How to be an Agent’s ‘Dream Client’
I had a great literary agent in Manhattan…but selling spiritual fiction was not easy at the time, and despite much interest from various New York based publishers, I reluctantly had to let go and self-publish my first novel, Whip of the Wild God: A Novel of Tantra in Ancient India. Today hordes of writers are moving into self-publishing because it is quick and painless in certain respects…but to be honest, I do occasionally miss the comfort of having a professional literary agent on your side….if you’re a serious writer, you might be interested in reading about how to be an agent’s dream client…
Originally posted on Writers In The Storm Blog:
How does a literary agent define their “ideal client”? The question is extremely important because it’s one that factors into an agent’s mindset before and after they sign you.
If an agent has read your complete novel or book proposal and wants to sign you, the next step is almost always to arrange a telephone call where the two of you get to know one another. You ask the questions you want to ask about her and her style; she does the same regarding you and your style. During the phone conversation, the agent is trying to gauge whether you’re compatible enough with her to be signed as a new author in her stable. She’s already sizing up whether you can be a good, long-term client, or close to it.
Then after you sign with the agent, the two of you begin a long process of working…
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