Don't Forget, You're The One Doing The Hiring

As the publishing industry shifts, roles are rewritten and adjusted, and platforms undoubtedly change. As a result, it's not surprising the the future role of the agent has come into question.

Rachelle Gardner blogged about this Monday in her post titled Change or Die, where she optimistically wrote:

If you want to know the truth, I think it's exciting. The future is wide open for people who are adaptable, creative, and forward-thinking. I can envision many different ways for agents' roles to evolve, and I know most of my agent friends have been thinking about this, too.

But what does everyone else think?

Writer's Digest wrote an article back in September titled The Future Role of Agents, which concluded that the needs of authors will shape the future role of agents. The article addressed three critical issues:

1.KEEPING PACE WITH DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES AND BUILDING NEW CONTRACTS AND RIGHTS STRUCTURES

2.ESTABLISHING AND GROWING EMPOWERING PARTNERSHIPS AND ONLINE PRESENCES FAR BEYOND BOOK PUBLICATION

3.DEVELOPING NEW BUSINESS MODELS FOR HOW AUTHORS PAY AGENTS FOR THEIR EXPERTISE AND PARTNERSHIP

I'm not going to paraphrase everything here, but I encourage you to check the article out. To me, what this all means is that the industry is shifting, but as authors, we still need someone to navigate it for us, manage our careers and sell our work.

Above all, the one thing that hasn't changed is the fact that you're the one doing the hiring. Sure, it's a partnership, but agents are working for you - they represent you! We get so obsessed in NEEDING an agent that we forget that they need us too. So if you're unagented like moi, keep writing and querying until you find the RIGHT agent, not just an agent. Because regardless of what happens in the publishing world, you're still going to want one - an inside professional on your side.

Don't Forget, You're The One Doing The Hiring

As the publishing industry shifts, roles are rewritten and adjusted, and platforms undoubtedly change. As a result, it's not surprising the the future role of the agent has come into question.

Rachelle Gardner blogged about this Monday in her post titled Change or Die, where she optimistically wrote:

If you want to know the truth, I think it's exciting. The future is wide open for people who are adaptable, creative, and forward-thinking. I can envision many different ways for agents' roles to evolve, and I know most of my agent friends have been thinking about this, too.

But what does everyone else think?

Writer's Digest wrote an article back in September titled The Future Role of Agents, which concluded that the needs of authors will shape the future role of agents. The article addresses three critical issues:

1.KEEPING PACE WITH DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES AND BUILDING NEW CONTRACTS AND RIGHTS STRUCTURES

2.ESTABLISHING AND GROWING EMPOWERING PARTNERSHIPS AND ONLINE PRESENCES FAR BEYOND BOOK PUBLICATION

3.DEVELOPING NEW BUSINESS MODELS FOR HOW AUTHORS PAY AGENTS FOR THEIR EXPERTISE AND PARTNERSHIP

I'm not going to paraphrase everything here, but I encourage you to check the article out. To me, what this all means is that the industry is shifting, but as authors, we still need someone to navigate it for us, manage our careers and sell our work.

Above all, the one thing that hasn't changed is the fact that you're the one doing the hiring. Sure, it's a partnership, but agents are working for you - they represent you! We get so obsessed in NEEDING an agent that we forget that they need us too. So if you're unagented like moi, keep writing and querying until you find the RIGHT agent, not just an agent. Because regardless of what happens in the publishing world, you're still going to want one - an inside professional on your side.

I Need Chocolate

Today has been a busy day and I've officially reached my full mental capacity.

NANO, what's that? The last two days I've kinda let LG&L die off at 13,000 words to shift my attention back to BEAUTY SECRETS. You see, I received some feedback from a super fantastic agent a couple months ago and at the time I wasn't sure how to take their advice. Not that I didn't want to take it, but that I wasn't sure exactly how to do what they were asking for.

I mean, at first their comments didn't make any sense because they were supposed to love my novel as is, right? And then their comments made sense, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to change my story that way. And then suddenly in the calming moment that is my nightly bubble bath It. Just. Made. Sense.

EREKA! I get it!!!!!

However, my happy moment of elation was quickly replaced by "Oh Crap!" now what?!

I understand the concept and what I have to do. Now I just have to do it. I think I better go put my Nike gear on before I tackle this one. Oh, and eat chocolate. Lot's and lot's of chocolate!

Wish me luck!