I'm in a weird category where I have a great agent but not a book deal (which feels like 😫😫). This strange limbo state often isn't explored in discussions of the publication journey beyond "oh boy, yeah, that sucks!". But there are lots of difficult dilemmas in this stage too and I would love to read about this!
I would love to hear more about the agent/client relationship. I recently parted ways with my agent, and I'm curious what a normal communication between an agent and author looks like, and what expectations are realistic or unrealistic with regard to response times for emails/feedback.
I’d love for you to write more about after a writer has an agent, the relationship, and what happens after certain situations do or don’t happen, i.e., your book doesn’t sell, the relationship with an agent after a book sells, after the first contract terms, etc.
I would really like more conversation dealing with the space between getting an agent and getting a deal! Once the querying is done and you’re editing with an agent or on sub, just how to exist in this in between world without losing sanity haha
I am curious about the business models that are available today. For example: Don DeLillo wrote a book only every ~3 years for 30 years, but I did not have the impression he was paying the rent by writing stereo instructions on the side -- maybe he was? But it seemed like he had a non-starving career writing literary stuff. How's it work now for similar careers like... I dunno, Otessa Moshfegh? Like writers who will never hit Dean Koontz numbers but seem to have a real career. Or how's it work now if you're writing a genre series, like what is the model for people who publish a fantasy series, say, at a rate of one every 9-12 months (or what is the norm these days)? It seems there're some verrrrry different possible career paths available and I'm curious about the reality behind those!
May 10, 2023·edited May 10, 2023Liked by Kate McKean
I'd like to see more on the importance of building community around writing. After several years of failed attempts, I finally got a real life writing workshop together a month ago.
Everyone I talk to who is interested in writing, but doesn't do it, says that they need some sort of outside accountability.
I sincerely appreciate all the information shared — the reason I probably wouldn’t buy a book form is 1) given the variety of topics covered it doesn’t seem reasonable enough of the specific interests I have could be featured; 2) the nature of publishing appears (to my uninitiated eyes) to be quite fluid, with changes occurring all the time, so the blog/newsletter format is a better match.
The book I’ve begun is narrative nonfiction re sociopolitical aspects of cultural heritage and tourism at archaeological and religious sites for an educated but general adult public, so it’s quite possible it’s too small a niche to be worth much space in a future Agents & Books book. I know my book will be weird, and my questions about publishing not perhaps general enough. I’ve enjoyed my subscription, though!
In the first poll, you might add On Submission to Editors. I figured Querying is for finding an agent. Granted that's a shorter window than the others.
I like detail, so I'd like more of the nitty gritty of what happens through the whole process, but especially the marketing/sales bit post publication and community building.
I know there's a typo up there and I'm not changing it lol.
That was fun!
I'm in a weird category where I have a great agent but not a book deal (which feels like 😫😫). This strange limbo state often isn't explored in discussions of the publication journey beyond "oh boy, yeah, that sucks!". But there are lots of difficult dilemmas in this stage too and I would love to read about this!
I would love to hear more about the agent/client relationship. I recently parted ways with my agent, and I'm curious what a normal communication between an agent and author looks like, and what expectations are realistic or unrealistic with regard to response times for emails/feedback.
I’d love for you to write more about after a writer has an agent, the relationship, and what happens after certain situations do or don’t happen, i.e., your book doesn’t sell, the relationship with an agent after a book sells, after the first contract terms, etc.
I would really like more conversation dealing with the space between getting an agent and getting a deal! Once the querying is done and you’re editing with an agent or on sub, just how to exist in this in between world without losing sanity haha
I'm always interested to hear how the industry is changing. What's new? How are editors thinking differently about buying books?
I am curious about the business models that are available today. For example: Don DeLillo wrote a book only every ~3 years for 30 years, but I did not have the impression he was paying the rent by writing stereo instructions on the side -- maybe he was? But it seemed like he had a non-starving career writing literary stuff. How's it work now for similar careers like... I dunno, Otessa Moshfegh? Like writers who will never hit Dean Koontz numbers but seem to have a real career. Or how's it work now if you're writing a genre series, like what is the model for people who publish a fantasy series, say, at a rate of one every 9-12 months (or what is the norm these days)? It seems there're some verrrrry different possible career paths available and I'm curious about the reality behind those!
I'd like to see more on the importance of building community around writing. After several years of failed attempts, I finally got a real life writing workshop together a month ago.
Everyone I talk to who is interested in writing, but doesn't do it, says that they need some sort of outside accountability.
In addition, it's free amateur therapy.
one option missing in Q1 is "have an agent, not yet on submission" :)
For "What do you want to read more about in Agents & Books." I would have put "All of the Above."
I sincerely appreciate all the information shared — the reason I probably wouldn’t buy a book form is 1) given the variety of topics covered it doesn’t seem reasonable enough of the specific interests I have could be featured; 2) the nature of publishing appears (to my uninitiated eyes) to be quite fluid, with changes occurring all the time, so the blog/newsletter format is a better match.
The book I’ve begun is narrative nonfiction re sociopolitical aspects of cultural heritage and tourism at archaeological and religious sites for an educated but general adult public, so it’s quite possible it’s too small a niche to be worth much space in a future Agents & Books book. I know my book will be weird, and my questions about publishing not perhaps general enough. I’ve enjoyed my subscription, though!
PLEASE WRITE A BOOK
In the first poll, you might add On Submission to Editors. I figured Querying is for finding an agent. Granted that's a shorter window than the others.
I appreciate your typos - you are human and we can use a lot more of that in every part of our lives.
Fun poll, but oooooh, a new book to read! Looks fabulous. Ordered.
I like detail, so I'd like more of the nitty gritty of what happens through the whole process, but especially the marketing/sales bit post publication and community building.