What to Ask an Agent

Bobbi writes to say, "You've mentioned several times that an author should ask a prospective agent some questions in order to get to know him (or her). I'm going to a conference in a couple months -- what sort of questions should I ask?"

I've talked about his question a couple of times, Bobbi. Here are some thoughts to get you started...

-How long have you been doing this?

-How many contracts have you negotiated for authors?

-Who do you represent?

-May I have their emails so that I can check your references?

-What publishing houses have you worked with in the past year?

-Which editorial personnel have you done deals with?

-May I ask them what they think?

-How many deal have you done in the past year? 

-What sort of authors and projects do you represent?

-What do you like to read? (Ask for titles!)

-Can you give me a book title you sold that you loved?

-Can you give me a book idea you sold that you loved?

-What would you say are your best skills?

-What's unique about your agency?

-What percentage do you earn on a book deal?

-Are there any hidden fees or charges? Any up-front costs?

-Do you charge back all your expenses?

-Have you ever worked in publishing or done any editing or writing?

-How do you approach career planning?

-Do you work by yourself?

-Are you full time?

That will get you started. Again, I thnk an author needs to consider what he or she needs from an agent before interviewing prospective agents. That way you've got some idea of whether or not this person would meet your needs, rather than simply asking yourself, "Do I like this guy?"

Speaking of liking people, I just saw a book written by an old buddy of mine. It was one of those circumstances where you see the name, do a double take, and smile... Steve Yohn's novel with Tyndale, Monday Night Jihad (co-authored with Denver Broncos kicker Jason Elam), was sitting on the shelf of the local bookstore. It's apparently doing pretty well, and since Steve and I worked on a pastoral staff together about twenty years ago, I'd like to take all the credit. (I taught him everything he knows. Trust me on this.)

And the fact that he's written a spy-thriller reminded me of the fact that the two of us once got caught playing James Bond in church. We were moving boxes around, pretty soon we were racing each other, and before you know (boys will be boys -- I must have been about 30), we were running up and down the hallways pointing our "guns" (um...our fingers) at each other. He went downstairs and I chased after him, sneaking around a corner so he wouldn't hear me. When I heard a cough, I leaped through the door and into the room, pointing my finger-gun at him and yelling, "Freeze, Turkey!"

Uh, I'd forgotten that the basement was being used that afternoon by the Ladies Aid Society. So I had about a dozen sets of eyes staring at me, all belonging to little old ladies with either shocked or bemused looks on their faces.

I holstered my weapon, mumbled my apology, and returned to moving boxes. (It was all Steve's fault! I'll GET you for this...)

Comments

[D. Robert Pease]

Thanks for the list, very helpful. And more importantly thanks for the pick-me-up with the James Bond story. Just the kick I needed on this snowy day.

[Nick]

There are a couple of other good questions that come to mind after an author has shared his or her vision as a writer with the prospective agent.

1. Do you "get" what I want to do as a writer?

2. Can you help me get where I want to go?

I think having an agent who is on board with your writing goals is indispensable.

[Rhonda]

Thanks for the post Chip. Great information and a humorous story. I love it!!

[Rob]

Thanks for that list, Chip. I think a lot of first time authors have been rejected so many times, they forget agents work on behalf of the writer and they're afraid to ask these questions at the risk of offending the agent and blowing the deal. But, really, it's not too much different than a perspective employer asking interviewees the same kinds of things...is it?

[Nicole]

Great story . . .

[Kristi Holl]

Great list of questions! It takes most writers a lot of guts to ask some of them, but they're important ones! And take time to check out what they told you. If you don't, you may find (too late) that some of the books they just loved are ones you'd be embarrassed to have your name on. (Wish I'd been in your church basement to witness the 007 episode!)

[Ashley Weis]

Wow. A good laugh. I'm wondering how you reacted, since you've said that you tend to be more shy in "real" life. I think I would have ran out of the room and the entire church for that matter. Then, I would've dropped to the ground in laughter. How fun!

When I worked with the youth at church a few years back a few of us twenty-somethings got together and played lazer tag with the youth equipment. We ran through the church in the dark, and right into a group of homeless people. They froze. You could see their wide eyes through the pitch-black room. Apparently, the church was being used for a homeless shelter in the basement that week. We forgot!

One other question I have for agents is: Do you assist a writer with their proposal and writing? Editing, critique, etc.

I read that in a book at some point, and I think it's a great question to ask.

Oh, and Robert, I'd LOVE a snowy day right about now. Funny, that would be MY kick!

[Laura Domino]

I'm still laughing. Silver-haired ladies rolling their eyes at a thirty-year-old James Bond Wannabe.
Priceless.
At least you remembered to holster your weapon.

[Pam Halter]

Another good idea is to contact some of the prospective agent's clients and ask them what it's like to work with that agent. What kind of job has that agent done for them. Would they recommend that agent?

I think most of us are really kids in adult bodies. I remember a Women's Retreat several years back (I was older than 30.) After depositing our luggage in our rooms, a friend and I took turns pushing each other up and down the hallway in the luggage cart. HA!

[Judythe Hixson]

Chip
Your list of questions is excellent. Any author should seek answers to those questions, but many of the answers could be found by doing a bit of homework researching things like author blogs with agent interviews, clients, agent websites/blogs, Publisher's Marketplace, etc. Getting those answers ahead of time might prove that a particular agent isn't right for an author and save both author and agent valuable time.

Personally, I watch the sales on PM and investigate those agents who make sales similar to my work. I keep an A list and a B list of agents to query, but query based on my research or after meeting the agents in person at conferences. Sometimes those face-to-face meetings change my mind.

I loved your story. I have a few embarassing moments from my years on church staffs, but I'm hoping most of those stories stay buried!

Judythe

[Mary E. DeMuth]

You should do a post called WHAT NOT TO ASK AN AGENT...

[Mary Pielenz Hampton]

I don't know if you can take ALL the credit for Steve' writing success. He really got his start as my penpal when my family moved away from Fresno waaaay back when. I helped nurture his early writing promise! I'll have to see if I can dig up some of those old letters--maybe there'll be a market for them on eBay or something....(congrats Steve!)