What's the downside?

Tabitha Rose · Jun 29, 2017

Over is this thread I got some very helpful info about a new agent.

My question from here is, what's the downside of querying to a new agent/agency like this? It isn't like I'm committing to accepting representation (were she interested) just by submitting a query. Is it?

I know that submitting to an agency that is obviously a scam would be a waste of my time, and would bring me to the attention of dishonest people that I'd want nothing to do with, but this doesn't seem like that.

Am I missing something? (the answer to this question is frequently "yes")

Cyia · Jun 29, 2017

Anyone can add "agent" to their name, even well-intentioned but clueless people who have no desire to scam you. Agenting is all about contacts. They have to know the editors at major publishers, and those editors need to know them, or at the very least recognize the agency they belong to. Otherwise, those editors have no reason to believe that the pitch isn't coming from Ima Author under a fake name, or from Ima Author's mother.

If the agent worked as a Jr. agent or as an intern in a large and/or established agency, then it's a little better. They'll have the opportunity to make connection and to get a feel for which editors will be suited for specific projects. They'll know how to put together a professional pitch and won't be tempted to blast-query every agent in a certain genre.

Old Hack · Jun 29, 2017

As has already been said in the thread you linked to,

Pisco Sour said:
...there is no sales information. None. Office manager at a literary agency does not an agent make, IMHO. Hmmm... Maybe she didn't have time to make any deals as a associate agent at Holloway, maybe it's a bit premature to set up on her own. Maybe I'm being too cautious...

You don't want an agent who doesn't have a good record of making solid sales.

You don't want an agent who doesn't have proper office infrastructure in place: by that I mean a strong accounts department, a good foreign and subsidiary sales team, a contracts and rights specialist or team, and so on. Because you won't get the full service from an agent without those things.

Tabitha Rose · Jun 29, 2017

Cyia said:
Anyone can add "agent" to their name, even well-intentioned but clueless people who have no desire to scam you. Agenting is all about contacts. They have to know the editors at major publishers, and those editors need to know them, or at the very least recognize the agency they belong to. Otherwise, those editors have no reason to believe that the pitch isn't coming from Ima Author under a fake name, or from Ima Author's mother.

If the agent worked as a Jr. agent or as an intern in a large and/or established agency, then it's a little better. They'll have the opportunity to make connection and to get a feel for which editors will be suited for specific projects. They'll know how to put together a professional pitch and won't be tempted to blast-query every agent in a certain genre.

Old Hack said:
As has already been said in the thread you linked to,

You don't want an agent who doesn't have a good record of making solid sales.

You don't want an agent who doesn't have proper office infrastructure in place: by that I mean a strong accounts department, a good foreign and subsidiary sales team, a contracts and rights specialist or team, and so on. Because you won't get the full service from an agent without those things.

I get that. But is not knowing whether or not they have that a reason not to start the conversation? Is something bad likely to result if the agent offers to represent me, but, after getting more info on her operation, I say "no, thanks"?

Sage · Jun 29, 2017

In theory, you lose nothing but time by querying an agency you think is too inexperienced to sell your book. But the only reason I can think of for doing it is 1) "just in case nobody else wants it" or 2) "If they offer, I can tell other agents I have an offer, and surely I'll get a better one."

1) It is really hard to say "no" when you have a single offer, even if the agency isn't right for you. Take it from me. I queried an agent who was excellent for certain genres, but after he requested from me, I began to feel iffy about his ability to work with my genre. His offer did not fill me with confidence, but in the end he was my only offer. I had an R&R from another agent, but couldn't say no to the "sure thing." Several months later, we parted ways. It was not a good match, and I knew that going in, but still said "yes." So my advice is always that if you have any misgivings about an agent, you should go with your gut and not bother querying them at all.

2) Hoping that an offer from them will get you an offer from others is a dangerous game. First of all, if an agent isn't interested enough to offer, they're not going to be persuaded by another agent offering. It may take you more time to get through the reading queue without an e-mail about an offer, but their answer will be their answer either way. Furthermore, you may lose out on a potential offer by a busy agent who doesn't think they'll get through your novel by your deadline, and they may reluctantly reject. Now, let's say that you e-mail any agent with a full or partial and maybe a few with just queries too. All reject for whatever reason. You fight that instinct to say "yes" to the offer on the table, and reject them. Now you have to keep querying. But you can't query those agents who already said no, and other agents at those agencies are probably out too because what if one says, "OMG, I just got this interesting query about X," and the agent who just heard you had an offer in hand says, "Wait, did that author lie?" Now you're narrowing your field down for an agency you never wanted to be represented by anyway. Even with the legit reason that I tried the agent who offered and then parted ways, I felt really awkward querying those agents again for the next book.

Anyway, why put yourself in this position? Why be the bad guy who says, "Sorry, I queried your agency, but I'm actually not interested in you"?

Aggy B. · Jun 29, 2017

Sage said:
1) It is really hard to say "no" when you have a single offer, even if the agency isn't right for you.

Quite frankly, it's hard to say to an offer. It's hard to explain, but... writing can be such a solitary business, and so very full of doubt. When someone (anyone, really) says they like what you've done, it's hard to not just be... ecstatic. Even for crotchety, money-oriented folks like myself. This is why folks sign with tiny publishers who clearly have issues all the time. It's not *just* because they are newbies who don't know what to look for, but also because it's so very h*cking hard to say no when someone says they love your work.

(Doesn't mean you can't or won't, but this is always a risk.) So, testing the waters with a new agent and thinking "Well, if they offer but seem not to be the best fit I'll just say no," is a risky proposition. Better to target folks you know would be good agents and then hammer out whether they are a good agent for you (rather than having both of those things as question marks).

Best of luck with your search.

Tabitha Rose · Jun 29, 2017

Sage said:
In theory, you lose nothing but time by querying an agency you think is too inexperienced to sell your book. But the only reason I can think of for doing it is 1) "just in case nobody else wants it" or 2) "If they offer, I can tell other agents I have an offer, and surely I'll get a better one."

1) It is really hard to say "no" when you have a single offer, even if the agency isn't right for you. Take it from me. I queried an agent who was excellent for certain genres, but after he requested from me, I began to feel iffy about his ability to work with my genre. His offer did not fill me with confidence, but in the end he was my only offer. I had an R&R from another agent, but couldn't say no to the "sure thing." Several months later, we parted ways. It was not a good match, and I knew that going in, but still said "yes." So my advice is always that if you have any misgivings about an agent, you should go with your gut and not bother querying them at all.

2) Hoping that an offer from them will get you an offer from others is a dangerous game. First of all, if an agent isn't interested enough to offer, they're not going to be persuaded by another agent offering. It may take you more time to get through the reading queue without an e-mail about an offer, but their answer will be their answer either way. Furthermore, you may lose out on a potential offer by a busy agent who doesn't think they'll get through your novel by your deadline, and they may reluctantly reject. Now, let's say that you e-mail any agent with a full or partial and maybe a few with just queries too. All reject for whatever reason. You fight that instinct to say "yes" to the offer on the table, and reject them. Now you have to keep querying. But you can't query those agents who already said no, and other agents at those agencies are probably out too because what if one says, "OMG, I just got this interesting query about X," and the agent who just heard you had an offer in hand says, "Wait, did that author lie?" Now you're narrowing your field down for an agency you never wanted to be represented by anyway. Even with the legit reason that I tried the agent who offered and then parted ways, I felt really awkward querying those agents again for the next book.

Anyway, why put yourself in this position? Why be the bad guy who says, "Sorry, I queried your agency, but I'm actually not interested in you"?

Aggy B. said:
Quite frankly, it's hard to say to an offer. It's hard to explain, but... writing can be such a solitary business, and so very full of doubt. When someone (anyone, really) says they like what you've done, it's hard to not just be... ecstatic. Even for crotchety, money-oriented folks like myself. This is why folks sign with tiny publishers who clearly have issues all the time. It's not *just* because they are newbies who don't know what to look for, but also because it's so very h*cking hard to say no when someone says they love your work.

(Doesn't mean you can't or won't, but this is always a risk.) So, testing the waters with a new agent and thinking "Well, if they offer but seem not to be the best fit I'll just say no," is a risky proposition. Better to target folks you know would be good agents and then hammer out whether they are a good agent for you (rather than having both of those things as question marks).

Best of luck with your search.

Okay, that all makes sense to me. Thank you all very much.

What's the downside?

Tabitha Rose

Cyia

Rewriting My Destiny

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman

Tabitha Rose

Sage

Supreme Guessinator

Aggy B.

Not as sweet as you think

Tabitha Rose