An Agent Speaks, Part 2

Howdy! I hope y'all had a great Do-Nothing Tuesday!

Now here's Tamela...

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AGENT/CLIENT RELATIONSHIP
Thanks, Gina, for having me here. Because the agent is your gateway to publishers, keep the lines of communication open and choose an agent you feel you can enjoy working with, and who captures your vision for your work and your career. Now on to specific questions:

How often do you like to communicate with your client? How often is too often for your client to contact you?

I don’t have a hard and fast rule about communication. I do my best to be accessible. My hope is that my authors feel they can easily have their questions and concerns addressed without unreasonable delay.


Do you write limited contracts?

Yes, on a case-by-case basis.


Are you involved in career building? If so, how deeply?

In my view, career-building is a major part the agent’s work. Even mid-career writers need guidance to build on previous success. I talk with each author about career goals and work accordingly.


How much feedback do you give an author on her work?

I work with each author on a case-by-case basis. Some authors want and need lots of feedback, while others don’t. Because I am a published author myself, my writers appreciate the fact that I can offer detailed and specific feedback.


Will you give me a detailed list of who you sent my manuscript to? And who rejected it?

Yes, I keep authors in the loop. I feel they have a right to know what’s happening.


What should I expect from you at a conference? Should I make an appointment to see you or just say hi in the hall? Will we get together and discuss my career or is the conference for you to find new people and we should chat via e-mail?

I love meeting with writers at conferences and reconnecting in person with writers I’m already working with. This year my plans are to be at the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference in August (http://www.writehisanswer.com/Philadelphia/) and at the American Christian Fiction Writers conference (http://www.acfw.com/conference/ ) in September. I am happy to take appointments to talk about your career or simply to meet you, whether you’re ready for an agent or not. Likewise, I’m happy to chat via email if that works better for you. In essence, I have no hard and fast rules about how I like to meet writers.


How does a new author know if his/her agent is doing a good job?

If your agent is representing your work with enthusiasm and placing it in front of appropriate editors, I’d say that agent is doing his or her best to gain a sale for you.


When is it time to sever the relationship with an agent and how should it be done?

That’s not an easy question to answer because agent/client relationships vary. However, if you feel your agent has exhausted all the markets and/or is not enthusiastic about your work, it might be time for a change. Before deciding, please talk with your agent and give him or her a chance to explain why your work doesn’t seem to be garnering the interest of editors. Chances are by the point you are feeling dissatisfied, your agent is also distressed. Your conversation may result in an amicable parting and mutual feeling of relief. Avoid surprising your agent with a certified letter or unexpected phone call announcing termination without giving any hint of dissatisfaction first. The most successful partings are handled with courtesy and respect on both sides.

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Tomorrow: Miscellaneous Questions