We Can't Read Your Mind

The author agent relationship is often described as a marriage. It requires trust in each other. It also requires communication on the part of both people. I recently read a comment by an author who was frustrated with their agent. This author was talking about how the agent was simply not paying attention to them. In the beginning, it seemed as if things were perfect. But now, that relationship was not the same. 

So, what happened?

We have to stop and really look at the situation. Remember, this is a two-way partnership. It may not be entirely the fault of the agent. Along the same lines, it might not be entirely the fault of the author. 

First of all, remember that agents are often working with a lot of different authors at one time. Some are in the middle of deadlines. Some are in the middle of contract negotiations. Some authors are simply in a writing phase. Because of this, the attention you get as an author will change over time. With that said, if you are not letting the agent know what you are working on and what you need, we cannot help you. This goes back to the title of this post. We simply cannot read your mind. 

Secondly, make sure to share your ideas and plans with your agent. We are here for you and can probably do a lot to help you meet those goals. Along the same lines, if where you think you are heading might not be in your best interest. Together, you can work through your plans and make sure that the communication is open and honest. 

With this last one, if you have some plans that might not be something an agent can help you with, together you can find a plan that will work. It might mean moving on. It might mean working with another agent within the agency, if there is one. It might also be an option to allow you to work without the agent on this new project. There are always options.

I think it is important to remember that people move from one agent to another for various reasons. These do not have to be brutal breakups. Things can still be positive.