I should have been an agent
I think I should have been an agent. Not only am I spending a lot of my time these days (a) reviewing deals that I'm being offered and (b) negotiating deals with other authors for books under my Robert J. Sawyer Books imprint -- but I'm finding I'm actually enjoying the wheeling and dealing.
At the Nebula banquet, Harlan Ellison made a comment about how many authors in this field just ignore the business aspects, to their peril (and, I'd add, to the peril of authors in general, since they create a climate in which publishers and producers are used to being rapacious and getting away with it), but I actually dig all this stuff.
So far this week, I've written detailed memos to my agents about two new film option proposals and a request from one of my older publishers to modify the ebook clause in a contract we did years ago, plus done a lot of work (including doing up some accompanying spreadsheets) on a lengthy memo about my next book project, and provided some additional paper work related to my upcoming writer-in-residence gig in Kitchener, Ontario. It's all kind of fun, actually -- I can see why my agents enjoy their work. :)
Posted by Rob on Wednesday, May 17, 2006
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6 comments
6 Comments:
You know Rob, your blog statement that you would have made a great agent is bang on the money. That talk you gave in Calgary about contracts was outstanding, outstanding in the way speakers can only be when they’ve a passion for the topic they’re speaking on. While I don’t want to suggest anything that would take you away from your writing, or for that matter from your duties as a publisher/editor at Red Deer Press, the thought of you as an agent seems so natural a fit as to be almost spooky. Consider: You’ve always had a flare for promotion, your knowledge of the markets, the industry and all that surrounds it is encyclopedic, and your understanding of contracts is strong. What more could anyone want from their agent? The only drawback would be the time you’d need to spend traveling, attending cons, hanging out with emerging writers. Wait a minute -
Hi, Jeff. Many, many thanks! Of course, a really good agent in the SF field should live in New York City, so that he/she can routinely have lunch with editors. But it's nice to know I have career options, in case this writing thing doesn't work out ... :)
Hey, Rob...
Since you have such a grasp on the business end of publishing and have had considerable experience, I was wondering if I might pick your brain at the World Con in Aug about some questions I have regarding contracts, distrubution methods and promotion. Are you going to be doing any seminars?
I'll certainly be on programming at the Los Angeles Worldcon, but I don't know what events they will assign me to. But feel free to grab me at any point, and I'd be glad to chat.
I'll keep an eye out for you then. Thanks!
You're hired! ;-)
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