Scythe-Of-Winter
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- Jan 8, 2015
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If you are picked up as a client then it will be too late. Making certain you and a potential agent have a similar vision for submissions is something you go over before you're a client. (Perhaps you are thinking if they make and offer and you have "the talk" as being the same as "picked up as a client". But if this is a big deal to you, don't wait until after you sign to talk about it.)
Not so much stiff-necked as you sound like you expect an agent to make guarantees. Yes, agents that only and consistently sell to small presses may not be a good fit for you. Yes, if you want to start at the top and work down you need to find an agent who has the contacts to do so.
But landing a contract with the Big 5, getting into a bidding war, getting adequate marketing - these are all "mights", not guarantees. Even if you have a really solid agent. A well-established agent with a good reputation has a better shot at getting you that Big 5 contract, and good marketing and bookstore placement, etc. But there is always an element of "might" in these things.
Really? Wouldn't we, you know, discuss where the book is going to be offered before its on the market? Besides, it's not like this agent will just submit without my consent - I'd have to sign with them first and I'd chat with them about where it would be sent before I signed with them. Or am I wrong?
Also so as for the big press, of course there's never a certainty and it's always a maybe. I'm confident that it has potential, though. I've got some interest from big, big agencies, including a very, very near miss with Curtis Brown. I dunno what'll happen, but I'd sure as hell rather not focus first on ultra small presses including the "clean reads" press (considering my YA book has an on-screen body count of over 50, I'd hardly say it's clean!). But otherwise I'd rather aim high than never even try. And I can always write another book....