How to Query, Part 4: Signing with an agent

Everything you need to know about accepting an offer of representation

This is the final installment in my How to Query series. Catch up on the earlier reads:

• Part 1: Writing your query

• Part 2: Actively querying

• Part 3: Communicating with agents

Reminder: I’m approaching this from the context of traditional publishing. Standards and norms shared in this series are for authors pursuing the trad route.

Today we’re discussing signing with an agent—their offer of rep, what to ask/look for, and how to accept an offer.

Let’s get started…

---

Fielding “The Call”

We’ve talked a lot about how to communicate with agents, but what about if/when they offer? Eventually (hopefully!) all this querying business leads to representation!

This fated moment is often referred to by authors as “the call.” The agent will likely shoot you an email filled with praise about your story, then ask if you can connect via phone. (Agents rarely put formal offers in an email; they usually like to chat first and then offer literary representation while on the phone.)

Getting an email in which the agent wants to set up a call is a huge milestone—a goal all querying writers hope to achieve. But this phone call isn’t only about the agent having a chance to offer you rep. It’s also your chance to “interview” the agent. Presumably you’ve researched this agent before querying them; this is when you confirm that everything you read while researching rings true. (Also? There are plenty of agents who don’t have a ton of information available online, so this process will be especially important if the offering agent is a digital recluse.)

Some questions/topics you may want to discuss during the call:

Ask about their agenting style

• Are you editorial (heavily involved with edits/revisions) or more hands-off?

• How often do you check in with your clients?

• Do you (or does someone within the agency) handle foreign and subrights?

• What percentage do you take from author earnings? Are there any other fees to expect?

Ask about your book

• How polished do you think my book is?

• Do you envision more edits before it’s ready to be shared with editors? If so, how extensive would those be?

• What would the timeline for submission be?

• Do you already have editors in mind for this project?

Ask about your author career

• Do you work with clients over the course of a career?

• If I decide to write for a new audience or genre, are you willing to represent that? Similarly, is there anything you definitely won’t represent?

Miscellaneous questions

• Can I see the agency agreement?

  • This is the contract that you and the agent will sign to show that you’ve entered into an arrangement together. Any legitimate agent will be happy to send you a copy via email. If they don’t, it’s a red flag.

  • If you have questions after reading through the agreement, email the agent and ask for clarification. Publishing is not the most transparent industry and agent’s expect aspiring authors to have questions. Their job as your agent is to not only sell your work, but to support you and help answer questions. An agent who makes you feel silly or like an annoyance for asking questions may not be an agent you want to work with.

• May I speak with any of your clients about their experiences working with you?

  • The agent may not be able to say yes right on the phone call, because they will likely need to confirm with a few clients that it’s okay to share their email addresses with you.

  • If the agent is able to put you in touch with a few existing clients, this is a great opportunity for you to directly ask the authors what they like (or don’t like) about working with the agent.

When you’re done chatting, be sure to thank the agent for their time. Let them know that you have a lot to think about and will get back to them regarding your decision in a few days. Then hang up, celebrate, and seriously consider if this is the right agent for you and your career. While you’re mulling this over, make sure to update any other agent who currently has your query and/or pages.

---

Updating other agents

Once you have a formal offer of representation, it is standard industry practice to update any other agent who has your query and/or pages. This isn’t a mandatory step—you can absolutely accept the first offer of rep you receive and tell the other agents you’ve signed with someone—but it’s in your best interest to give the other agents a chance to read your work. After all, maybe you’ll end up with another offer of rep—or several. And maybe one of those agents will feel like an even better fit than the first.