STRAIGHT TALKING
From the OTHE SIDE OF THE DESK
The best (and also worst) thing about a literary agent is that they tell you the truth, says Piers Blofeld
There have been an enormous amount of words spilled on the subject of how to get an agent. Very understandably it is a huge part of the focus of aspiring writers, but too little attention is given to what to do next – how do you maintain a healthy relationship and get the best out of your agent? What is the right sort of agent for you?
Of course, for most people that’s not a choice they get to make – and on one level, if you want to be reductive, an agent is only there for one thing: to get you a deal. There are people who see it in those terms – but they are rare and for most people getting an agent, if it works, is the start of a very intimate relationship.