This is a conversation I've seen cropping up on the bird app in the last couple of days, especially as we've been talking about how many books die on sub, and I think it's a really important conversation. People don't talk about this a lot, but as someone who's had two agents now, I'd like to weigh in.
Here's the core tweet so we can give credit where it's due:
This is just my opinion.
My answer to this: Yes and No.
Let me explain.
There are a few big players we all know, and we know that when someone signs with them, they often sell in large deals rather quickly. There's no denying that it definitely has something to do with who that agent is. I would say there are about 10-15 agents on this list of "major players", and we can try to write it off or deny it as much as we want, but I'm a marketing girlie at heart, and I can never ignore a data trend.
Does this mean that the people that sign with these "big players" are just lucky? No, on the contrary. I believe these agents sell consistently not just because of their connections, but because they have a knack for seeking out talent and what's in demand in the industry. The reason these agents sell so well is because they're good at their jobs--they're good at finding new talent and selling it.
However, does that mean that signing with a junior agent or a smaller agency will not get you a deal? Of course not. I received 6 offers for DEEDS across two times querying. The first time, both agents were junior agents, and the first agent I signed with was at a medium-tier agency. That clearly got me nowhere. But it didn't have anything to do with the size of the agency. It was all about mentorship, and about that agent's personality not being a great fit for me personally, but also, I believe not great for building strong relationships in the industry..
The second time I queried, I got 4 offers, 3 of which were at top agencies. One of the offers I turned down was a senior agent with a strong sales record. Why did I choose a junior agent instead?
It all came down to who that agent was, but not for the reasons you think. I'm talking about Sophia here (hey, Sophia!). She's a junior agent at a top agency, but what made me choose her over a senior agent at another very well-respected agency? It's about who she is.
Her personality. Her mentorship. Her passion for me and my work.
I chose a newer agent because she had STRONG, trustworthy mentorship. She has experience in other areas of the industry, and she has great connections. But most of all, I chose her because she has a personality that helps her not only maintain her current industry relationships, but she has a wonderful skillset in building new connections, as well. And of course, she is passionate about my work. This has been another point of conversation of late for querying authors. "You don't have to love it, you just have to sell it".
If my agent didn't LOVE my work, I wouldn't sign with her. Do not underestimate passion. Your agent will be speaking for you and representing your book in your absence. I wouldn't trust anyone to do that unless they literally loved (and UNDERSTOOD) my book as much as I do. And that's rare. It's why it's so difficult to find an agent, and a good one. It's legitimately like finding your soulmate.
Here are a few things I do think you should consider before signing:
Mentorship: What is the agency mentorship like? Who runs the agency? Does at least one person at the agency have a strong sales record? What other publishing experience does the new agent have?
Agency: I do believe the agency reputation within the industry can make a difference. I would always suggest going with an agency with a good reputation if you're choosing a newer agent (that DOESN'T mean big and flashy - it just means a good, trustworthy agency!)
Passion / Understanding of the work: I believe a good agent needs both. If an agent is passionate but has completely misunderstood the work, they won't be a good partner for you. This is the MOST important part. I believe anyone off the street with the right skillset could become an agent and sell a work if they have this passion and deep understanding of your work.
So, yeah. It does matter who your agent is.
Do I think your chances are better with a "big player"? Yes, I do. I'm not going to lie to you. But these other factors matter, too. I am in the camp of believing that there are no more than about 70-80 truly good agents in the game right now. I found that when I curated my query list more carefully the second time in the trenches, I came out with much more viable options.
Don't sell yourself short. Don't self-reject. Take note of who you think is right for your project. You're worth that. Your stories are worth representation that will work hard for you, be passionate, and be hungry for the best possible deal.
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