tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965176195649202077.post3752046067912144885..comments2024-01-22T01:33:12.564-08:00Comments on Adventures in Agentland: The Tripod of Publishing: Establishing PrioritiesNatalie M. Lakosilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558113325014783721noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965176195649202077.post-64666888871139353322010-10-02T16:56:01.476-07:002010-10-02T16:56:01.476-07:00As an independent editor and a professional writer...As an independent editor and a professional writer, I found this blog post very reassuring. I always tell my clients to be comfortable first and I let my own work stand on its own. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965176195649202077.post-85025582288915468362010-09-23T18:10:36.154-07:002010-09-23T18:10:36.154-07:00Thanks for the great advice. I'd rather find a...Thanks for the great advice. I'd rather find a good fit with a publisher and not worry about not earning my advance than getting a big advance. It's good to know it's okay to think like that.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965176195649202077.post-684660767088083132010-09-23T09:23:04.092-07:002010-09-23T09:23:04.092-07:00We had this conversation early on, and I remember ...We had this conversation early on, and I remember feeling such relief when you said that a house's support for marketing was a big factor in your opinion of an offer. A large advance without marketing is a formula for disaster. And thanks for the BookScan links! Very enlightening...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965176195649202077.post-23496086433768051512010-09-22T17:55:55.137-07:002010-09-22T17:55:55.137-07:00Great explanations! I suppose advances are importa...Great explanations! I suppose advances are important to some degree, but it seems to me the other two are much more important.Janet Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12688012956157161889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965176195649202077.post-73431752560473353082010-09-22T13:35:09.642-07:002010-09-22T13:35:09.642-07:00Hi Anonymous - not worrying about the advance does...Hi Anonymous - not worrying about the advance does give the agent/author team more options on publishing houses (i.e. smaller presses), but it doesn't usually help with negotiation with marketing. Any publisher is going to do what they can, and smaller presses just don't always have the same reach as larger houses. Some university presses have harder times getting reviews. So, that's again where the agent comes in who will hopefully know exactly what you'd be getting into!Natalie M. Lakosilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11558113325014783721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965176195649202077.post-69740173007712383622010-09-22T12:27:01.089-07:002010-09-22T12:27:01.089-07:00Interesting! I've never considered this trade...Interesting! I've never considered this trade-off before. Thanks for explaining it so well.Amy W.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965176195649202077.post-46468405177930606122010-09-22T11:32:53.670-07:002010-09-22T11:32:53.670-07:00Excellent post on a very important subject. I love...Excellent post on a very important subject. I love your advice on deciding which of the three is most important and making sure your agent has the same goals. Best home and best editor are top of the list for me because you're right, it all comes down to sales, not the advance.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05130733681254163610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965176195649202077.post-33733016720918521282010-09-22T06:01:27.728-07:002010-09-22T06:01:27.728-07:00This was very insightful, thanks. I do have some ...This was very insightful, thanks. I do have some questions though. If a larger advance isn't a big deal for you, does that give the author/agent team more leverage to find the best home and or negotiate better marketing for the book? I would assume it does, but after years of testing software I know its not the best idea to assume things like that.I can understand how someone would really want a big advance (who wouldn't really) but right now writing as a career isn't even in my mind. Don't get me wrong, if I could make a living at it I'd stop being a software engineer in a heartbeat, but since I make a good living a big advance wouldn't be my first pick of those three. I personally think finding the best home for my book, with someone that loves the story as much as I do would be the best place. What are your thoughts?<br /><br />RayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965176195649202077.post-44580985809294372092010-09-22T05:42:53.421-07:002010-09-22T05:42:53.421-07:00This makes things a lot clearer. Thanks!This makes things a lot clearer. Thanks!Bish Denhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359927719391990534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965176195649202077.post-40508361022737383852010-09-21T21:03:14.717-07:002010-09-21T21:03:14.717-07:00This is such an informative post! I've yet to ...This is such an informative post! I've yet to see this information laid out so simply and clearly. It's a big help to aspiring authors. <br /><br />Like you, I agree that finding an awesome editor trumps a big advance in importance. I'd much rather have a talented and devoted editor than tons of money up front. When it comes to longevity, a great editor will be a heck of a lot more helpful than a big advance.<br /><br />Thanks again for the great post! <br /><br />And in college, I chose grades and a social life. :)Katy Uppermanhttp://www.amongdahlias.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965176195649202077.post-13757516683391191642010-09-21T20:04:33.173-07:002010-09-21T20:04:33.173-07:00Say it again...the part where you work primarily w...Say it again...the part where you work primarily with debut authors?Wanton Redhead Writinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05971702384041741216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965176195649202077.post-41559083104356223852010-09-21T19:50:46.984-07:002010-09-21T19:50:46.984-07:00I love your detailed insights into the industry! I...I love your detailed insights into the industry! It helps me get a good perspective so I can figure out my goals for a writing career. I'd definitely agree that I'd pick the right editor/house over a large advance!Shalleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09907680428735740943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965176195649202077.post-73171374726804821452010-09-21T18:11:32.661-07:002010-09-21T18:11:32.661-07:00Excellent post, Natalie. A similar best-selling au...Excellent post, Natalie. A similar best-selling author (Diana Gabaldon) gave similar advice to me and few other writers, and I paraphrase...it's better to start small and grow big, than start big and grow small. :)<br /><br />Thanks!<br />DeborahDeborah Smallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17582655689614863667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965176195649202077.post-84641713251435395442010-09-21T18:05:35.462-07:002010-09-21T18:05:35.462-07:00Thank you for this! I needed this right now. :) ...Thank you for this! I needed this right now. :) As I've been having pretty much this SAME discussion with the hubby. It's nice to know we're in the same boat and I can use this to prove my point. :DJ.A. Soudershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17460557430817566294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965176195649202077.post-44895432231439139792010-09-21T17:37:15.593-07:002010-09-21T17:37:15.593-07:00It seems like this ties into the fact that debut a...It seems like this ties into the fact that debut authors might still harbor dreams of that miraculous publishing auction that nets them a six-figure advance. Whereas it seems much more realistic to me to look at the long haul plan, a place to settle in and work on the career, not just the cash from the first book. My idea of being an author is not so much the millionaire lifestyle (though if someone offered me a million dollars for a book, I wouldn't exactly say no) but rather making it work as a long-term career. <br /><br />In the long term, the difference between a $10,000 advance and a $50,000 advance is not actually that much. But the difference between the right and wrong editor could be devastating.<br /><br />Great post!Meagan Spoonerhttp://meaganspooner.livejournal.comnoreply@blogger.com