What should I ask an agent?
I’ve had several people write to say, “I don’t know what to ask an agent when I meet one. What should I say?”
I’ve answered this question a few times on this blog, so let me replay some thoughts…
–How long have you been doing this?
-How many contracts have you negotiated for authors?
-Who do you represent?
-May I check your references? Are you okay with me asking your authors about you?
-What publishing houses have you worked with in the past year?
-Which editorial personnel have you done deals with?
-How many deal have you done in the past year?
-What sort of authors and projects do you represent?
-What do you like to read?
-Can you give me a book title you sold that you loved?
-Can you give me a book idea you sold that you loved?
–How would you define success for an author?
-What would you say are your best skills?
-What’s unique about your agency?
-What percentage do you earn on a book deal?
-Are there any hidden fees or charges? Any up-front costs?
-Do you charge back all your expenses?
-Have you ever worked in publishing or done any editing or writing?
-How do you approach career planning?
-Do you work by yourself?
-Are you full time?
-Can you help me do my e-books?
-Can you share any success stories with me?
-What do you do best?
-What do you expect from your authors?
That should at least get you started…
6 Comments
These are great questions, but I wonder what agents really think when we ask them. It seems responding to them would get tedious after a while. What if I ask too many and they decide I’m not worth their time?
Well, I doubt you’re going to ask all of these back to back in one sitting, Peter. This was more to get you thinking. A conversation with an agent is exactly that — a “conversation.” There’s give and take, we tell stories, we bring up other things. We don’t just sit and do an inquisition.
thanks buddy…maybe I’ll need one before much longer.
Doubtless you will, Stevie.
What a great list of questions. I got an offer of representation on the first day of a writing conference I attended last October. It was the fairy tale dream. My prospective agent told me to think about it. Immediately after this, I was already slated to have pre-dinner drinks with a number of other authors, many of whom were published and agented already. They gave me a similar list of questions to ask her, which I typed into my iPhone. I asked said agent the questions later that evening. Her answers were so in tune with where I wanted to go that I signed. Within this amazing year, my manuscript has sold. The questions work!
Yay! Really glad to hear this story, Leanne. Thanks!