For today’s post, please welcome literary agent Christine Goss from FinePrint Literary! (*cheers* *clapping* *etc*) Christine and I have bonded this year via our new agent discord chat, and got to meet in person at the Writing Day Workshop in Chicago back in June, where we were both taking pitches (so fun!). I was so excited when she agreed to write about her experiences as an agent and allow us to take such a detailed look into her week!
Also, *drum roll* Christine is open to queries right now. (*confetti* *joyful song* *more cheering*) Her link and MSWL (manuscript wish list) are both at the bottom of this post, so if you think you’d be a fit for her, run don’t walk and get your query in before she closes! She is such a lovely person and such a passionate agent—anyone would be lucky to work with her.
by Christine Goss
As I was brainstorming this post for Jenna, I went back and forth on what I should focus on. My goal is to provide insight into how agenting has been for me, and what has surprised me the most. What I think is the most surprising is how true all the lore is about how agents are so busy, because it really seems on a "line-level" so to speak, we read. Should be easy! Not stressful! Enjoyable!
While it is all those things, it also takes up a lot of time. So I wanted to do a combination of Week In The Life of an Agent with the Realities of A First Year Agent.
I'll start by stating ahead of everything that I am immensely lucky and privileged to be able to do this job. I do this because I *want* to, not because I need to. I have a partner to provide health insurance for our family and financial stability and I do have another job that pays me. My kids are in some form of school, which is also more than many get (even more than I had when I started agenting!)
There is a misconception (is that the right word?) that agents should and are always working. (This is ok! I was someone who thought that! I did do that for a bit too!) Yes, many do over-work themselves and it's a big reason this industry sees high burnout. But it's important to note that we are human, and we (sometimes) are raising little humans. Just like a typical 9-5, we have a life outside of our job(s) or we have jobs outside of this job.
So while the lag times in responses are frustrating, and maybe you didn't get the feedback you wanted, I urge you to remember agents are only capable of doing so much. One thing is certain: agents work hard. We survive on coffee or tea and stay up too late to read and pay for it afterward. We try to take care of ourselves and those we love, which all leads to less time agenting. And I hope we all can find that it's acceptable and encouraged that agents are not constantly working.
When you look below at my "week in the life," you’ll see the open spaces of time. Those are not spaces I'm sitting around idly; I'm taking care of my children, grocery shopping, and doing my other job! These times listed are combined from stealing a few minutes here or there. For instance, when I read queries, many times if I'm waiting in the pick-up line at school, or if I have a wait time at a doctor's appointment, I fit in time to read. I know ideally you'd like to think of an agent sitting down at their desk with deliberate intention to read queries—which I do from time to time—but many times to keep up with my QM I need to steal moments in between my other tasks. *All the more reason to be sure your query stands out!*
Without further ado, a look into the week in the life of Christine Goss, associate literary agent.
Daily Routine
- Wake at 5a or 6a and immediately answer queries or read for at least 30 mins
- 8a Walk my dog while I listen to a podcast or an audiobook (I consider this working since it helps me keep on top of what's happening in the industry/keen in editor tastes etc.) (45 mins)
- Read myself to sleep by 10p (30mins)
Monday 9/16
9a call with editor (30 min)
11a check on sub status of author manuscript and sent out updates to authors (30 min)
12n Emails (30 min)
3p Book Publicity Q&A Zoom (1 hr)
(Times vary) Read and Reply to Queries (30min)
(Times vary)Read current Author's MS (1 hr)
Tuesday 9/17
10a Newsletter catch up day (1 hr)
11a Read and reply to queries (30 min)
12n Airtable Updates (MSWLs) (30 min)
1p Call with editor (30 min)
(Times vary) Read current author's full (1 hr)
Wednesday 9/18
10a Answer interview requests/conduct interviews via email (1 hr)
11a Emails (30 min)
Send nudges for author manuscript (15mins)
12n Work on sales PDF for calls (30 min)
1p FinePrint Team Meeting (1 hr)
8p Craft class (1.5 hrs)
(Times vary) Read Current Author's MS (1.5 hr)
Thursday 9/19
*Today I had a lot to do with my other job*
(Time varies) Read and Reply to Queries (30min)
(Time varies) Read author's MS (1 hr)
12nAir table updates (30 min)
3p Editor outreach (30 min)
(Time varies) Email (30min)
Friday 9/20
6a Read and Reply to Queries (30min)
10a call with author (30min)
(When I can) Emails (30min)
(Time varies) Read part of full MS (1hr)
** This day is hard because I have my youngest without school in the afternoon**
Saturday/Sunday
*YUP! I try to work on the weekends!*
Queries (1 hr)
Read Full Manuscript (2 hrs)
Emails (30 min)
Blog drafting (45min)
(Time varies)- brainstormed/created potential marketing class (1 hr)
Keep in mind that this is also a glimpse into my week as it went, and not every week looks the same. This didn't include contract negotiation or editor + author calls since I have yet to make a sale. This week I didn't have any offer calls, but that could add 1-2 more hours of work. But if you're doing the math, this week I had 24.5 hours of agenting. Honestly, I bet I could add a few more hours per week easily if I hadn't had a busy week like I did. I will reiterate that I have yet to make a sale. So essentially this is all unpaid labor.
I agent because I love it. I want to advocate for authors and use a skill set I gained from my past job as an audio salesperson and my current skills and passions for storytelling. Of course, I don't plan for this to be the case forever, I hope to have more time someday (as the kids get older and maybe I'll stop working my other job), and I *know* I will sell my author's manuscripts. This is reality *for now*, but it is more than many people can afford to do.
Query Christine!
Christine's Bio:
Christine Goss graduated from Lake Forest College with a BA in communications. Formerly a sales representative, her skills pair well with her love of reading and story development. As an author herself, the craft of writing is very important to her when she looks at manuscripts. In 2023, Christine was promoted to Associate Literary Agent at The Purcell Agency, moving over to FinePrint Literary in 2024.
Christine is drawn to stories with high stakes and tension. The first pages must draw her in with action and curiosity. Lyrical writing, along with emotionality, physicality, and interiority, are all key components Christine looks for in a manuscript.
Christine is generally interested in romance, historical fiction, book club fiction, and fantasy. Non-fiction and graphic novels covering a specific range of topics are also of interest. Championing marginalized voices is important to Christine as she seeks to include BIPOC, LGTBQ+, and neurodivergent (and more) authors on her list.
When she’s not working, reading, or writing, she’s usually chasing her two boys, who are likely chasing her fur baby (dog).
QM link: https://QueryManager.com/Querycgoss
Thanks Christine via Jenna.
Love this!