Credentials

arainsb123 · Jan 18, 2006

I just received a request for a partial manuscript from an agent, and he said that I should also include a detailed synopsis and my writing credits. Well ... I don't have any. Should I say as much, or just leave it out?

Thanks!

mdin · Jan 18, 2006

Tell the truth.

Does he know you're fourteen?

arainsb123 · Jan 18, 2006

Or ... I did POD three books back before I realized the perils of print-on-demand. Should I mention those, and say that since then I've learned a substantial amount about the publishing industry?

arainsb123 · Jan 18, 2006

No, I wanted my query to stand on its own, so I didn't mention my age.

mdin · Jan 18, 2006

You should probably tell him everything. Your age is also important because you're a minor, and minors can't enter into contracts. (I know there are some exceptions in the entertainment industry, but you'll have to talk to a lawyer about that.)

He might not want to deal with someone your age, and you can't "trick" him into liking your work before you spring that on him because it'll probably irritate him. If you irritate him, he may never want to speak with you again. If he doesn't want to work with a minor, but he loves your writing, he may be very willing to work with you when you're 18. That may seem like a long time for you, but it's not.

arainsb123 · Jan 18, 2006

I have no desire to "trick" him. And he says on his agency Web site that he prefers to work without a contract anyway ...

mdin · Jan 18, 2006

He might not want to work with a contract, but whoever he sells your book to most certainly will.

You may not think it's important, but to those who deal with the business end of things, it's extremely important. Besides, I think your age is an asset. You're obviously a good writer if he requested more. It's rare to find someone your age who can string a complete sentence together.

arainsb123 · Jan 18, 2006

Thank you.

You're right, I should probably be upfront about my age in the cover letter to my partial.

maestrowork · Jan 18, 2006

Nah, no need to reveal your age until the agent wants to sign you. Then you WILL have to tell him since you're a minor. Other than that, I don't see a reason why you should tell your age. I never did.

arainsb123 · Jan 18, 2006

That was my original plan. I'm not sending materials out immediately, anyway, as the agent hasn't emailed me his address.

mdin · Jan 18, 2006

Well, I won't argue. But I still think it's a bad idea.

Either way, good luck and keep us posted.

reph · Jan 18, 2006

I have no experience with agents, so I don't know, but is it a bad sign if an agent prefers to work without a contract?

aruna · Jan 18, 2006

I did not have a WRITTEN contract with my first agent (the one before my last one), and she was definitely reputable. That's in the UK.

Liam Jackson · Jan 19, 2006

The US is the most litigation-happy country on the face of the planet. I'm curious to know how a US publisher might deal with an agent who isn't legally contracted to represent the rights of a given project. Any voices of experience out there?

Andrew Jameson · Jan 19, 2006

I'm not a voice of experience, but I know someone who is. Miss Snark weighs in on how the lack of a contract isn't really unusual.

Julie Worth · Jan 19, 2006

Just because there's no written contract doesn't mean there's no contract.

Liam Jackson · Jan 19, 2006

Interesting observations from Snark. I'm still curious about the number of agents who work on a "my word is my bond" basis with their clients.

L.Jones · Jan 19, 2006

Julie Worth said:
Just because there's no written contract doesn't mean there's no contract.

Verbal agreements are binding contracts. In fact by submitting to any agent you are entering into a kind of contract, that he won't steal your work, that you will be able to follow through on what you have delivered, etc.
You enter into an agreement with your agent with an understanding of what that agent will do for you. It is legal and if a 14 yr old solicites the services of an agent without disclosure of his age before hand, I'd be surprised if that agent didn't drop him cold.

By keeping the fact that you cannont enter into legal agreements you are not just inconveniencing the agent, it puts that agent in an awkward position at the very least. And the Ick factor is through the roof. This is someone doing business and you put him in that gray area of engaging a child (I don't care if you are the cleverest kid in the world, 14 is a child) in adult transactions. Ick.

as for what company would do business with agents w/o contracts -- in publishing ALL of them. Publishing still likes to think of itself as a civilized undertaking based on some degree of honor (James Frey aside). I had a written contract for the first 1 or 2 years at Write'rs House and then we didn't and I don't with my agent today who is quite reputable.

Just one of the quirks of the business.

annie
Luanne Jones
Heathen Girls (available everywhere now)

maestrowork · Jan 19, 2006

I don't know about literary agents (since I don't have one) but I have three talent agents in the past, and only one required a contract. With the other two, it's all verbal agreement.

James D. Macdonald · Jan 19, 2006

I have a handshake agreement with my agent.

Julie Worth · Jan 19, 2006

Contracts between authors and agents really aren’t worth that much, since they’re so expensive to enforce. Get one if you can, but make sure that the agency has a good reputation, and that you have a good feeling about them.

(Read my tagline before trusting any legal advice from me.)

arainsb123 · Jan 19, 2006

"By keeping the fact that you cannont enter into legal agreements you are not just inconveniencing the agent, it puts that agent in an awkward position at the very least. And the Ick factor is through the roof. This is someone doing business and you put him in that gray area of engaging a child (I don't care if you are the cleverest kid in the world, 14 is a child) in adult transactions. Ick."

I am well aware of my legal status as a minor. I'm of course going to tell him about this at one point or another. The reason I might delay is so he'll judge my writing without any prejudice.

L.Jones · Jan 19, 2006

arainsb123 said:
I am well aware of my legal status as a minor. I'm of course going to tell him about this at one point or another. The reason I might delay is so he'll judge my writing without any prejudice.

Well, that's just never going to happen. Agents judge all writing with some prejudice even if it's about the prologue/no prologue thing or lack of SASE

Okay, let's just be blunt. It's the right thing to do. An agent is your advocate not your adversary. To begin an association by trying to hide something this relevant is just bad business -- at any age.

This kind of thing could well make the agent think - this kid started out trying to manipulate me, what else is he hiding? Do I really need a client like that?

This is an absolutely amazing thing that you have an agent's interest and probably speaks very well of your talent and potential, my advice is to take the professional approach and be forthcoming.

Or not. Everyone makes their own mistakes and sometimes they pay off. Sometimes they don't.

annie
Luanne Jones
Heathen Girls (available now)

Cathy C · Jan 19, 2006

Not to hijack the thread unnecessarily, but I'm a firm believer in written agency agreements. It's not because of the details of the agency itself so much as the clause in the PUBLISHING contract that provides the checks be sent to the agency. That clause often does not permit authors to change where the checks are sent without the approval of the agent. Even with the best of intentions and best of relationships at the beginning of a handshake deal, I would be very concerned without something in writing in the event of a dispute or death (in a one-man agency) that might affect the status of my checks.

I know plenty of authors who prefer a handshake deal. But it just gives me the shivers.

That said, I wouldn't worry too much about mentioning your age in the initial query. But if a full manuscript is requested, I would definitely bring it up so the agent can have full knowledge of your situation before offering representation. You could insert language such as "I have the full blessing of my parents (or guardians, etc.), who will be happy to sign any necessary documents on my behalf."

JMHO!

crosseyed reader · Jan 19, 2006

arainsb123 said:
I am well aware of my legal status as a minor. I'm of course going to tell him about this at one point or another. The reason I might delay is so he'll judge my writing without any prejudice.

I understand your reasoning, but I think its wrong. It's admirable to want to be judged on the merits of your writing alone, and you fear being rejected on the merits of your youth. But look at it from the standpoint of an agent/publisher. They're running on the assumption that you're an adult, and they're thinking about promotional ideas and marketing. Can you imagine how they'll feel once they find out you're a minor? Editors and agents talk. They're some of the most chatty people I know. Believe me, you pull a stunt like that and it could backfire on you because of the time you have potentially wasted. Is this how you want to be remembered?

Just my trouble making .02 cents worth.

Credentials

Learning!

The late, the great XThe NavigatorX

Learning!

Learning!

The late, the great XThe NavigatorX

Learning!

The late, the great XThe NavigatorX

Learning!

Fear the Death Ray

Learning!

The late, the great XThe NavigatorX

Fig of authority

On a wing and a prayer

Heathen Horde Elder

(not his real name)

What? I have a title?

Heathen Horde Elder

Fear the Death Ray

Your Genial Uncle

What? I have a title?

Learning!

Ooo! Shiny new cover!