Hello. I’m back – this time as a paid-up member

I wondered if anybody could give me some opinions or let me know their experiences on the merits of big vs small agents.

My story is that a small agent has, so far, been the only one to read my full ms (on top of this, I’ve had 12 outright rejections). The agent gave me some very encouraging feedback but, basically, requested a re-write, saying that they would be very happy to re-read it once I had done so. They also suggested that I sent my re-written version to an editorial service, which I did. While the editorial service had some useful comments, they were very complimentary about the ms and have hinted (but certainly not promised) that they might consider helping me to place it with an agent (with some provisos, of course).

I had always thought that I would re-approach the agent who had helped me first (I’m a nice person and think this would be the right thing to do). My only concern is that they do seem quite small and I have a niggling doubt that maybe the editorial service might be able to place me with an agent who might make my novel more of a commercial success.

I know there is no right or wrong answer to this, but any thoughts and experiences you want to share would be appreciated.

Also, I know that this post is extremely presumptuous as, in reality, no agent has actually said that they will take me on as yet!

Thanks

Livi

P.S. Some of you may have read parts of my saga in my earlier post, so sorry for repeating myself.

Hi Livi,
I have no experience of this yet, but would have thought that you have time on your side: there's no reason why you can't do all three things. If the agency agree to put you in touch with an agent, and you are happy to pay the 10% (or whatever they charge) on any advance, then you could see how this goes. Meanwhile, you could submit to other agents (provided you know which one the agency's putting you in touch with). And the small agent has said they are happy to read your rewrite. A nice position to be in! Until you actually sign with anyone, you are under no obligation. If you get definite offers from any or all of them, you can then make a decision based on what seems best for you and your book.
I'm sure others will have more expert views, though.
Susiex

Livi, until you sign on the dotted line of a contract you are not tied to any agent, so you could go with both options: send your revised MS to the small agent, and allow the editorial agency to try to get it placed it with one of the agencies they have conections with. There is no guarantee that you will be signewd up either way, but there is also the chance that both may lead to offers of representation, then you will be in the envious position of having to choose. Or, one or other option may win out.


- NaomiM

Agree with the above and I also feel that as you have paid out of your own purse for the report, then you don't really have any obligation whatsoever. Treat it as a business arrangement and don't let it get personal at this stage. Your decision could have long term repercussions and better to get it right now than to rue the consequences for a long time after.

S

Yes, I agree that there's no reason you shouldn't go with both options: you might want to make the most of the editorial service's further advice before you go back to Small Agent, too. And have a look at how the referring-to-agent thing works with your particular editorial service - they're all different, some take a cut of the advance, some get a finder's fee from the agency and don't take any money from you at all, after the fee for the report. Either way, they should be open about it. But it's worth a lot, that referral, if you get it, and should get the novel thoroughly looked at by the agency. Editorial services know that their reputation for knowing good work when they see it is on the line, so they don't refer unless they really believe it's justified.

As to big vs. small, I don't think it's as much that, that's important, as having an agent who really, really 'gets' your work in the way you do, and that'll be about them, not about the agency they're in. A big-name agent is no good if they're always trying to sell your work as something it isn't. I also don't think it matters much if the agency is big in total, or a one-man or -woman band (unless you write plays, kids, adults, non-fiction etc., and need different agents for each, in which case it's handy to have them all under the same roof): it's how good a fit a particular agent is with your work that matters.

Having said that, who else the agency represents can be a guide to how seriously they're taken in the industry, so I'd equally well say, don't be put off a big-name agent or a big well-known agency just because they're big: a good agent will be very good at focussing very thoroughly on you, when you need it, even if they are juggling Stephen King with the other hand...

Emma

Quite a lot of childrens agents are 'one woman bands' but have been in the business long enough to know the ropes and be well respected.
If, on the other hand, it was a choice between a 'big agency' and a 'small agent who was only just starting out', then it would be a different question entirely, and I would probably go with the former, however, you could find yuorself in a big agency, being represented by someone young and new....there are a lot of 'ifs' and 'maybe's at this stage, so I wouldn't narrow your options.


- NaomiM