming.
Blessings!
Thanks for saying that, Christine. It’s one of the hardest things we do.
You’re welcome, Wendy. I think you’re great. 🙂
I can relate to that Wendy! No one ever told me when I was going through my professional training that I would spend 95% of my time delivering bad news to patients, nor did we ever receive one lesson on how to deliver such feedback. It’s the most difficult and most emotionally draining part of my day! Thank goodness that the Holy Spirit can intercede!
My friend Bowser is a a fine canine agent and is usually silent with his clients for two reasons.
#1. He is just naturally shy. (He’s a timid Greyhound)
#2. He sleeps in and takes long extended afternoon naps and forgets to wake up.
P.S. Has anyone out there ever met a Greyhound – that wasn’t timid?
May I address another facet of agent/querying author communication?
When an agent requests to see a full manuscript and the author is taking time to polish before sending, what kind of communication is preferred?
Reassurance that the author is still polishing and not talking to other (lesser) agents. 🙂
Seriously, though, whatever feels comfortable. Very few agents request a full unless they are genuinely intrigued. They will be happy to communicate.
When I first saw the duct tape, I thought how trendy you are. Tweens are using duct tape to make everything under the sun. . . hopefully not to cover their mouths though : )
I know. I’ve seen the duct tape prom dresses.
I can hardly believe you are guilty of non-communication, Wendy. No. No duct tape for you!
We’ll keep it on the farm where it belongs.
Communication with an agent seems like common sense to me. If you haven’t heard from her in a while–and want to, send a quick email. If there’s something you need to discuss, make a phone call. But why get worried or upset if several weeks have gone by and all is silent? That’s the way it works with editors too.
Writing for publication is somewhat like tending plants. You put the seed in the ground and then wait. And wait. And wait. The last final fruit cannot be hurried. But weeding and watering and lots of sunshine will almost always bring a marvelous harvest. So keep on plying those publishers, talking up your clients’ proposals, seeking rich ground. Six ten minute phone calls to clients equals one hour. If you were my agent, I’d rather have you strike mine and talk to a prospective buyer instead.
I’ve been through so many hail storms and droughts that bad news doesn’t bother me anymore. Romans 8:28 has become my mantra. Never fear, tell me the bad news when it comes and I’ll toss it out the door. Because guess what, God is in charge.
“The final fruit cannot be hurried.” That is so true– frustrating but true.
I appreciate the need to communicate, though I’m a lot like Angela B–reticent to initiate contact unless absolutely necessary.
I do have a question, probably a newby one since I’m not yet agented. I’ve been reading a number of agent blogs for a while now, and I’ve met a few at conference, but none of it is really enough to know which agent would best suit me and how I communicate, how much editing or feedback I might require, etc.
I don’t get a sense from blogs, or 15-minute interviews, or dinner discussions where you can barely hear the person next to you much less the agent across the table how a particular agent deals with his/her clients. One agent does a lot of editing, while another focuses on something else. One likes close, personal relationships, while another prefers to keep it professional. How can we discern which kind of agent you (not specifically, but in general) are?
I know this is probably a tough question to answer in a few short sentences, but it’s what I’ve been wondering for a while.
Great question, ginger. If you do go to writer’s conferences often the agent panels will address the distinctives of each agent and agency. Otherwise, I think you begin to get a feel for who an agent is by reading their blogs over time.
Of course, your best resource is other writers. You can always ask, “Who’s your agent?” And, “What are his/her strengths, weaknesses?” You can get even more specific with questions about editing, guidance, encouragement, communication, etc.
I don’t have an agent but I have signed a book deal. Publisher with an editor approached me directly about turning my blog into a book. Is that very unusual? Thanks Jennifer
Not any more, Jennifer. Both agents and editors know that a blogger with a huge following– one of those writers that readers seek out– often translates to an author with vigorous sales.
I can tell you what happens Wendy, coz it’s about to happen to my agent: they lose a client!!! 3 books ‘unplaced’ no feedback and now 3 months with new novel and no communication whatsoever. ‘Liking’ mys tiff on FB doesn’t cut it. Got the feeling agents are sometimes only interested in running around the ‘big’ ‘famous’ names. Rant over. Moving on.
I can see why you would feel like ranting, Carol. If your agent has tried to place three books with no takers, he must be discouraged and rethinking things himself. You know how frustrating that is for you– you have no idea how frustrating that is for the agent.
As to three months with a new novel, I hate to say it, but that’s not at all unusual. In fact, if your agent was able to get back to you sooner that would be unbelievable. Getting that book ready to shop can be a 20-to-30 hour job. And your agent has more than one client so there are other novels in the queue ahead of you. The sad truth is there are only so many hours in a day. As I write this, it is 6:30 in the evening and I’m not close to finished. If you drove by last night you would have seen a light on in my office at two in the morning.
In spite of all that– we still place projects, authors continue to get contracts and careers keep growing. Grace. I’m telling you.