What does an agent mean when she says career planning is a big part of what she does with her clients? Isn’t that a bit like saying you paddled your boat through Hells Canyon white water rapids? I mean, doesn’t the river ultimately have the real grip on your boat, and doesn’t the publishing industry ultimately determine the course of your career?
Yes…and no.
Guidance through the Rough Places
One of the key ways an agent directs a writing career is helping the writer though the rough places. And there will be rough places.
One of my clients, we’ll call her Sarah, sent in her third manuscript to complete her three-book contract with a publisher. All had gone swimmingly with the first two novels, and so far the publisher-author relationship was pure honeymoon. But, to my client’s dismay, her third novel was rejected when the editor read it.
Turns out the storyline developed in ways the editor hadn’t projected, even though Sarah had consulted the editor and was directed to emphasize a specific setting that meant the story would have a gritty edge. But once the editor read the manuscript, she realized she had misdirected the author.
So Sarah was asked to revamp the novel in major ways, making it a different story altogether.
Enters Career Planning Stage Left
This is where career guidance comes into the picture. Sarah and I talked long and hard about how to respond to this rejection. Finally I told her I didn’t think she should do the rewrite. The novel she had created was powerful and reflected the compelling voice she had established in her first two manuscripts. To change it would be to compromise her brand and the creativity Sarah had poured into the manuscript.
So Sarah wrote a different novel for the publisher, one that suited its more conservative tastes.
Who but your agent will give you permission not to murder your baby manuscript? In this instance, not the editor nor the publisher. Together, Sarah and I determined that later in her career, when she was more established, the initial manuscript would find a new home. In the meantime, she would continue to build her reputation as a fine novelist.
Other Career Planning Rough Spots
Other rough spots that were career-defining moments for clients have included what to do when:
- you think the publisher’s cover design will hinder book sales.
- your publisher has chosen to offer minimal marketing/publicity support.
- the publishing house’s marketer left her job just after she introduced herself to you. Your book is now orphaned.
- no publisher wants to buy your latest great book idea.
- your muse has disappeared but your deadline has not.
Smooth sailing in publishing? Nah, it’s not going to last. But hopefully you’ll have an agent on your team ready to put her paddle in the water and work like crazy to escort you through the rough waters and on your way to a productive career.
What rough waters have you encountered? How did they affect your writing career?
Featured image by Carole Mailani Jones from Pixabay
Second image by Tracy Angus-Hammond from Pixabay
As I look back on the wasteland
of my writing career,
I think now that I understand
that it perished through my fear
of changing what I thought my voice
by learning it as trade,
and trepidation became choice,
and thus the trap was laid
of ego in the punji pit,
to cripple creativity,
but that was not the worst of it,
for my stubborn proclivity
to follow my amateur’s answer
was my Muse’s lethal cancer.
I’m still trying to get my kayak in the water, so I haven’t hit any of those rough patches yet. This blog post actually makes me feel better about the journey. It helps to know that I won’t be navigating that river alone as long as I have an agent (and it reinforces my decision to go the traditional route).
Thank you for posting this, Janet. This answers some questions I had on my mind just last night as I’m gearing up for appointments. An agent acts as champion for the writer and his/her story.
I’m glad the blog post was timely for you, Mysti.
I’m so glad to read that the blog post was encouraging to you in staying the course as you look for a place to launch your kayak. I wish you a smooth entry and many rich rewards for putting your boat into the water. It takes courage and perseverance!
You’ve done all that and more for me, Janet. Thank you so much. You’ve encouraged and guided my writing and me in ways no one else has over the last thirty years.
Thanks for those kind words, Janet. It’s been a privilege to work with and to know you’ll always work hard on every book, regardless how rough the waters may be.
What important moments to have an agent shepherding your work, Janet! I find myself a bit jelous of your authors as they have such a fine cheerleader with wise counsel in their boat with them. May you have many adventures with your authors!
The interesting stretch of rapids I find myself in at the moment is having come through the ups and downs of learning craft in a genre I love, paidd my dues by developing my skill to pitch and write book proposals, had a bunch of manuscripts pass muster with the editorial team at a great publisher, but then die within the hallowed halls of the sales and marketing department.
To know that true professionals loved my stories is such a gift and certainly boosts my spirits as that is what I set out to accomplish. I wanted to learn to write and to write well. I wanted to make people laugh and develop the skill to move a reader deeply. However, smashing my face against the brick wall of “platform” isn’t super fun.
But I love to write, I lifted that desire before the Lord and He gave me the thumbs up. “Keep writing. I made you to create.” I have characters and a story world that I love. So, I will continue. I will create stories that I love and I’ve determined to launch some of them into the world on my own and just delight in the thrill of a tale well told. Perhaps, when I have a nice little stack of fun children’s stories, I will revisit the idea of an agent and a publisher for a new batch of tales. Until then, I’m going to just have a whole lot of fun!
Kristen, I love your plucky spirit. Congrats on working hard to hone your writing skills and to figure out how to write a compelling proposal.
“Platform” has turned over many a white water raft, and the course you’ve taken when yours turned over strikes me as reasonable. You know you’re a true writer when you just can’t stop yourself from creating!
Janet, what a great post. It’s always an encouragement to have writing people navigate the rapids of the writing ride. I’m so thankful for all I’ve learned here on the blog and for the wisdom my agent offers. You ladies are wonderful and wise!
Jeanne, thanks for being part of our blog community and for your meaningful comments.