Can you mention being agented in an author bio?

Status
Not open for further replies.

Wayne K

Banned
Joined
Dec 3, 2008
Messages
21,564
Reaction score
8,082
I'm doing a nonfiction proposal, and want to mention it, but it's not a big deal if I can't. I think it would lend credibility to the fact I can write is all
 

the addster

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 26, 2008
Messages
471
Reaction score
44
Website
addiepray.wordpress.com
I'm assuming that your agent doesn't handle non-fiction?

I've seen agencies mentioned in bios for freelance work. I wouldn't know why you couldn't mention it in a proposal. The one drawback I can see is the publisher being concerned that your other projects might interfere with the book you are proposing.

I submitted a new non-fic proposal to a publisher last week. I'm technically still on sub on another project, I didn't mention it. But it's up to you.
 

Wayne K

Banned
Joined
Dec 3, 2008
Messages
21,564
Reaction score
8,082
My agent handles nonfic, but if he passes on this, I want to send it out to others.
 

Deleted member 42

Don't mention it. It is in publishing roughly equivalent to saying you have a driver's license to mention being agented in this sort of a bio.
 

Wayne K

Banned
Joined
Dec 3, 2008
Messages
21,564
Reaction score
8,082
Thank you Lisa. I don't know what the etiquette is
 

scope

Commonsensical Maverick
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 30, 2008
Messages
2,763
Reaction score
251
Location
New York
My agent handles nonfic, but if he passes on this, I want to send it out to others.

Color me confused.

If you have a contract with the agent (agency) and s/he handles nonfiction, are you bound while under contract to submit all your works to the agent? If so, and you are telling us that you want to know what to do if the agent passes, the questions is what can you do. Well, you could terminate the agent under the boundaries of the contract and submit on your own to publishers and/or other agents. But if you did this why would you want to list the terminated agent in your bio? You could wait out the term of your agent agreement and if nothing happens not, not renew it. But again, if you did this why would you want to list the agent in your bio?
Or, if your agent passes on the work you could ask him or her if you could submit this particular work to publishers on your own. Frankly I don't think an agent would say okay, but that's up to you and your agent. And even if the agent did say okay, and you sold the work to a publisher, the agent might still be entitled to 15%. And again, why would you want to list the agent in your bio. If contacted I don't see how s/he would comment positively on the work. And as already said, if there is a way you can do what you want, wouldn't it just confuse editors and/or other agents?
 

Wayne K

Banned
Joined
Dec 3, 2008
Messages
21,564
Reaction score
8,082
I need to read the contract, but I'm pretty sure we're only contracted for the book that's out. Let me check it out
 

Jamesaritchie

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 13, 2005
Messages
27,863
Reaction score
2,311
Most agents do insist on handling everything a writer writes, and your agent should have first refusal, but if teh contract says you can't submit a book she doesn't want to handle, get that clause removed immediately.

No book should have to die because any one agent doesn't want to handle it. When an agent says no to a book, the writer should have the right to then send that book wherever he wishes, whenever he wishes.
 

CAWriter

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 7, 2009
Messages
281
Reaction score
18
I think I'm confused too--if I were on the receiving end of your proposal, I'd be expecting to deal with said agent. If that agent isn't representing your project, then mentioning having an agent would be a moot point as you wouldn't actually be agented on that project. In a way, that would seem to make it look worse as it would admit that your agent wasn't interested in it, thus, why should the publisher be?
 

Wayne K

Banned
Joined
Dec 3, 2008
Messages
21,564
Reaction score
8,082
My agent only does true crime non fiction, and this is a How-to. I'm going to send it to him, I'm just wondering what to say if he's not interested.

I read my contract, and there's nothing about anything further than the book we have out. I'm going to send him an e-mail and ask.

Thank you all for your responses
 
Status
Not open for further replies.