Agent Interviews

I work every day for at least 5 hours all week. Even on vacation. One person operation. Buck stops with me. Reading is fundamental but takes time. I wish I could add on another reading day to the 7 day week.

It's always different! I am the mother of four children and love that agenting can happen any time of day or night. I work hard to respect my authors' time, connect with editors professionally, and balance my work with my most important family relationships. Working remotely from Alaska is just like anything else done in Alaska - it's an adventure!

It varies but usually includes a mixture of: reviewing author manuscript revisions, crafting pitches, submitting manuscripts, reviewing and negotiating contracts, following up on submissions or author payments or contracts, reading submissions, talking to authors and editors, etc.

Mostly answering emails, solving problems, and on good days, hopefully fielding offers!

I'm at my desk by 6 am on weekdays. As I have my coffee and wake up, I promote, share, and like my authors on social media. I have my daily check-in with my co-agent Patty Carothers. By 7-9ish, I'm knee-deep in emails, responding to anything that came in after 8 pm the night before, or reading queries. I teach yoga most weekdays, so from 9-11ish, I'm away from my desk, quieting my mind. After lunch, I'm back to my desk, sending out submissions and emails, or calling clients, editors, producers, and other agents. I like to read my client's manuscripts and full manuscript submissions in the later afternoon. I usually do this with my feet up on my desk, my dog in my lap, while munching on popcorn and drinking tea. I have one more call with Patty to close out the day to make sure we got everything covered. Late in the evening, I recheck social media to like, share, and promote clients, friends, and strangers. As there are "no weekends in publishing," I often spend my weekends reading manuscripts, working on client spreadsheets, or rights catalog development.

Varied! On any given day I could be:
-Editing manuscripts
-Meeting editors, co-agents or book scouts
-Negotiating contracts
-Reading submissions
-Brainstorming book titles
-Feeding back on covers
-Sorting out tax and payment queries
-Creating brochures for the major book fairs
-Updating our website

I would say 10% of our time is spent in reading, 10% editing, 10% negotiating, and 70% nagging.

It depends on the day. Most days start with answering emails, tracking the projects I have on submission, and making sure I'm on top of whatever my clients might be waiting on. I might be editing a couple of full or partial manuscripts for my clients, and I'm usually researching potential editors for various projects or trying to craft or revise a thoughtful pitch letter. Some days I have meetings with my coworkers, calls with my authors, or calls with editors; or I'm participating in pitch events on Twitter or virtual writer's conferences. I may spend other days reading the brand-new manuscripts on my desk or catching up on queries—though that's usually one day (or evening) of the week. I'm also always keeping up with social media and working with our CMA interns. Usually, I have to focus on just a few things a day, and work on what's still waiting the next day, and I have to remember that my authors and manuscripts are constantly in motion!

Busy! It usually involves looking at submissions, pitching to editors, doing follow-up communication with editors, reviewing contracts, etc. etc.

First, the banking; any clients who've had money come in for them usually have it in their bank account by 10:30. Then, the emails that have come in overnight - everyday admin and maintenance. Contracts are the next priority, then keeping on top of submissions and chasing. Some days get overtaken by problem-solving, e.g. a film goes into production and the finance schedule needs re-working, or a client who's an expert in something that's become suddenly topical needs to spend the day doing interviews co-ordinated by me. Most days I have meetings with publishers and producers, so I know who's buying what, and am out there selling clients' work.

Busy.

Juggling many things at once. Reading and developing work for my clients and responding to pitches and queries are constants. Submitting to editors. Contract negotiations. Reading and continuing to learn about publishing. It never ends, but I love it.

Waking up pinching myself to know that I'm doing what I love. Checking in with publishers who are looking at my clients' work. Looking at cold submissions. Following up with submissions from folks I meet at conferences. Zoom calls with clients. Checking in with editors to see what they're looking for. And crying over the "one that got away". LOL And so much more!

It's a mix of answering emails, reading client manuscripts, typing up thoughtful editorial notes, taking calls with editors and film/tv agents, answering more emails, reviewing contracts, assembling sub lists, sending submissions, following up on submissions, answering more emails, snuggling with my cats, and combing through queries.

You are asking what a day in the life of Trident Media Group literary agent Mark Gottlieb is like? The fun thing about being a literary agent in that there really is no average day! I try to make every day new, exciting and dynamic. Working with creative people also helps to keep things interesting and avoid stagnation. Of course there are some day-to-day things in the life of a literary agent, such as: reading query letters, reading/editing manuscripts, meetings/calls with writers, meetings/calls with publishers, pitching books to editors/TV & movie companies/foreign publishers/audio publishers, performing contract review and helping with accounting, etc.

It involves dog-walking (my dog, that is), reading, tons of email correspondence, reading, editing, lunch, staring into space (we call that thinking in the publishing industry), watching the occasional stupid YouTube video, and then more reading and email. Sometimes a nap could be involved (the beauty of working from home). Every so often there is a phone call or Zoom meeting. It's nice to break up the day with those. On a trip to NYC, it's go-go-go--breakfast meetings, morning coffee, lunch meetings, afternoon coffee, dinners, etc., then collapse and do it all again the next day. If I'm at a conference, it's panels, meetings, a lot of coffee, yakking with authors, other agents, editors, cocktail parties, banquets, and generally working the room. Fun, but exhausting. I'm usually completely hoarse after three days!

The day can range from big picture / creative thinking, like helping an author brainstorm their next project or giving feedback on a manuscript, to pitching a new work, negotiating a deal, or pushing for more marketing efforts, to more detail-oriented tasks, like checking royalty statements for errors or reading the fine print of a contract.

There are never two days the same! I might be reading the latest draft of a client's manuscript, marking-up contracts, writing editorial notes, meeting and pitching to editors, liaising with our co-agents for translation or dramatic rights, reviewing cover art, collating social media content, the list goes on... Two things however are always constant - emails and reading!

The fun thing about being AEH is that every day is a little different than the one before. My job boils down to supporting my current clients, and that can mean anything from negotiating new deals and overseeing royalty checks both foreign and domestic being paid, to having a creative brainstorm session about an option book, to attending a movie adaptation meeting in LA! It also means seeking new clients and discovering things I love!

It often is a smorgasbord of Zoom meetings, email, calls, reading, events and stress. On some of those plates, there are super tasty treats and on others burnt toast. But all joking aside, it is one of the best jobs in the world to have when you can successfully bring someone‘s needed words and ideas and creativity to the publishing world and then out to readers.

I'm reading, reading, and more reading. I'm following up with publishers on contracts, submissions, etc. I'm also talking to clients and solving problems.

BUSY!
Emails
Phone calls
Sending projects
Looking at contracts
Meetings with publishing house marketing departments.
And reviewing queries and other submissions when I have time.

Reading, reading, reading, and then after your read, you read some more. It also consists of reaching out to editors to follow up on submissions. Working with authors in developing their manuscripts. Researching contests/competitions, etc. to which to submit author books for consideration. Responding to phone calls from authors/editors/film-TV interests. Reviewing Publishers Weekly for relevant articles/tips.

The day varies! It's a mix of emails, meetings, deep research, and reading/editing.

Since we are a small agency, my day is filled with general office work, bookkeeping, errands, reading, phone calls, cat-care (we have two cats present, Ellie and Max who are the true heads of the agency), debates, general literary trivia and so on. Lots of reading.

It varies, which is part of what I love about it! Today started with an editor zoom to chat about her tastes, what she's looking for, what client projects I have that might be a fit. After that, I sent a client manuscript out on submission (always exciting!), after going over my editor list one last time to be sure I felt like these were the best fits for the story. I answered a bunch of queries, read and responded to two partials, checked my email a bunch of times to see if I had the go-ahead to announce a recent sale (agents are constant email refreshers, too!). Tonight, I'm planning to dive into a client's new manuscript. Other days, I might be following up with editors on projects I've sent them, reviewing contracts, editing client manuscripts, updating our rights guide that we use to pitch projects to foreign and film markets, etc.

It starts with the soft notes of my professional lute player, followed by laps in my perfectly heated pool overlooking the Pacific, the preparation by my personal chef of a low-carb, healthy breakfast, a two-hour weightlifting workout with my trainer, and a bath and massage in my luxury spa. Then I thank my children for cleaning up after themselves and completing all their homework, kiss my darling wife goodbye and take calls from top editors begging to publish my authors' next works.
Then I wake up and start my day in the life of an agent.

My day begins about 10am-10:30am. Each day is a little different. I follow up on projects in Europe/abroad in the morning. Answers emails making sure there are no fires to put. Often have lunch with an editor so I retain my relationships, extend those relationships, and keep my finger on the pulse of what is happening in the industry etc. In the afternoon I often make new submissions, have author and editor conversations on the phone, and deal with west coast business. I also do minor editorial work if I need to. In the evening (and on the weekends), I will do more extensive editorial work if it is necessary, read new material, try and balance all this with family life and my other interests. I often go to sleep about 2am.

No two days are alike. But many of them share common moments. Lots of Zoom calls, as you can imagine, with clients, prospective clients, editors, marketing departments, etc. Phone calls are frequent. Time on email. I'm taking a look at queries and proposals every day but also may work on a debut novelist's manuscript or help coach a nonfiction writer's project to a clearer focus. I weigh in on marketing plans, negotiate fine points of a contract, and follow my clients' social media conversations. On any given day, I might be brainstorming new projects or researching new publishing opportunities, holding a client's virtual hand while she mourns a harsh review or a lost opportunity, feeding my clients information about tech advances or new apps or a workshop that directly applies to their educational need, or sending congratulations to a client whose work was recognized with an industry honor. One thing is true. I'm never bored. Ever.

No two days are alike. But many of them share common moments. Lots of Zoom calls, as you can imagine, with clients, prospective clients, editors, marketing departments, etc. Phone calls are frequent. Time on email. I'm taking a look at queries and proposals every day but also may work on a debut novelist's manuscript or help coach a nonfiction writer's project to a clearer focus. I weigh in on marketing plans and follow my clients' social media conversations. On any given day, I might be brainstorming new projects or researching new publishing opportunities, holding a client's virtual hand while she mourns a harsh review or a lost opportunity, feeding my clients information about tech advances or new apps or a workshop that directly applies to their educational need, or sending congratulations to a client whose work was recognized with an industry honor. One thing is true. I'm never bored. Ever.

No day is standard. It depends on what projects I have on my desk and what things I need to prioritize. But there's usually some editing, reading, and answering emails. And texts and DMs.

I usually spend half my day editing or reading manuscripts and the other half negotiating deals, getting involved in the promotional aspects of books that I have coming out, pitching books to editors, or, depending on the day, meeting with editors so I can understand their tastes and what they're currently looking for and make the right recommendations.

It's not really possible to answer this question - there is no typical day.
Mondays are often quite admin based for me - I have a catch up with my colleague and focus on clearing emails, looking at contracts and doing anything else that may have cropped up to do with running the business.
Tuesday to Thursday I have at least one day in London for meetings with editors, and the other days are split between anything that may crop up for my clients/with their publishers, managing foreign deals for client's books, talking to my film agent etc and working on edits for my clients or having calls with them about their projects.

I spend a certain amount of time reviewing queries. I respond to any follow-up emails I've received. I send rejections and requests for additional materials. I generally do my reading of partial and full requests at night. Also throughout the day, depending upon what's happening with any particular client and where they are in the process, I am also creating editorial letters to send to them for editing their manuscripts. I will make phone calls to go over the edits with them. I will also be writing pitch letters for author submission to editors, and spending quite a bit of time researching the houses/imprints/editors that I feel are best to submit that project. I have bi-weekly staff meetings, bi-weekly intern meetings, and then depending upon the various times of the year, I may also be attending virtual conferences, speaking or accepting pitch sessions. There is SO much more, but this is the short view.

Part of what I love about my job is that every day is different! Usually, though, it involves some combination of phone calls with editors and clients, putting together submission lists and marketing plans, brainstorming new book ideas, negotiating deals, having lunch or drinks with editors, red-lining contracts, editing manuscripts and putting out fires. Almost all manuscript reading, though, gets done at night and on weekends.

Every day is different. We all hit the email first thing on Monday to look for critical things...offers, contracts, etc. I do a lot of communication with editors and clients in the mornings, tend to send out submissions in the middle of the day and read manuscripts in the afternoons. But on any given day one important thing can take over and take all my attention.

It shifts day-to-day. I always start by checking my inbox to see if there are any updates on client projects that require action from me. From there, it's a mix of following up on outstanding submissions, meeting with editors, creating pitches and planning submission strategies, project management for books that are under contract, and whatever else comes up on a given day.