We’ve discussed that some writers see the agent as an employee, and what they need to look for in an agent-employee. Now we’ll discuss what those who see an agent as a partner need to look for. [NOTE: For those of you who can't understand both positions can be equally right, all I can say is that I know writers who have been successful with the agent-as-employee mindset, and those who have been successful with the agent-as-partner mindset. The important thing is to know which mindset suits you, and find an agent who fits the expectations that go with your mindset.]

A writer who is looking for an agent-as-employee can be a little more concrete about what to look for. Unless an agent is utterly inexperienced, there is a paper trail (or perhaps a trail of gossip and/or confidential comments) on how likely the agent is to meet writer expectations and job requirements.

A writer who is looking for an agent-as-partner is in a little different situation. Partnerships have more give and take than an employer-employee relationship, which means not only how comfortable the agent is hearing what you expect and want from her, but how open she is to telling you what she expects and wants from you — and, most importantly, how willing she is to negotiate a working relationship with you (i.e., agents likes to have editorial input, writer wants none, or vice versa). In other words, the kind of conversation that can only be held after an offer of representation. Also, unfortunately, the kind of conversation which cannot be answered by agency statistics and philosophies, but must be examined on an individual agent-by-agent basis.

So what does a writer looking for an agent-partner look for, if he can’t look at what books the agency has sold and who they represent for a quantitative answer? The key here is talking to the agent’s clients, attending a conference where the agent is speaking, and reading interviews the agent has done. The kinds of questions a partner seeking writer asks are:

1. Do I like listening to this person talk?
2. Do they have insights and a style I connect with?
3. Do her clients speak of her in partnership terms?
4. Does she recognize that there is more than one right way to get published and have a writing career?
5. Does she explicitly express an interest in being a partner in a writer’s career?
6. Does she use key words like collaborate/partner/team/discuss/brainstorm?

A no to any of these questions is a red flag to anyone looking to find a partner-agent, as is any agent who is clearly a “my way or the highway” type agent. Remember, you are not looking for someone to publish one book for you, you are looking for someone who will have your back when your editor cuts your print run, or leaves your publishing house, or you get a savage review from a key review site, or your father dies and you need to move back a deadline. You are also looking for someone who will not take offense when you want to tweak your own career plan in a different direction, but will freely brainstorm with you on how to make the new direction work best.

Remember, though as you do your research, an agent still must:
1. pinpoint the right editors for your book(s)
2. negotiate your publishing contract to get you the best deal possible
3. handle the thorniest contractual and communication problems between you and your publisher
4. advise you about the best way to reach your short and long term publishing goals

No matter whether you’re looking for an employee-agent or a partner-agent, you want to avoid going with the ghost-agent — an agent whose work for you is so insubstantial it as though you have no agent at all. Which is why up next is: Top “Truth” Number Nine — No Agent is Better than a Bad Agent

Top “Truth” Number One
Top “Truth” Number Two
Top “Truth” Number Three
Top “Truth” Number Four
Top “Truth” Number Five
Top “Truth” Number Six
Top “Truth” Number Seven