This is one of the best explanations I've ever read or heard by an agent on how they manage their portfolio and pipeline. Writers (including myself) take an egocentric viewpoint when it comes to their work and its potential (how else could we literally reach 'the end' of a draft?). But really we should be thinking in the aggregate. It's the randomness that keeps agents afloat; it's not a cruel market device to control creativity!
This sentence: "Agents are reacting to what you’re doing, what you’re writing." I don't know if it was meant to bolster flagging confidence, but it does. From deep in the neurotic depths of querying, I needed that reminder. And am now scurrying off to make a long-term list of projects. In some long-ago biography of Shostakovitch (why I read it, I don't know; I blame an old boyfriend), Shostakovich says: the brain is a fragile vessel. write it down. Exactly.
I had written a small town mystery manuscript 3 years ago, submitted it to a publisher and got some very useful feedback in return. (Along with a "this doesn't suit our needs but definitely edit and resubmit in the future" note, which I greatly appreciated). So I made the edits, put it in a drawer and forgot about it until yesterday! Oye!
So your post has not only gotten me thinking about what I want to be writing in 2026, but also to dust that mystery off and do something with it!
Wow, this is something I've never thought about from an agent's point of view: a pub schedule and filling budget gaps. Very interesting.
If you don't mind me asking, for agents, how many active clients is ideal? 20-25? Or do you think in terms of books pubd per year? Or in terms of advance revenue per year? Or overall revenue annually?
This is wonderful, thank you! Would it be possible for you to share some "tried-and-true things that have worked for me for years"? That might be a trade secret, but I'd love to know if it's possible:)
This is one of the best explanations I've ever read or heard by an agent on how they manage their portfolio and pipeline. Writers (including myself) take an egocentric viewpoint when it comes to their work and its potential (how else could we literally reach 'the end' of a draft?). But really we should be thinking in the aggregate. It's the randomness that keeps agents afloat; it's not a cruel market device to control creativity!
This sentence: "Agents are reacting to what you’re doing, what you’re writing." I don't know if it was meant to bolster flagging confidence, but it does. From deep in the neurotic depths of querying, I needed that reminder. And am now scurrying off to make a long-term list of projects. In some long-ago biography of Shostakovitch (why I read it, I don't know; I blame an old boyfriend), Shostakovich says: the brain is a fragile vessel. write it down. Exactly.
Your timing is impeccable.
I had written a small town mystery manuscript 3 years ago, submitted it to a publisher and got some very useful feedback in return. (Along with a "this doesn't suit our needs but definitely edit and resubmit in the future" note, which I greatly appreciated). So I made the edits, put it in a drawer and forgot about it until yesterday! Oye!
So your post has not only gotten me thinking about what I want to be writing in 2026, but also to dust that mystery off and do something with it!
Thanks!
Great pep talk inspiring long-term thinking/planning. Don't get hung up on only trying to sell the current manuscript; think about the next one!
Interesting post, and good food for thought. Oh, also ... if you need an assistant ...
Wow, this is something I've never thought about from an agent's point of view: a pub schedule and filling budget gaps. Very interesting.
If you don't mind me asking, for agents, how many active clients is ideal? 20-25? Or do you think in terms of books pubd per year? Or in terms of advance revenue per year? Or overall revenue annually?
Thanks for sharing your insights. There are no crystal balls. We need to work from what we know and what makes our hearts sing. Keep the faith team!
This is wonderful, thank you! Would it be possible for you to share some "tried-and-true things that have worked for me for years"? That might be a trade secret, but I'd love to know if it's possible:)
2026. The three-year spread is always a wake-up call! Thank you for this.
Such a # AHHA moment: "write the book you want to write, not the book you think some agent wants to read." Thank you.
Writing. A lot.