Why Your Editor Wants You to Have an Agent

Abby Zidle

If you frequent writing boards for any length of time, you'll undoubtedly come across some version of the question: Do I really need an agent to get published?  While technically, yes, some writers choose to work without an agent, I think it's always better to have a skillful agent on your team--even though I may have to pay more for your book!

A good agent doesn't just sell your book; she helps you plan your career.  This includes deciding where to shop your manuscript and which offers (of the many I hope you receive) to accept.  But that's just the beginning--as I was reminded recently.  I had sent revision notes to an author and received her new draft, but it wasn't quite where I'd hoped it would be.  The agent had also read the material and called me to discuss it--it became clear that I had not been specific enough in my notes to the author, and also that I was asking for a much different level of revision work than this author had previously done.

It would be easy for an author and editor to get defensive at this point and find themselves in a stalemate.  After all, the author has just received comments that can feel like a big red "F" on their paper, and the editor is thinking, "Do I seriously not understand this author's vision?  Maybe I'm not the right person for this book."  This is where the agent comes in handy--as a mediator.  In this case, the agent is able to "translate" between us, both explaining to the author where I'm coming from, and making sure that I don't get the impression that her author is recalcitrant.

The agent is also helpful for easing authorial jitters.  Many times, authors can be reluctant to tell their editor about problems that come up while writing--maybe they're going to miss a deadline, or they hate the cover, whatever.  But most authors are so determined not to seem like "problem authors" that they would rather assure me that everything's fine, even if it's not.  (I do NOT recommend this approach, because it always comes out too late that everything's not fine.)  That's where your agent comes in--you get your cover from me, you call your agent and say, "I hate it!  He looks like a horse! What were they thinking?  And why is my name so small?"  Your agent calls me and says, "We love the color palette, the treated photography is great, but we have a little concern about the hero--could we make his nose a little less prominent?  And how about foil for the author type?"  That way the author and I get to keep our lovey-dovey relationship, but her concerns are still addressed.

At heart, your agent, like your editor, is an advocate.  But where my job is to advocate your book to my house, your agent's job is to advocate you.  If that's not worth 15%, I don't know what is.