“Don’t compromise yourself, you are all you’ve got.” ~ Janis Joplin
We often talk about being true to yourself in your writing. Hone your own voice, follow your own path, write the story as you see it, not as others tell you it should be. I firmly believe in those things.
I also see plenty of blog posts or articles that put a lot of emphasis on things being all about the story. Hearing things like “As an author all you can really control is the work.” or “The best thing you can do to ensure a successful career is write a great story.” over and over again, but I don’t believe that.
Now get this straight. I am not saying that the story doesn’t matter. What I am saying is that we, as authors, control a lot more than we’re being trained to think we do. We can control more than the story.
I’ve been agent hunting for about a year now, and I’ve queried many many agents. Some passed on my ideas, some wanted to know more. Some told me what to do, and some talked with me about my choices and options and left it to me decide what to do. However, I’ve yet to connect with an agent enough to seriously pursue a business relationship. I’m being very picky, and I know it. I think that’s okay because I know what I want, and I’ve decided if I can’t get what I want then I’m not willing to settle for less. Instead of settling with an agent I don’t believe in my heart will be my final agent just so I can get some proposals out there, I’ve decided to submit them myself, and use a literary lawyer for the contract work if I need to.
A short time ago an author friend of mine emailed and announced a book sale. She was super excited because it was to a new publisher, and it seemed like a great move. Not only was it a sale, (which is always good), but it was one that would get her more exposure and help her move in the direction she wanted to take her career. Then, a couple weeks after her announcement, she walked away from the deal. It wasn’t an easy choice, but it was one she made because she was smart enough to think ahead and know that she’d regret it later if she didn’t make her stand.
Those are just a couple of examples of the power we have. Power that has nothing to do with the story, but everything to do with building a career. Sometimes we concentrate so hard on being writers that we forget that if we want to make a career out of this that we have to be businesspeople too, and that means that we have to make tough choices at times. Sometimes it’s about more than the story. Sometimes it’s about knowing that the choices you make and the path you follow is ultimately your own responsibility.
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Excellent advice Sasha. Business-savvy writers like you (and your very wise friend) are paving the way for newbies like me. Thank you.
In return, here is an agent tip. Paige Wheeler. ( http://www.foliolit.com/s-paige.php ) I offer her name to you not because I possess any more than a thimbles-worth of knowledge about the writing biz, but because I have started, successfully grown and sold two businesses of my own. Without doubt, Paige knows what it takes to make a business (her agency) grow – focused career-minded clients.
Last year, I pitched to Page at a PA writer’s conference after hearing her speak on how to build a writing career. Paige was not my first agent-pick because prior research said she was way out of my league. But Serendipity would have her way, and I found myself sitting in front of Paige. She suffered my pitch (bless her), asked for first chapter etc…, then she looked me square in the eye and asked where I intended my writing career to go. I was floored.
Four weeks later, I received Paige’s rejection letter. That was no surprise to me. Paige runs a fair-sized literary agency with matching payroll and overhead. She needs to spend her time with authors who make money, not newbie like me. What did surprise, however, was how she encouraged me, not only with praise for my voice, character development and plot but with her knowledge of business as well.
Come May 5th, Paige opens again to queries (email only). Her email address is: pwheeler@foliolit.com.
Hope this helps.
Nina
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Thank for the link, Nina. I’ll check Paige out.
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I love that Janis Joplin quote. It’s true, we have the power to decide what terms we’ll work under, who we want to work with. We don’t have to sell our stories or ourselves short. There’s being published and there’s building a career. Not just any sale will accomplish the latter.
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I’m strangely motivated by the right quote, and I think there is one out there for almost every situation.