This is part 10/11 in our series about How to Land a Literary Agent:
- How to Land a Literary Agent
- Your Fishing Guide: What I Know About These Waters
- The Prey: What Exactly Is An Agent?
- The Why: Who Actually Needs an Agent?
- Dawn or Dusk: When to Start Fishing
- The Fish Finder: Locating Agents
- The Bait: Writing a Pitch
- Casting Your Line: Query Letters
- The Nibble: When an Agent Expresses Interest
- The Bite: Getting an Offer
- The Play: Interviewing Agents
- The Keeper: Final Decisions and Next Steps
In the last post (The Bite: Getting an Offer), I explained that after getting an offer from agent, you’ll want to set up a call to talk to them, with the goal of figuring out if they’re a good match for you.
Interviewing an Agent is a great example of what’s called “asymmetrical negotiation.” It’s like when you go to buy a car: the salesperson probably sells 200 cars a year, whereas you only buy one a decade. They know a lot more about selling than you do about buying.
The good news is that this negotiation isn’t so cutthroat. Your goal isn’t to negotiate down their commission (that’s not gonna happen), and they’re not going to try to upsell you on rust-proofing or stereo systems. The goal is simply to learn how they work and figure out if they’re a good match. You should have some questions ready before your call or meeting, and they might go something like this:
- “Knowing what you know about my work and the marketplace, where do see me fitting in? Are there particular presses or imprints that might be a good home?” (This is a way to see how the agent thinks about your work—and if her thinking is similar to yours.)
- “Having read the manuscript, do you think it needs work before it goes out? If so, what suggestions do you have?” (Don’t expect the agent to respond with a lot of specifics; after all, you haven’t yet hired her, and she’s not in the business of giving out free advice. But you want to find out if she likes you as you, or if she really wants to turn you into a different kind of writer.)
- “How do you typically work with authors? Is there a lot of back-and-forth? How do you keep me apprised of your efforts?” (This helps you gauge whether she’s a person who edits heavily or not at all; if she likes a steady stream of communication or prefers a once-a-month update; and how she’ll inform you of who she’s sending work to, as well as the responses she gets back.)
- “If there are additional rights to be negotiated—such as translation or film—do you do those yourself, or do you work with partners? How does that work, and what are the commissions?” (Of course, you mostly want to get your book in print, but these other rights can turn into a “thing.” Most of all, though, you’ll show that you’re doing due diligence.)
- “Can you send me a copy of your contract to review?” (Most agents will have a contract, and you actually want to read it. Few things are truly negotiable, but you want to know what all the terms are.)
Of course, the agent may have questions for you, too. So be ready! They might go something like this:
- “Where did the idea for your manuscript come from, and how long have you been working on it?” (This lets them hear you speak about your own work, and it tells them something about your work rhythms.)
- “Are you open to reworking a couple parts of your book?” (This helps them see how flexible you are, and how receptive to feedback.)
- “What are you working on next?” (If you can share something—even something vague—it reassures them that you’re not just a one-hit wonder.)
Depending on how the conversation goes, you may be ready to make a commitment by the end of it. But don’t feel pressured—especially if you’re still waiting to hear from other agents. It’s perfectly fine to say that you need time to review the contract or to think about it. You shouldn’t worry that they’ll suddenly retract the offer if you don’t say yes today. No, you have a little time. Not months, but at least days, and maybe a week or two.
Of course, if you get another offer of representation or two, you’ll want to have similar conversations with those prospects. Most of all, you want to feel like the person “gets you,” and that they’re going to do their best to market you.
Chances are, you’ll find someone you like. It doesn’t have to be a perfect match. Your agent doesn’t have to be your best friend. She doesn’t need to be a brilliant editor. You might feel she pushes you a little too much, or a little too little. But none of those things are fatal flaws. There would have to be giant red flags flapping in the wind before deciding it’s best not to have any agent.
More than likely, you’ll look at your options, and one of them will be a keeper. Then you’re ready to wrap up the search!
Next Up: