The Agent-Client Relationship
December 2019 Chapter Meeting: The Agent-Client Relationship
By J.C. Moore
Danielle Egan-Miller, president of Browne & Miller Literary Associates and an agent with decades of industry experience and hundreds of book sales under her belt, shared her perspective on the agent-client relationship at the December chapter meeting in Forest Park, IL.
She discussed what to expect, what questions to ask, and what could be signs of trouble, with outgoing MWA-Midwest president Heather E. Ash.
1) Signing an agent doesn't mean your book is perfect—Danielle works with authors to revise manuscripts before submission to publishers. This can be hard for an author after already spending years revising a manuscript. Before signing, make sure you understand the scope of revisions your agent may propose.
2) It's a professional relationship—Agents work for you, so don’t be afraid to reach out when you have questions or concerns just the same way you would with your lawyer or doctor.
3) Stay informed—Smart clients stay up to date on who the agent has pitched and the status of each query. It will give you confidence that your agent is working every angle on your behalf, and give you valuable information in case you decide to part ways.
4) Your interests are aligned—Agents have to sell to eat. They are sales focused, working with clients to ready projects for submission (see #1) and securing offers. Agents can’t change the marketplace, but they work hard to get the very best offer they can. Danielle says clients need to trust her on what’s feasible for the relationship to be successful.
5) Have the difficult conversations—If you’re not satisfied with your relationship, you may want to move on. But it’s a good idea to raise your concerns as they come up, rather than walking away out of the blue. They’re hard conversations, but given all you’ve both invested in the relationship, it's the most professional and productive way to go.
6) Push yourself—Every author’s career is different, but Danielle says the most common path is for an author to debut modestly, find readers, write more books and continue to grow readership. It takes most writers a long time to make a living off their writing, and it’s important for authors to focus on their craft. Danielle expects her authors to be better writers at book five than book one. Embrace the journey and focus on constant improvement in your craft.
J.C. Moore is the author of the Maggie White Mysteries, debuting May 2020 with Murder in the Piazza from Level Best Books. Her short fiction has appeared in Mystery Weekly, and she is the editor of the Mystery Writers of America Midwest newsletter.