Many new writers are desperate to find an agent to represent their manuscripts to publishers. They believe that only via an agent can their work be ‘discovered’ and published. Getting published this way certainly results in success for some authors, but my experience might result in you changing your mind if you are desperately searching for an agent. Over a long, successful literary career in children’s books, I’ve had three agents; however, I have managed to place all of my manuscripts – fiction and non-fiction – by myself.
It was easy enough to find my first agent (Ms X) and
to have her represent my interests. Ours was a verbal contract; she was to
place my work and to charge 10% of my income if successful. It didn’t take me
long to discover that I actually knew more than she about the Australian
children’s book market. In fact, I soon discovered that I was the first – and
only – children’s author she represented. This was pre-computer days so our
communication was via phone and letter. However, Ms X was difficult to contact
by phone, and she did not answer letters. One day, while I was attending a
writers’ festival, I saw her and tried to engage her in conversation. At the
time she was accompanying a highly regarded author; in passing, she promised to
ring me ‘soon’. There was no phone call. Consequently, I wrote her a polite
note letting her know I preferred to go my own way. I have no idea whether she
ever sent off any of my manuscripts to publishers. The bottom line was that she
did not sell anything I wrote.
For a long time after this, I continued to represent
my own interests and was very successful, sometimes placing up to seven or
eight book manuscripts a year (mostly to the educational market which was
flourishing at the time). However, a time came when I was very ill and needed
help. When I rang Mrs Y, a highly regarded agent, and told her I had four
contracts that needed to be negotiated, she expressed surprise that I’d
contacted her. ‘Di,’ she said, ‘you know more about publishers than most writers.’
When I explained why I needed her help, she agreed to represent me. Before long
the four contracts were signed and delivered.
I then began sending manuscripts to her. A publisher
was interested in a joke book I’d compiled but, because the jokes were culled
from various sources and were not ‘original’, the company offered only a paltry
royalty which I would not accept. Mrs Y was unable to change the publisher’s
mind, so the manuscript was withdrawn. She submitted other manuscripts of mine,
but without success, though I managed to place some manuscripts and she
negotiated those contracts. Royalties and royalty statements began to come in
via this agent. It was fortunate that I took the time to check the statements
because there were mistakes in payments. Mrs Y had negotiated a rising royalty
on contracts, which meant that after a certain number of books were sold, the
royalty would rise from ten to twelve and a half percent of RRP. My sales on
several books exceeded the ten percent number; however, the publisher had not
paid the twelve percent. Mrs Y had not bothered to check my contract against
the statements. It was then I realised that not only was she not thorough in
handling my affairs, but she was over-worked with too many clients. As well,
she had not managed to place any of my manuscripts. I decided to terminate our
relationship, though she continued to handle royalties on those books she had
negotiated contracts for.
Notwithstanding these two poor experiences with
agents, I nevertheless decided, many published books later, to secure the
services of an agent who might be able to sell my manuscripts overseas. Mrs Z
had a good reputation and had even managed to negotiate film rights for a
colleague, so I wrote and asked her to represent my overseas’ and local
interests. No problem there. The problem, however, was Mrs Z’s lack of
communication. She was very slow to respond to emails (when she did) and phone
messages went unreturned. On the positive side, it seemed that she did have
publishing contacts, especially in America, and, when she bothered to contact
me, she did let me know where my manuscripts were sent, and how the overseas’
publishers had responded. Unfortunately, Mrs Z was unable – as I had been – to
place any of my novels overseas. Meanwhile, in Australia I had managed to
interest a publisher in one of my books; however, the publisher was dragging
its heels with a contract. It was when I caught Mrs Z out in a lie about
communicating with this publisher, I decided the time had come for us to part
company; thus I wrote her a short yet hopefully tactful letter terminating our
verbal contract.
Not one of the three agents – all respectable and
with many clients – managed to place one of my manuscripts. However, I have
placed over 120 children’s books in the past 30 years. Yes, it is more
difficult these days to get publishers’ locked doors. But it can be done. I do
it all the time, even when publishers’ websites indicate they don’t take
unsolicited manuscripts and will only accept them through an agent. I have
written an article, ‘How to Get Past Publishers’ Locked Doors’, giving tips on
how to succeed and am happy to send it to you free of charge if you write to me
c% dibates@pacific.net.au
Getting an agent is sometimes as difficult as
getting a book acceptance. Agents can be, so I’m told, very helpful. Some are
more proactive than others, but some, I think, represent too many clients and
as a result are over-worked and not as effective as a writer can be who is
talented and determined to have her books published.
DIANNE (DI) BATES has published 120+ books for the
education and trade markets. Some of Di’s books have won national and state
literary awards; others have sold overseas.
Di has received Grants and Fellowships from the Literature Board of the
Australia Council and has toured for the National Book Council. Di has
undertaken commissioned writing for a large number of organisations and has
worked on the editorial team of the NSW Department of Education School Magazine. She was co-editor of a
national children’s magazine, Puffinalia
(Penguin Books) and editor of another national magazine, Little Ears. In 2008, Di was
awarded The Lady Cutler Prize for distinguished services to children’s
Literature. Her latest books are 11 titles in the fictional Bushranger series (Desert Dan the Dunnyman won the KOALA
children’s choice book award) and Crossing
the Line, short-listed for the NSW Premier’s Awards and sold into Germany.
Currently Di works as a freelance writer. She lives in Woonona, north of
Wollongong, NSW, Australia, with her author husband, Bill Condon. Their website
is www.enterprisingwords.com
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