The author-agent relationship

Lilac Mills

Aug 28

3 min read

And how can authors and agents best work together?

I began my author career way back in 2012, when self-publishing had only just appeared on the distant horizon, and for most writers the only way to become published was via the traditional route, where more often than not an agent was essential to unlock the gates of the majority of publishing houses. Then Smashwords and Amazon KDP arrived on the scene and changed the publishing landscape forever.

Ten years on, I had books published by what was then, a digital first publisher, and have several contracts under my belt with them, and I also continued to self-publish simultaneously.

But I didn't have an agent.

To be honest, I was fairly happy with my situation, but there was a part of me that wondered whether my career would benefit from agency representation. I probably wouldn't have subjected myself to the querying trenches, if it wasn't for attending an RNA (Romantic Novelists Association) conference in 2022, where 1-2-1 sessions with various editors and agents were part of the package. That was where I met my agent.

Fast-forward to 2024. I was coming to the end of my contractual obligations and had some new ideas to share with a potential agent. And this brings me on to the meat and bones of this blog post – my relationship with the agent who I’d first spoken to in 2022, and who I’ve since signed up with.

When I first met her, I felt she was someone I could work with, and I can't stress enough how important it is to establish a rapport with the person you hope will represent you and your work. What I particularly liked, was her honesty. She didn't make any promises, but we did have a shared vision for my books and for furthering my career. That honesty stretched to advising me whether she thought my potential pitches (I had a few) had legs – and this is where I needed to need her advice. I might have been in the novel writing business for well over a decade, but I didn't have her insights into traditional publishing. My having ideas was one thing, but whether those ideas were commercially viable at that point in time, was another, so I had to learn to let go, or adapt, and not be precious about my work, whether it was only at the idea stage, or whether I was several chapters into a brand-new manuscript. After all, both my agent and I have the same goal, and that is to put my books into the hands of as many readers as possible. As she has said to me me, she might enjoy an idea I put forward to her, but that doesn’t mean she can sell it.

Being able to share ideas and concepts with my agent at an early stage, before I pour my heart and soul (and many, many hours of writing and editing), is a great advantage. I trust her judgement, and when she makes suggestions or recommendations, I listen.

Having an agent has ramped up my career. I wouldn't have a 3-book contract with Penguin and Head of Zeus for my Honeycombe Bay series if it wasn't for her. Our relationship is mutually beneficial, based on honest communication, clear expectations and trust, and I feel lucky to have her in my corner.

I’m aware that not all author-agent relationships are as successful, and I feel very fortunate. If you’re seeking representation, remember that it’s a two-way process: you need to believe a particular agent is the right one for you, just as they need to believe they can do their best for you and your books.

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