Comments on: Newer vs. Established Agents

By: Kidlit.com · Assistant Attitude

Kidlit.com · Assistant Attitude — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:31:57 +0000

[...] resubmit, get on the phone, etc. Some assistants can even take on their own clients (see the Newer vs. Established agent conversation for more thoughts on this). Since this is a chance for an assistant to prove him or herself — [...]

By: Suzie

Suzie — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 06:17:02 +0000

I’m way late commenting but I’m reading your backlist, so I might leave a few belated comments. Anyway, this was an excellent, informative post. It addressed a ton of things I’ve been thinking on. Thank you!

By: Robin

Robin — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 02:24:32 +0000

Thanks Mary! I’ve wanted to know this for quite some time.
Personally, I think I would prefer a newer agent.

By: Ziggy Dragon

Ziggy Dragon — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 11:25:31 +0000

Mary, this is a great post. A lot of interesting points, and reasonably unbiased. Got a question: how much do agents at the same agency collaborate? If you find a hot prospect, do you talk to your Senior Agent and get suggestions, advice, info? Would they give tips on negotiations? & stuff like that…

By: Stina

Stina — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 23:07:24 +0000

Great post, Mary. I know I’ll be looking at newer agents when I start querying. But the agency they work for and who their colleagues are will also play a role in my decision.

By: Mandy Hubbard

Mandy Hubbard — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 17:17:03 +0000

Well said, Mary! Retweeting as we speak.

As a newer agent myself (but at a well-established agency, just not neccessarily in the YA/MG world I specialize in) I am hungry and agressive. I’ve spent hours upon hours upon hours searching out editors and introducing myself. And I’ve probably sent more revision requests than most agents do.

I think that’s probably a key part of being a new agent. We’ll consider projects based on the potential as much as what’s there now. If we think we can guide a good project to being great, we’re going to be agressively pursue that, because our client list isn’t jam-packed yet. Established agents might just send a form rejection instead.

So its not that new agents take on “sub par” material, its that they’re willing to go to bat on 1, 2, 3 rounds of revision to get to where a project needs to go. As time goes on and my client list fills, I’ll be doing less of that, simply because my clients will have to come first.

The first project I sold (at auction, no less) was a direct result of a revision request.

By: Franziska Green

Franziska Green — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:32:56 +0000

Bongo, I’m saddened to read you think successful querying is a ‘numbers game.’ Your commitment to this blog (and its owner) gave me the impression you were all about true love, destiny, fate, that type of thing – calling it a numbers game makes you sound kind of cynical. Has your broken heart broken your spirit too?

Mary, don’t worry, I’m not moving to the apartment above yours (although if I did, I would definitely knock on your door to ask to borrow Sushi so my daughter could spend hours stroking her). My gawjus family is headed to Buffalo in July for two years. Far enough away not to be a total stalker but close enough to come visit for the SCBWI conference in January!

PS How about we go with Franzipan? I quite like the sound of that.

By: Heidi Norrod

Heidi Norrod — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:11:03 +0000

It’s funny, your post echoes the sentiments of a literary agency feed I follow. They often send out notes about new agents and list many reasons why new authors should consider new agents…

It’s really hard to break into publishing since alot of people don’t want to represent you if you have had little or no publishing past, and it seems to me that newer agents are little more ready to dive in with a writer that is as green as a spring leaf.

Thanks for the insight, and as I embark on the scary trip of trying to find my first agent for my YA mystery/suspense – I will be taking this post to heart. In fact, I’m printing it to save in my notebook. Thanks again!

By: Johnny Ray

Johnny Ray — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 12:49:38 +0000

This is a very interesting topic. I will agree obtaining an agent that will take your interest at heart and who loves your writing is the best advice. The other part needed is someone who is a good negotiator and fighter for your interest. You need someone who will get you the best deal.
The part that comes from experience is knowing the editors and having a reputation of knowing what is good. Over time a good agent will grow with the author and look for markets for his work.

To me it is definitely like a marriage, a journey to be shared and nurtured by both.

By: Joan

Joan — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 05:18:50 +0000

Great post and great comments with lots of insight!

Writing the book right is the hardest part, finding an agent and then editor as passionate about the book as the author is a close second.

Obviously we want an agent who is passionate about our work, but the rest of the factors will depend on personal preference.

The established vs. newer agent decision seems to be a risk either way. With the established agent, you risk taking a back seat to the established clients. With a newer agent, you risk not having the clout of the established agent. So it all boils down to which risk you feel more comfortable in taking.

I love a good game of Risk . . . hmm . . . I think I need to redesign my Risk board. Risk: Publishing Edition . . . everyone will be playing it in the future.