Career Planning with Your Agent

A new year means new possibilities. It’s also the time to look over your goals and set up some time to talk with your literary agent about your plan for the year and for the future. After all, the best way to get at least some of those goals accomplished is to share them with your business partner.

One of the reasons you have an agent is to help grow your career. Don’t forget that. I think you’d be amazed by how many authors hire an agent, pay her commission, but then forget to use her. An agent is more than just a contract negotiated or shoulder to cry on. If you really want to build a career, using your agent’s knowledge is one of the best first steps you can take.

Now that you’ve written up your list of goals it’s time to send that list to the agent to find out what she thinks. Is your plan to change your career path from writing inspirational romance to erotic thrillers a smart one in this market? Do your ideas to more aggressively market your dying series seem like a good one, or would you be better off focusing on something new? What does your agent think and does she have any ideas of her own?

We work with a team for a reason. Together we can encourage, assist, and advise. It’s why I insist that all the agents at BookEnds share their goals with each other. It’s not uncommon for one person to feel compelled to add a goal based on what another is doing. We can also give tips and advice on how to best achieve those goals and, most importantly, cheer each other on as we work through the year.