How Does A 'Primary Agent' Differ From Other Agents

Aloysius

Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 26, 2015
Messages
135
Reaction score
6
Location
Connecticut
My new agent keeps referring to herself as a primary agent. How does that differ from any other agent?
 

WeaselFire

Benefactor Member
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 17, 2012
Messages
3,539
Reaction score
429
Location
Floral City, FL
My new agent keeps referring to herself as a primary agent. How does that differ from any other agent?

She'll only represent you during the primary, not the actual election. :)

Haven't heard that term in nearly four decades of dealing on and off with agents. Closest I've heard was years ago at an agency that had "ancillary" agents to handle things like film rights, foreign rights, etc. That might make the book agent a primary, though that term wasn't used back then, that I remember.

Jeff
 

Siri Kirpal

Swan in Process
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Sep 20, 2011
Messages
8,943
Reaction score
3,151
Location
In God I dwell, especially in Eugene OR
Sat Nam! (Literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting)

At a guess, I'd say she's saying she's your agent, but she does work with subagents for stuff like foreign rights and movie rights, etc.

Blessings,

Siri Kirpal
 

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman
Super Moderator
Absolute Sage
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 12, 2005
Messages
22,454
Reaction score
4,956
Location
In chaos
Seconding the advice to ask your agent. It's not a term I've heard before. (Do let us know what your agent tells you once you've asked, as I'd love to know.)
 

Aloysius

Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 26, 2015
Messages
135
Reaction score
6
Location
Connecticut
Waiting on a response and will share as soon as I hear. My guess from the outset has been it signifies the ultimate authority at the firm or an agent who makes decisions in and of herself.
 

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman
Super Moderator
Absolute Sage
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 12, 2005
Messages
22,454
Reaction score
4,956
Location
In chaos
But a person who is the ultimate authority at a company is a director, or a CEO; and all competent agents make their own decisions. So I'm not sure why this particular agent uses this term, even if those things are true.
 

Earthling

I come in peace
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 3, 2016
Messages
1,210
Reaction score
192
In what context does she use the term?
 

Aloysius

Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 26, 2015
Messages
135
Reaction score
6
Location
Connecticut
In what context does she use the term?

Informing a publisher considering my ms. that I now have a 'primary agent'.

I posed the question and she just said, 'It's ok you can use 'literary agent.'"

Will pursue the issue when there's a conversation in person.

For now just wallowing in the realization that someone will have me :)
 
Last edited: