The changing role of agents?

wendy · Post by **wendy** » Tue March 29th, 2011, 11:52 am

As traditional book publishing evolves, should the role of the agent change too? Check out this article from PW:

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/prin ... ional.html

Is there a need for "multi-media producers"?

Alisha Marie Klapheke · Post by **Alisha Marie Klapheke** » Wed March 30th, 2011, 7:09 pm

I was actually going to blog about this topic later this week. It is definitely interesting to think about an agent reading a manuscript and pondering it in app form or as some interactive e book. How can publishers and agents predict the future with electronics moving at such a wild pace? How can an author agree to any type of contract when no one knows what the future will hold in terms of rights?

MLE (Emily Cotton) · Post by **MLE (Emily Cotton)** » Wed March 30th, 2011, 8:14 pm

I would be very wary of an agent who was also a publisher in some form. It sounds like conflict of interest.

To me, the point of an agent is to shop your book to major publishers. If it's just going to be self (agent) published, that isn't so difficult anymore that a writer needs an agent, who gets a percentage of the royalties for the life of the contract. That's just a matter of hiring somebody with the know-how to format it, a one-shot business.

EC2 · Post by **EC2** » Wed March 30th, 2011, 8:17 pm

My agent and her agency have been slogging away over the past several years, bringing themselves up to scratch on all things digital, especially rights and the future of rights. They are definitely clued in and ready for/keeping abreast of the future of publishing, including e-books and enhanced e-books. We've just been discussing this as part of my next deal (still in negotiation).
It's actually interesting listening in to the publishing industry on Twitter via agents, editors and publishers. It gives you a good sense of the pulse of the industry and you can look at the movers and shakers and see what they're up to and what their attitudes and opinions are.

Alisha Marie Klapheke · Post by **Alisha Marie Klapheke** » Thu March 31st, 2011, 3:29 am

I need to get on the Twitter thing, but it just makes me feel tired, you know? Perhaps I can get on there and just "listen."

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Thu March 31st, 2011, 6:09 am

I need to get on the Twitter thing, but it just makes me feel tired, you know?

I know! There's so much going on out there, if you do it all, you never have time to do anything else.