I have a question. What do you consume as fuel? Because you are adulting at levels of energy that leave me feeling exhausted. I can barely make myself write outside of working, being a dad, husband, and living on a hospital ship.
my current fuel is honestly the drive/ambition to make this work as my (only) full time career after two decades of working jobs I'm (at best) indifferent to--so I'm motivated 😂
I was hoping to open in June but that is definitely not happening anymore--still buried/drowning but trying to dig myself out! I'll definitely open at least one more time this year, but at this point it might be late summer/early fall.
Is it common for agents to do line edits on client manuscripts? I've only done them with my editor but never with my agent, so it's interesting to hear about how different agents operate.
There is a huge variety in how 'editorial' agents are, and what that means for them. I usually do two rounds of edits on a client MS (though that is definitely on an as-needed basis, and can go beyond two if needed)--one developmental edit, one line edit. Within the whole spectrum of manuscripts I've sent on submission, the amount of editing work I've put in has varied widely depending on how much work that MS needed. On some, I've done extensive work at the line-edit level. On others, not so much b/c the prose and flow was already so tight and polished. So long answer (haha) to say--YES it is common for me, but not for all, and for me it's always a question of "what does this manuscript need to be its awesomest"--and that's what I do.
That's wonderful! My former agent directed me where to edit before going on submission (I was writing nonfiction, so this involved editing the proposal, not the manuscript), but she was not an editor.
Ah! I wrote about that, heh heh! It might be archived now, but there's a three post series you should be able to find on "how to become an agent" that addresses exactly this! ;)
(so this is an odd statement, but I had your name written on a post-it on my desk…it’s why subscribed but I have no idea why it was there….did you speak at Pocket MFA?)
oh, wow. Yeah, I have no idea then. well, glad I’m here. (side note: I tried to upgrade my sub to paid on the archived post, but there’s no easy way to do that. I think you can add a subscribe button before the paywall and it will let your readers upgrade on site.)
anyway! I’m looking forward to your newsletter, you’ll be my first paid account, who am i to argue with the random post-it in my desk.
oh, wow. Yeah, I have no idea then. well, glad I’m here. (side note: I tried to upgrade my sub to paid on the archived post, but there’s no easy way to do that. I think you can add a subscribe button before the paywall and it will let your readers upgrade on site.)
anyway! I’m looking forward to your newsletter, you’ll be my first paid account—who am i to argue with the random post-it in my desk.
I agree with you completely about not wanting to rely solely on your writing as a source of income. It's your art, and that's not how art should work. In a perfect world you'll be motivated to create what you want, when you want, at the speed you want to do it. If your creative work is influenced by outside factors like your need to eat and pay the mortgage, it becomes a different thing. Unless/until you reach a point where people will buy whatever you write simply because *you* write it, it's better to keep your work pure.
yes, reliance definitely changes the whole feel of it! Which I think for some people is fine--maybe even desirable! It all depends on your goals and your personality. But it's sure not for me.
A WF novel? Color me curious. 👀
This is a valid question that you've answered well. Congrats on signing a new author!
Thanks Dawn!!
I have a question. What do you consume as fuel? Because you are adulting at levels of energy that leave me feeling exhausted. I can barely make myself write outside of working, being a dad, husband, and living on a hospital ship.
um your life sounds plenty busy too haha 😂
my current fuel is honestly the drive/ambition to make this work as my (only) full time career after two decades of working jobs I'm (at best) indifferent to--so I'm motivated 😂
PS are you opening for queries in the future? Asking for a friend.
I was hoping to open in June but that is definitely not happening anymore--still buried/drowning but trying to dig myself out! I'll definitely open at least one more time this year, but at this point it might be late summer/early fall.
Duly noted. Part of me hopes some of my outstanding queries hold out until then.
You seem to have the work-life balance thing figured out. I wish you liked SF. =) Thanks for sharing this!
Thanks! And let the record show that I do adore a great SF--I'm just super picky in that space ;)
Noted. I am aiming for great. =)
;);)
Is it common for agents to do line edits on client manuscripts? I've only done them with my editor but never with my agent, so it's interesting to hear about how different agents operate.
There is a huge variety in how 'editorial' agents are, and what that means for them. I usually do two rounds of edits on a client MS (though that is definitely on an as-needed basis, and can go beyond two if needed)--one developmental edit, one line edit. Within the whole spectrum of manuscripts I've sent on submission, the amount of editing work I've put in has varied widely depending on how much work that MS needed. On some, I've done extensive work at the line-edit level. On others, not so much b/c the prose and flow was already so tight and polished. So long answer (haha) to say--YES it is common for me, but not for all, and for me it's always a question of "what does this manuscript need to be its awesomest"--and that's what I do.
That's wonderful! My former agent directed me where to edit before going on submission (I was writing nonfiction, so this involved editing the proposal, not the manuscript), but she was not an editor.
I think that's a common approach as well! Totally depends on the agent!
I loved this whole substack entry. Based upon this, I would want you as an agent if you were agenting Picture Books right now!
Aw, thank you! That is incredibly kind! 🙏🙏🙏
This is a nice peek behind the curtains. What would you recommend to an author who wants to pursue a career in agenting, as far as next steps?
Ah! I wrote about that, heh heh! It might be archived now, but there's a three post series you should be able to find on "how to become an agent" that addresses exactly this! ;)
Wonderful, I’ll go digging. *secures helmet* Thanks!
good luck, and I'm here for any followup questions!!
Thank you 🙏
(so this is an odd statement, but I had your name written on a post-it on my desk…it’s why subscribed but I have no idea why it was there….did you speak at Pocket MFA?)
I've never heard of pocket MFA, so... no? How weird! Lmk if you figure out the mystery!
oh, wow. Yeah, I have no idea then. well, glad I’m here. (side note: I tried to upgrade my sub to paid on the archived post, but there’s no easy way to do that. I think you can add a subscribe button before the paywall and it will let your readers upgrade on site.)
anyway! I’m looking forward to your newsletter, you’ll be my first paid account, who am i to argue with the random post-it in my desk.
oh, wow. Yeah, I have no idea then. well, glad I’m here. (side note: I tried to upgrade my sub to paid on the archived post, but there’s no easy way to do that. I think you can add a subscribe button before the paywall and it will let your readers upgrade on site.)
anyway! I’m looking forward to your newsletter, you’ll be my first paid account—who am i to argue with the random post-it in my desk.
hahaha! So funny. Thank that post it for me!!
I agree with you completely about not wanting to rely solely on your writing as a source of income. It's your art, and that's not how art should work. In a perfect world you'll be motivated to create what you want, when you want, at the speed you want to do it. If your creative work is influenced by outside factors like your need to eat and pay the mortgage, it becomes a different thing. Unless/until you reach a point where people will buy whatever you write simply because *you* write it, it's better to keep your work pure.
yes, reliance definitely changes the whole feel of it! Which I think for some people is fine--maybe even desirable! It all depends on your goals and your personality. But it's sure not for me.