Understanding Your Agent

HandshakeIf you’ve been reading agent blogs for awhile, you’re aware that the agent-client relationship can be a wonderful, long-term, productive association. Like any important relationship, it’s not always easy — sometimes it takes work to make it succeed. It has a better chance of working if each of you has some understanding of what it’s like on the other side of the table.

We agents spend a lot of time with writers, always trying to learn more about what it’s like to be you. So today I want to give you a few tips that will help you understand what it’s like to be us:

Your agent…

…is not a mind reader. If you’re having an issue—if you feel the agent is inattentive, or you need more feedback or more frequent communication—it’s best if you let your agent know. They can’t fix a problem if they’re not aware of it.

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Rachelle Gardner

Literary agent at Gardner Literary. Coffee & wine enthusiast (not at the same time) and dark chocolate connoisseur. I've worked in publishing since 1995 and I love talking about books!

3 Comments

  1. Mridu Khullar Relph on January 13, 2013 at 1:35 AM

    I find that most writers tend to see an agent-writer relationship as an unequal one in which the agent holds all the power. For me, what has worked with both agents and editors is to treat it as a true partnership. We’re all working towards the same common goal and are a team. We may have different roles, but the end result we’re all hoping for is to bring a fantastic book into the hands of readers (and make some profit while doing so). It helps to remember that.



  2. Friday Features #39 - YESENIA VARGAS on January 12, 2013 at 1:43 AM

    […] Understanding Your Agent | Rachelle Gardner […]



  3. Dan Erickson on January 11, 2013 at 10:41 AM

    I decided to self publish my first few books, but will likely look for an agent in the next couple of years. Good advice.