Hi Kate, I was wondering if you can do a write up about working with editors at traditional presses. What is normal editing, and what are the signs of a bad or toxic editor?
I rarely hear writers complain that their agent didn't do more for them (like get them more money for a book). The red flag I hear most often is an agent ghosting... a writer will ask me if they should follow up with the agent they haven't heard from in months. MONTHS!? This isn't normal! So when you say writers should talk to their agents, I totally agree, but I also think it's reasonable to expect that your agent will communicate back... writers feel like they're "bothering" their agents, begging for crumbs. I feel like the ghosting is getting worse all around (from magazine editors, etc.)
This is SO helpful and I have at least half a dozen up and coming writer friends who I plan to send this to. I'm on Agent 2 and fortunately she is spectacular at her job and we have so far worked great together. This actually only confirmed that, and I did indeed feel empowered.
I have "divorced" two agents (for not being able to sell my books) and another one retired (and was the last fiction agent at the agency so I wasn't transferred to someone else.) The agents I left were and are very successful with quite a few big name clients. It happens. And I've moved on. My next novel is out spring '24. Meanwhile, I continue to search for the agent that gets me.
I just parted ways with my first agent. Super nice guy, but also super laid back. It was hard to get a read on things, so when the first book didn’t sell, I chose to step away.
To my knowledge an agent cannot 'fire' a client; whatever that means. The relationship of author to agent/agency is the author employs the agent/agency for a set agreed percentage of their earnings for works represented. The agent/agency can terminate a contract of representation with the author on various grounds, all of which will be set out in the contract of representation. It is not an employer-employee contract in that context. Greater clarity than this is required if you are presuming to advise people on professional matters such as these online.
Hi Kate, I was wondering if you can do a write up about working with editors at traditional presses. What is normal editing, and what are the signs of a bad or toxic editor?
I rarely hear writers complain that their agent didn't do more for them (like get them more money for a book). The red flag I hear most often is an agent ghosting... a writer will ask me if they should follow up with the agent they haven't heard from in months. MONTHS!? This isn't normal! So when you say writers should talk to their agents, I totally agree, but I also think it's reasonable to expect that your agent will communicate back... writers feel like they're "bothering" their agents, begging for crumbs. I feel like the ghosting is getting worse all around (from magazine editors, etc.)
This is SO helpful and I have at least half a dozen up and coming writer friends who I plan to send this to. I'm on Agent 2 and fortunately she is spectacular at her job and we have so far worked great together. This actually only confirmed that, and I did indeed feel empowered.
I have "divorced" two agents (for not being able to sell my books) and another one retired (and was the last fiction agent at the agency so I wasn't transferred to someone else.) The agents I left were and are very successful with quite a few big name clients. It happens. And I've moved on. My next novel is out spring '24. Meanwhile, I continue to search for the agent that gets me.
I just parted ways with my first agent. Super nice guy, but also super laid back. It was hard to get a read on things, so when the first book didn’t sell, I chose to step away.
Kate - thank you so much for posting this. It gives me a lot to think about.
To my knowledge an agent cannot 'fire' a client; whatever that means. The relationship of author to agent/agency is the author employs the agent/agency for a set agreed percentage of their earnings for works represented. The agent/agency can terminate a contract of representation with the author on various grounds, all of which will be set out in the contract of representation. It is not an employer-employee contract in that context. Greater clarity than this is required if you are presuming to advise people on professional matters such as these online.