The Art of Communicating with Literary Agents

[@mammamia8882]

I just want to say thank you, this popped up on a Google feed. I find your information very important, it takes away a lot of the stigma of fear and it gives you the courage to move forward, all the best.

[@alex_danceskpop]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS! This was sooo helpful and I feel so much clearer about how I should be communicating with my lovely agent!

[@dlshelton1218]

Jessica: You need to open your own scarf line along w/vids on how to wear them. Seriously, beyond fantastic. Jessica and James: YES!!! Communication is the key to every relationship/partnership. I'm 100% committed to having clear open communication with my next and final agent (like my current and final husband - HAH!). For some of us, it takes more than one try to get it right. xo

[@BookEndsLiterary]

hahahaha

[@hannanorstedt8753]

This was such a good video. Loved that it was longer and that you dove deep into the subject. It’s cliché, but communication is key! Especially the right kind of it.

[@wbelle_author]

I love to see the notification of a new video from Bookends. Communication is paramount in any relationship. Mistakes will be made on both sides and, as long as both parties can call/email/message the other and discuss the issue, everything will work out.

[@brainmail3264]

Invaluable advice. Felt like I was sitting in the room with you, learning answers to questions that I didn’t even know existed. Thanks for making the video.

[@alaskau9175]

Authors may be scared of approaching their agent because they've been in an abusive relationship with agents as a whole for possibly years, being constantly rejected (sometimes not nicely--I know of one agent that will deliberately lead writers on and play games with them before rejecting them). Writers may be suffering from PTSD without knowing it, but hopefully this video helps, and, as you said, by asking these questions and communicating freely they can learn to trust their agent. As always you have terrific content, thank you.

[@charlesrichardson7882]

New phrase, "mental responder". I'm going to steal this one.

[@bencowles2105]

This is really helpful. I learn so much watching these videos. Also just got one step closer to my goal of writing six novels in one year. I just finished my second full length fantasy novel and hard edit. It is off to my test reader. Starting novel number three. I feel really good about achieving my goal this year. It is good way to spend your time while waiting on responses from queries. The creative energy is really flowing. Love the videos hope you are all having a great week. Can't wait to see the next one.

[@Ruthie888]

Thank you for your information each week, especially on how to communicate. Suggested Future subjects about the Publishers you liaison with. I know you're the agents, but perhaps you've seen trends: 1. I've heard that an author has to do a lot more self-promotion than in the old days. I'm speaking of traditional publishing, not indie. What have you seen in this trend? Do publishers spend time and money promoting a book anymore besides the big names? 2. With Amazon becoming such a major player, how have you seen that affect traditional publishing houses? 3. I mostly listen to books now. How are traditional publishers reacting to the burgeoning audio market? Do they automatically hire someone to make the audio version to be released at the same time as the print version? Thank you for your time and great vlog.

[@bencowles2105]

Another great and useful video. I have learned a lot since I started watching you. Thank you. Hopefully when I get an agent this will come in useful and make working with whom ever my agent is less stressful amd easier.

[@monamehas5989]

What if my agent is not one of you two? I'll be querying this fall. I'm getting concerned already.

[@jimmychurch9588]

I’m about to start queries, the first communication with an agent :). I’m really looking at back cover copies to try and grasp the art of the blurb and I can’t decide how dramatized it should be. There seems to be a lot of disparity in tone and style. This may not be the perfect place to post a question like this but I’d appreciate any advice from people in the writing community.

[@MastersofHumility]

New background for James?

[@jadechoung]

This is nice with my cup of coffee! What happens if an agent does not have an area to state that an inquiry is just for illustration? So, for example, a form asks for a Title, but there isn't one. If I don't enter one, would there be a high chance that an agent would just skip it? Any advice? This has happened to me, and I am wondering if it just got dismissed because of that. The response back didn't correlate with art but focused on an auto response towards an author being rejected instead.

[@BookEndsLiterary]

If that agent is open to illustration, you can just put illustration in the title line

[@charlesrichardson7882]

Future topic idea - book guerrilla marketing...what an author can do to market their book.

[@jen-gb2ub]

I have a question! If you already have an “in” with one of the big publishing houses and are able to pitch to them, would an agent still be worth looking into? Or is the doorway to the publishers the largest benefit? When I try to Google this question it’s always focused the agents finding publishers, which is huge! But would that mean that maybe an agent isn’t the right fit in those particular circumstances?

[@BookEndsLiterary]

An agent's job goes beyond finding a publisher -- they also negotiate the initial offer, the contract, and help navigate career development beyond that first book. Good luck!!

[@jen-gb2ub]

Thank you for that! I’m binging your video podcasts now. Love your honesty and personalities. Subscribed.

[@calmit23]

You two are great...Shame you dont do dark fantasy...

[@BookEndsLiterary]

Thank you! Try Naomi Davis.

[@calmit23]

@@BookEndsLiterary Thanks...I will do so.

[@shantibeefree]

Is 6 months a normal amount of time for a client not to hear from their agent?

[@careygreen4274]

Depends on if there is something going on or not

[@BookEndsLiterary]

Carey is correct in that it depends if you've got a project on submission/ are working on something, or if you're writing a project which they're waiting for. However, if you'd like to check in, you should never hesitate.

[@shantibeefree]

@@BookEndsLiterary thank you for clarifying, I had a friend mention that they had a a new agent but they hadn't heard from their agent for 6 months and I was curious if it was normal. This video as well as your answers clarified my thoughts that it doesn't have to be that way.Publishing is slow, we hear often but it doesn't have to be silent between working partners. Thanks again for all your awesome videos.

[@careygreen4274]

@@BookEndsLiterary You guys seem very friendly. Not all agents seem to open especially if they haven't sold any of your work yet.

[@careygreen4274]

@@BookEndsLiterary Your team seems very friendly, but in my experience I'm not sure checking in is welcomed as much for new clients that havent made any money yet

[@italiagorino6358]

Do you have a friggin email lol

[@BookEndsLiterary]

Are you looking to submit to BookEnds? Please visit www.bookendsliterary.com/submissions for more information on how to do that!