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because #pitchwars is in the air, here's a threaded list of things I highly recommend doing when you have an agent offer!
1. prep for the call by having a list of questions handy. there many good resources out on the web if you google "what to ask during a literary agent call" and this @WritersParty one is pretty comprehensive writersblockpartyblog.com/2018/02/06/que…
remember it's better to ask the thornier questions now rather than later. for example, if manuscript turnaround is important to you, ask about it before you enter the partnership. practices definitely change with time, but it's still good to get that initial gauge
2. speak to a VARIETY of clients. I cannot stress this enough. usually an offering agent will (naturally) want to put their best foot forward and refer to you clients who have sold/sold well to talk to and their experiences are important and valid and yes you want--
--an agent who can sell you/has a history of selling books. but remember, a good % of first books do not sell on sub. you're not a failure if you don't sell--you're actually one of many, and you want to know the experiences of those clients too
so talk to the clients who didn't sell their first books (this is where research may be necessary because book deals are an easy way to see the author&agent name side by side, but going that extra mile can be worth it). talk to the clients who have been through sub multiple times
if you can find them, talk to the ex-clients too. when an agent has been in the biz long enough, there are bound to be amicable partings over creative/business differences, with no fault to either party. so it's not about finding "dirt" but all about info and perspective
3. at the end of the day, trust your gut AND brain. remember that no two agent-client relationships are the same, and the partnership that works best for you may look different from your friends' and that's ok
