Picking an agent #3—To brand or not to brand
I’m going to flash around the b-word, so if you’re easily offended, skip this post.
Some writers agree with branding, some don’t. Some writers like finding a marketing niche, others feel it hampers their creativity.
There’s nothing wrong with either opinion, but your agent should agree with whatever your opinion is.
Some agents are heavily into branding. They not only pitch your manuscript, they’re pitching your brand, you as the writer. They’re pitching you so that the house will take you on and develop you as an author with that particular flavor of writing.
Some agents are more open to writers who want to branch out into different areas. They encourage creativity, no matter where that may take the writer. They can recognize good writing and push whatever genre manuscripts their authors put out.
There is nothing wrong with either side. But you as the author should decide which type of agent you want to target. That’s why reading their online interviews or listening to workshops on CD or meeting them at conferences is so important.
Some writers agree with branding, some don’t. Some writers like finding a marketing niche, others feel it hampers their creativity.
There’s nothing wrong with either opinion, but your agent should agree with whatever your opinion is.
Some agents are heavily into branding. They not only pitch your manuscript, they’re pitching your brand, you as the writer. They’re pitching you so that the house will take you on and develop you as an author with that particular flavor of writing.
Some agents are more open to writers who want to branch out into different areas. They encourage creativity, no matter where that may take the writer. They can recognize good writing and push whatever genre manuscripts their authors put out.
There is nothing wrong with either side. But you as the author should decide which type of agent you want to target. That’s why reading their online interviews or listening to workshops on CD or meeting them at conferences is so important.
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