tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875347441971967569.post5066011164514308629..comments2023-06-25T03:16:49.358-06:00Comments on Kristi Helvig, YA Writer: Why Having a Rock Star Agent MattersAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875347441971967569.post-83278492432160112592012-10-10T22:27:37.611-06:002012-10-10T22:27:37.611-06:00Warning "competent and skilled" doesn...Warning "competent and skilled" doesn't always translate to trust. I just brought a TOP NY agent to a project. It was a big ghostwriting gig. She signed me and the celebrity up as her agent clients, wrote herself into a bad template of a collaborative agreement between celeb and me, then proceeded to bully him into dumping me from the project in favor of her pet ghostwriter, ostensibly to "take the book to the next level"... well he liked my sample chapters, he loved my proposal his "gut and heart" told him to go with me. The agent couldn't say one bad thing about the proposal, just felt the other ghost writer's name could sell the book more easily. She put so much pressure on him, he caved after I'd traveled to do interviews, written the proposal, written some of the chapters, done mountains of research. So now there's an attorney involved and it is a BIG mess. Top agent? Well, I had worked with her before and she'd been professional. I had no idea she'd betray our agent contract like that and that she'd interfere with the business deal between the celeb and me. Basically, trust goes way beyond reputation. Sadly. Beware...big ghost deal, be sure the agent understands up front that you WILL be the ghost writer...and be careful about signing an arbitration clause...who wants to travel back and forth to NY over the course of 1 1/2 year to deal with that? Sisters of the Quillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07067700948949637412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875347441971967569.post-70892499658872598932012-10-10T21:00:00.348-06:002012-10-10T21:00:00.348-06:00Absolutely. I spent a truckload of time researchin...Absolutely. I spent a truckload of time researching agents and agencies, and it was so worth it. Now I can write. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875347441971967569.post-28503361420924740382012-10-10T18:52:32.978-06:002012-10-10T18:52:32.978-06:00Remember, every hour you spend learning the legal ...Remember, every hour you spend learning the legal language of contracts, researching the tastes of individual editors, and planning how to categorize a cross-genre work is an hour that you're not writing. <br /><br />Obviously, you have to put in some time researching who would be a good agent, but the agent has all those other skills it would take a long time to develop -- time that would not be spent writing. Mark Muratahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03562597698193306363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875347441971967569.post-38292208318942525122012-10-10T12:17:59.450-06:002012-10-10T12:17:59.450-06:00Kristi, I also blogged on this subject, focusing o...Kristi, I also blogged on this subject, focusing on the cross-genre aspect, if you want to compare notes. http://geoffreygudgion.com/60-2/Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01887063906780667731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875347441971967569.post-58808341886880360612012-10-10T08:56:04.400-06:002012-10-10T08:56:04.400-06:00LOL at the talk-off-cliffer, and you are so right ...LOL at the talk-off-cliffer, and you are so right about the cheerleader and brainstormer part. I know some people don't care about the genuinely lovely person part, but that was very important to me too! Thanks for stopping by. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875347441971967569.post-1809776676615511522012-10-10T08:41:37.643-06:002012-10-10T08:41:37.643-06:00This post is absolutely spot on! My agent is worth...This post is absolutely spot on! My agent is worth her weight in chocolate. And not just because she sold my book...she's also a cheerleader, a brainstormer, a talk-off-cliffer, and a genuinely lovely person. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13380826220166366026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875347441971967569.post-55864120608403599802012-10-10T07:06:01.304-06:002012-10-10T07:06:01.304-06:00You're right--it's not easy at all. In fac...You're right--it's not easy at all. In fact, finding a great agent was one of the most difficult things I've done...but it's so worth it in the end. Hang in there and keep trying. You've just inspired a new post, so I'm going to touch on this topic in the next few weeks. Thanks!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875347441971967569.post-26959413978849391762012-10-10T07:01:25.725-06:002012-10-10T07:01:25.725-06:00Thank you, and good luck in your search--I'm s...Thank you, and good luck in your search--I'm sure your fairy god agent is out there! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875347441971967569.post-11352755000003213522012-10-10T05:31:41.492-06:002012-10-10T05:31:41.492-06:00This gives me hope because I know deep down this i...This gives me hope because I know deep down this is the path I want to take. Lately, it's not been easy, but I know this is what I want. <br />Thanks so muchChristine Danekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00979611961825725350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875347441971967569.post-64461304109269148152012-10-10T05:18:36.467-06:002012-10-10T05:18:36.467-06:00Definitely gave me renewed motivation in my search...Definitely gave me renewed motivation in my search for my very own fairy god agent, not to mention prompted today's post on CQG. Made sure to link my followers back to here! Thanks!Creepy Query Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18115161057496086972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875347441971967569.post-66619911754556430082012-10-09T22:12:27.283-06:002012-10-09T22:12:27.283-06:00That's awesome--congrats, Janet! :)That's awesome--congrats, Janet! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875347441971967569.post-25676061435582507312012-10-09T22:09:07.564-06:002012-10-09T22:09:07.564-06:00I just signed with my rock star agent last week, a...I just signed with my rock star agent last week, and your post makes me feel even luckier than I already do! :)Janet Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12688012956157161889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875347441971967569.post-38853083975119100992012-10-09T20:03:35.770-06:002012-10-09T20:03:35.770-06:00Thanks, Sharon--best of luck in your agent hunt. I...Thanks, Sharon--best of luck in your agent hunt. It's great that you already have some relationships with agents, but don't be afraid to query widely. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875347441971967569.post-69610138043407641102012-10-09T18:02:20.066-06:002012-10-09T18:02:20.066-06:00Great post, Kristi! I don't have an agent yet...Great post, Kristi! I don't have an agent yet. Honestly, I haven't tried very hard. I do have a good relationship with four agents that I've either befriended at conferences or on line. I've been able to go to each of them for advice. Now if I could just write some thing brilliant for one of them. :)Sharon K. Mayhewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07799235347319851345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875347441971967569.post-33529211868465929942012-10-09T15:35:00.903-06:002012-10-09T15:35:00.903-06:00I'll take a compliment twice--thanks again! :)...I'll take a compliment twice--thanks again! :) Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875347441971967569.post-56733889756349762282012-10-09T15:27:45.279-06:002012-10-09T15:27:45.279-06:00I commented on your join blog, but I'll say it...I commented on your join blog, but I'll say it again here. Great post!Karen Denisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15154015690643682525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875347441971967569.post-70509380686668883142012-10-09T13:46:26.682-06:002012-10-09T13:46:26.682-06:00The cross-genre writing is another good point. I h...The cross-genre writing is another good point. I have no idea what genre to call my current ms, but my agent likes it so I'm sure she'll come up with a great way to pitch it. On the other point, I do know some self-pub authors who have reached a significant readership, but they have worked their butts off on the promotion and marketing end. One successful self-pubber told me she spends about 12 hours/day between writing and promoting. That's a lot o' time. Thanks for stopping by. :) Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875347441971967569.post-46228616012911841162012-10-09T13:25:05.688-06:002012-10-09T13:25:05.688-06:00Good post. I write cross-genre and would never ha...Good post. I write cross-genre and would never have found a publisher in the current market without a committed agent, and would never reach a significant readership if I tried to self-publish.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01887063906780667731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875347441971967569.post-20795842254296368752012-10-09T13:00:27.380-06:002012-10-09T13:00:27.380-06:00YAY for signing with rock star agents--huge congra...YAY for signing with rock star agents--huge congrats!!!!! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875347441971967569.post-86439468890518904622012-10-09T12:28:34.623-06:002012-10-09T12:28:34.623-06:00Kristi- Thanks so much for this post. I just sign...Kristi- Thanks so much for this post. I just signed with my rock star agent (er, yesterday) and this post just reiterates all the reasons I am over the moon excited!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875347441971967569.post-13001987471817108592012-10-09T11:04:59.569-06:002012-10-09T11:04:59.569-06:00Thanks, Lori! You also bring up a good point that ...Thanks, Lori! You also bring up a good point that an agent who gets you and your writing is key...so one person's rock star agent might not be a fit for another writer, and that's okay. You want the agent who will be the best advocate for your books! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875347441971967569.post-66289760614146970262012-10-09T11:01:03.695-06:002012-10-09T11:01:03.695-06:00Fantastic post, and absolutely yes on all of that....Fantastic post, and absolutely yes on all of that. Being with an agent who gets you and your writing is the best thing ever.Lori M. Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04858438789496971734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875347441971967569.post-48636760190256736292012-10-09T10:32:43.108-06:002012-10-09T10:32:43.108-06:00Thanks for stopping by, and huge congrats on your ...Thanks for stopping by, and huge congrats on your deal! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875347441971967569.post-30154040078366446022012-10-09T08:35:17.988-06:002012-10-09T08:35:17.988-06:00Absolutely agree. My agent just closed on deal for...Absolutely agree. My agent just closed on deal for me that was a better than I ever could have hoped. She saw possibilities I would not have recognized.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03861057324766914245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5875347441971967569.post-53563934381612250022012-10-09T06:53:42.227-06:002012-10-09T06:53:42.227-06:00Yes--that's how I feel! The career planning as...Yes--that's how I feel! The career planning aspect is huge so I'm glad you mentioned it. Even though my agent just sold a series for me, she's already been helping me shape another YA that I've been working on and has given me amazing insights into the direction of the book. An advocate is a great term to use and it feels amazing to have one. Thanks for weighing in and best of luck w/ your books! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.com