The Previous Agent
Another way publishing is like dating
Hi friends,
Great question from the email bag today:
C asks: I’m wondering if you can comment on writers who have had previous agents, but do not have those same agents anymore (for fine, amicable reasons, but usually involves a book not selling on a first or second round). And how a writer might approach a new agent with a book project that has similar motifs/ideas from previous projects but is absolutely completely new (and writer has significantly grown in their writing and writing creds). Asking for a friend...that is me!
Some of you are like Kate, I haven’t gotten the first agent yet and now I have to worry about the second??? I know. Bu you may not have to worry about this! You may find an agent and be with her for 100 years and sell 1000 books and never look back. But it’s not uncommon to leave an agent, or have an agent leave you, and knowing what to do next is good info to have.
First, know that it’s not easy for an agent to let go of a client. We like our clients as people and we know what it’s like to have to find another one. But sometimes that’s just what needs to happen, for any number of reasons. Maybe that agent isn’t doing that genre anymore. Maybe that agent needs to reduce her client list for heath reasons. Maybe she’s leaving publishing. Maybe she just hasn’t connected with the work in a while. It’s not fun, trust me.
But if this is you, don’t worry. It’s not a black mark on your permanent record. When you query completely new book that was NOT shopped by your previous agent, you can simply say, if you want to, I recently parted aimcably with my agent and am looking for new representation. That’s 100% fine! That says to me Well, someone liked this writing before, maybe I will, too. If you don’t want to put that, you don’t have to! As my grandmother said: you don’t have to tell everything you know.
EXCEPT in this scenario: if you wish for a new agent to try to sell something another agent as already tried to sell, the new agent MUST MUST MUST MUST know. MUST. You need to be upfront about that and you need to know exactly what editors at what imprints read and passed on the book. Because I can’t resend to an editor or IMPRINT that has already passed on a book. If Mz. Editor at Knopf rejects your book, I can’t send it to anyone else at Knopf. Doing so makes me look bad and wastes the editor’s time and is across the board not good. Your previous (or current!) agent should always give you a complete listing of who’s read your book at the end of every submission (don’t be shy to ask) and if you’re in the process of breaking up, ask for it now in case you need it in the future.
The only time I’m not super hot on a previously represented client is when they are trying to sell the same book someone else tried to sell, and it’s been to 20, 30, 40 publishers. At that point, there just isn’t anyone else I can send to. I could be interested in a new project, but that old one has probably seen its day.
If you’re trying to get a new agent with a book that’s similar to, but not the same as your last one, and I mean a whole new book, not one that has been edited, even A LOT, then there’s no issue. It’s ok you tried to sell one book about the Civil War, it didn’t work, and you wrote a new one also about the Civil War. Maybe that’s just your lane. It’s always possible the Civil War part is why it didn’t sell, but tbh you’re not going to know that for sure ever, so you might as well write what you like.
Wait, I lied. The only OTHER time I’m not super hot on a previously represetned client is when they are trying to sell the SEQUEL to their first book that their publisher rejected. If the publisher of your first book isn’t taking your sequel (or you self-published the first book) an you’ve parted ways with your agent and you’re querying me with a sequel, don’t. I can’t sell it to someone else. No publisher is going to take the second book in a series. That’s a whole ‘nother newsletter, but yeah, don’t do that.
If your book is a new one then query as normal. If you want to mention you were previously represented, that’s cool. You don’t have to. You could mention it on a call or in an email if things move past the query stage. I’d want to know just to know, but at that point, I already like your work and it’s just part of your past. I’m not going to call that agent and be like is this person you fired bonkers? Agents do gossip, but if you were really bonkers, I would have already heard about it. I’m not, like, calling your references. If your separation wasn’t exactly amicable, I don’t need to hear all the gory details, especially if you fired the agent because of their negligence (preceived or actual). If you go off on your old agent with me I’m going to think geez, what are they going to say about me if we break up? It’s ok to tell the truth, if you want, but don’t forget how small this business is.
If your relationship with your agent ends, that’s ok. There are so many other agents. So many. There’s isn’t one true agent out there for anyone. You probably don’t have an agent soulmate. Send out a new query and best of luck.
Are you in the NYC area and want to take a class with me and the inimitable Jim McCarthy of Dystel, Goderich and Bourret? You’re in luck! We’re teaching an all day seminar at NYU on March 28th called You've Finished the Book--Now What? Guidance and Strategies for Becoming a Published Author and you should totally sign up! Jim and I have a lot of fun teaching together so I promise it will an entertaining and informative time.
OXOX,
Kate