The rest of the news is once again I went from major delight to massive doubt. What if, when THE CALL finally comes, I experience a total mind melt? How will I remember even one of the questions I've been wanting to ask since the idea for GIFT first came to me?
So, in true Fayard fashion, I started making a list. And because I hope none of my pre-published friends puts herself thought what I do—although it does seem to come with the territory of being a writer—below are my 24 top topics. Not that I except there'll be time to ask all of these, but it's nice to have some options to choose among. :)
All of these questions are applicable for both agents and editors, with the exception of the Shopping my Manuscript with Editors section, which is just for agents. So here they are, not in any order of importance but sorted into mini categories:
THE BOOK
- What made you decide to represent my work?
- To what extent are you an editorial agent?
- What revisions do you have in mind for this manuscript?
INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS
- Why do you want to represent me?
- How would you describe the ideal client?
- Will I be working solely with you, or will there be times I'll work with an associate or assistant?
- Does your agency handle the sale of subsidiary rights such as foreign, film, audio, translation and other subrights, or do you have a relationship with a sub-agent who handles the sale of these rights on your behalf?
- What questions do you have for me?
SHOPPING MY MANUSCRIPT WITH EDITORS
- Of the books you're currently representing/have recently repped, what percentage have been in my genre? Better yet, check Publisher's Marketplace to see how many deals the agent has made in the last year, overall, to whom and for how much and whether any of the recent deals were in your genre.
- Which publishing houses are you considering for my book?
- How many editors will you pitch to in the first wave? Six or more is average for most commercial and genre fiction. Fewer than three should give you pause. One at a time is a bad answer.
- Will you keep me updated as offers and rejections come in? When editors decline to buy your book, if your agent doesn't automatically forward copies of the declination letters, simply ask for them.
- Will you keep me abreast of where and when my work was submitted?
- How many houses do you plan to submit to overall if my manuscript doesn't sell as soon as hoped? After six months and definitely after a year without a sale, request a full submission list from your agent. This list should cite all the editors who have reviewed your manuscript, and it will give you confidence that your agent is submitting your work to the right editors and imprints. If it's been a year and your book still hasn't sold despite your agent getting it reviewed by many editors, then that's OK. Your agent isn't a bad agent, and you're not a bad writer. Your book just didn't sell.
- Will my manuscript come out as an eBook as well?
OUR FUTURE PARTNERSHIP
- If you can't sell this manuscript, will you look at my other work or help me develop a new project?
- Do you represent clients book by book or on a career basis?
- How involved do you like to be in working with your clients on developing new ideas?
MARKETING
- To what extent will you be working with me on career planning?
- Do you work with a publicist?
- What marketing will you do to complement my marketing plan?
- What can I do to increase my book's chances of selling?
- How many review copies will you provide?
COMMUNICATIONS
- How frequently do you update authors? For submission status, once a month is standard.
- Do you have a preference for communication type?
- How quickly do you respond to client questions?
- Are there any situations where you'd make decisions on my behalf?
Online articles that were invaluable to me in preparing this list include:
- http://www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog/10+Questions+To+Ask+An+Agent+Before+You+Sign.aspx;
- http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2010/01/07/before-accepting-agent-representation/;
- http://tabwriter.blogspot.com/2009/11/preparing-for-call.html;
- http://www.agentquery.com/writer_or.aspx; and
- http://caseylmccormick.blogspot.com/2010/02/call-or-what-to-ask-literary-agent-when.html.
Ready for some more positive news? Anyone who can write tens of thousands of words, endure innumerable critiques and gracefully receive rejection letters has what it takes to professionally handle The Call. Then let the squee-ing begin!
21 comments:
If the call comes for me, I'm going to say, HOLD ON!, while I furiously scroll for this post.
You thought of everything!
3 requests for fulls. YaY! I'm hoping for you. Please keep me posted.
This made me laugh, Michelle. I trust when the call comes, and notice I said when, not if, you will be absolutely ready and able to handle it.
Karen
@Theresa, I'm so glad if this helps. Although I didn't add this to the post, I recently read an article about questions to ask before signing with a small publisher, in case any of us decide to go that route, http://theinnocentflower.blogspot.com/2011/06/publishing-traditionally-without-agent_08.html.
@Karen, thanks for the vote of confidence. :)
Great post! Thanks for the tips and congrats on the full!
That's definitely taking a "professional" approach. It seems like the list of questions of a very confident writer. It seems like so many writers are so desperate for an agent, they won't ask those questions. I've decided to self-publish all my work (unless something drastically changes), mainly because no agent has ever shown an interest in my writing. So, I don't think about what questions I'll ask prospective agents. I'm more attuned to "How will I market the books I self-publish?" That's a whole different set of questions. But for those seeking an agent, your list of questions is excellent.
My first question is "Are you sober?".
IF that answer is satisfactory, I'll ask "What medications are you on?"
Then the ever popular, "Who put you up to this?"
Tirz
Quite a good collection of questions, Michelle. It does pay to be prepared.
All great questions, and you're so smart to make a list now. I didn't do that, and when I got The Call (very unexpectedly), I totally babbled. I had to email her later with all my questions.
Fabulous post, Michelle.
Great questions, Michelle. You have a cooler head than mine. I'd probably just scream YES, then regret it later.
@Laura, glad if the tips help. :)
@Richard, I'd be very interested to read your list of marketing ideas. And congratulations on deciding to take the self-publishing route; I wish you much success.
@Tirzah, when you get your call from an agent, may I please be a fly on the wall? You're da bomb!
@Joy, once I have a list, I feel ready to conquer the world. :)
@Jennifer, you've made me feel much better about the fact that we can follow by e-mail with the questions we were too dazed by joy to ask. Hmmm, with the phenomenal success CREEP is enjoying, maybe I should toss out my list. :)
@Sheila, I hope the mute button on our cell phone is working that day, so I can do a serious scream too. :)
I am making this a bookmark page. So, to answer your question, if/when the call comes, I will run to my computer and pull this up.
Thanks Michelle. This post is an excellent resource for writers!
This is an impressive list of questions! Very helpful to consider. I've bookmarked it. Thanks, Michelle
A huge congrats to you on another requested full. That's excellent news. I'm very excited for you.
You sound very prepared for the call and I'm sure you'll do great when it comes. Just thinking about that day freaks me out, big time. I'm book marking your list for future reference. When I get nervous my mind goes blanker than a teenage boy's when talking to a pretty girl. I shake too. It's not pretty at all.
@McKenzie, definitely "when," and on that beautiful day, I'd be delighted if this suggested list helps. :)
@Julia, Elizabeth, I'm glad my obsessive list-making skills have been helpful. :)
@CherylAnne, when I'm nervous, I giggle like that pretty girl standing before the teenage boy. So embarrassing! But I have a feeling, even without a bookmarked article, you're going to rock hard.
Michelle, this is a great list, thank you. Good luck with your full request :-)
@Sarah, thank you times two. :)
Squee! I just know you're going to get an offer soon!
I have made a very long list as well, and checked out some of the same sources. I know when that day finally comes I'll be majorly hyperventilating. My voice is going to go so high! It does that very annoyingly when I'm stressed.
@Alexia, your belief keeps me highly motivated; thank you so much. But then I feel just the same about your book, COUNTLESS.
I'm consoling myself with the thought that agents have heard it all when they make The Call, so hopefully no matter how our voice sounds, they'll understand. Hoping, hoping ...
These are all great questions, and you know you can find many of the answers online before you even query--Literary Rambles, QT, those blogs that interview agents.
Regardless, have your list, have your little notebook and pen--be prepared not to remember ANY of what is said, so write everything down, and most of all, listen with your gut. That's going to be the final decision maker.
That's from someone who went through TWO calls. The worst part is telling the other one, "No thanks." :p
@Leigh, thank you very much for the reminder about these great resources to help us get answers. And I'm with you regarding the note-taking thing as well as listening to your gut instinct. Ah, but what a "good bad" you went through. Again, congratulations!
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