How Many Can One Have?

[alexandra6]

Good Day,

This is author Alexandra Holzer, and I have a question: Can a writer have more then one agent and also a manager? Or, is one of each better or just one. It would be for representation of YA novels, children's short stories, screenplays & talent.

My father has gone through many over his years but it would be nice to partner up with consistency and loyalty.

Thank you.
http://www.hauntingholzer.com

[Little Red Barn]

Hi Alexandra,
Sure, I believe so, but would be nicer if you were with a bigger agency that carried a variety of genres. Or if your book really takes off--sure agent will see to represent your other good works ;)

[alexandra6]

Hi Alexandra,
Sure, I believe so, but would be nicer if you were with a bigger agency that carried a variety of genres. Or if your book really takes off--sure agent will see to represent your other good works ;)


Thank you for that. For my particular situation where I have many irons in the fire, a low flaming fire, but it's lite nonetheless, benefit from this thread.

Along with writing the proper queries to the reputable publishers, proper representation is also a topic of conversation to learn about. And whether or not you need one.

Best and thanks again.

Alexandra
http://www.hauntingholzer.com

[victoriastrauss]

Agents don't generally represent individual short stories, except as favors for established clients. Authors sell short fiction on their own.

You probably would need a different agent for book manuscripts and screenplays--they're very different worlds. As long as the agents know about one another, that's fine.

Authors don't generally employ managers (unless, I suppose, they're super mega-famous). That's usually only appropriate if you're a performer.

- Victoria

[Del]

Oh, I thought this was about orgasms.

Proceed.

[alexandra6]

Oh, I thought this was about orgasms.

Proceed.

Forgive me as I am sleep deprived, this is a joke but one I do not get. Please enlighten me as my humor runs off and on between the children!

Thanks!

Best,

Alexandra
http://www.hauntingholzer.com

[Little Red Barn]

He's just havn' fun Alexandra, flying through the threads :D

Good luck!

[alexandra6]

He's just havn' fun Alexandra, flying through the threads :D

Good luck!

Good, relieved to hear it...thanks for letting me know and ha ha ha?

Ok, well you have a great weekend and I wish everyone here in all forums at AW, the same as well.

Best,

Alexandra

[Andrew Zack]

I think the orgasm comment was related to the thread subject, "How Many Can One Have?"

In answer to your question, many agents are now billing themselves as "literary management," which may or may not involve more than being an agent. When I hear "manager," I think of Hollywood. An actor may have a manager and the way that works is the manager helps the screenwriter find an agent. The agent does the submissions to the studios. The agent, per CA law, gets 10%. The manager may be more. Managers are less regulated in Hollywood than agents. They can be producers on your movie and thus may collect not only a percentage of the screenwriter's money, but also a producing fee. Managers may also have an agreement with an attorney, who will look over the screenwriter's contract (though some agents are attorneys or have attorneys in-house). The screenwriter will pay the attorney or the attorney will get a percentage.

I was watching the last Bourne movie and I noticed that both Robert Ludlum's agent and his accountant were named as producers.

I know of no authors with managers. And nearly every agent I know does their own contracts or has a contracts person in the agency who does them.

Z