Before I start I want to say thank you for all of your questions about this topic on my Instagram stories and a disclaimer that I can only speak from my personal experience. I’m not a well researched ‘How To…’ book, and my experience lies predominantly in the children’s book world. So here we go:
I signed with Felicity Trew at the Caroline Sheldon Literary agency in 2017. I had been working Freelance already since about 2012. Felicity approached me by email ( having found my work online) and asked if I would come into their Notting Hill office from my studio in East London. We had a fun and informal chat to see if we got on and we did! I brought my portfolio along too which we looked at and drank tea. She has since become a fast friend as well as a talented and hardworking agent. I was so thankful that she found me at that time. I was struggling managing work and contracts, but hadn’t found or made the time to go looking for an agent.
I believe that a successful artist/agent relationship is hugely dependent on being able to communicate well and enjoying each other's minds and company. You will possibly end up working with each other for decades to come so understanding each other goes a long way. I have peers who have not got on with their agent, or have felt like they were left by the wayside as the agent concentrated on their bigger clients instead, but that has luckily never happened to me. Make sure your contract with your agent has a fair get out clause in case of this and be mindful of the notice period too. The publishing world is relatively small and it is important to be professional about leaving or changing an agent.
My agency, The Caroline Sheldon Literary agency is, as the name suggests, a literary agency. This is different to signing with an illustration or art agency. The latter might take a bigger cut of your earnings. I have heard 35% but also up to 55% (hear-say) whereas a literary agency agent will on average have 15% of your earnings dependent on deal and contract. A lit agency will represent you in all things text and books. Other commercial commissions are handled by me alone including contracts. An illustration agency would traditionally handle all for you.
I personally like to focus my energy and time on my creative work. It is a whole job in itself negotiating strong contracts and takes a business mind. It’s also nice to be able to just focus on the job at hand with designers and editors and never have to talk about money. To me, having an intelligent agent who knows her business means that the contracts are tip top. A good agent will not only negotiate fitting advances for books but more importantly create better deals and relationships with publishers thinking ahead into the future. The connections and the reach of a good agent are irreplaceable. It is a whole ‘nother level to be signed by a wonderful and enthusiastic agent that believes in you and can represent you worldwide, specially at the big book fairs like Bologna and Frankfurt each year.
I was contacted by my agent because I had an extensive portfolio and had worked freelance for years on professional commissions and self initiated work. I know that the piles of illustrators' works on agents, designers and publishers desks can sometimes mount up and be a challenge get through. The best thing you can do is work on your style, your niche, your message and enjoy your work. Have a portfolio website and engage with the creative community around you, be that online or in a studio environment. Many opportunities will arise by word of mouth and because someone mentions your name at a meeting etc. Being nice and hard working also goes a long way. I Don't think you need to be published either to find a good agent. An outstanding body of work speaks for itself. You can often view the talents signed by an agent on their website and build yourself a picture of what work they like to represent and what they might still be looking for. I don’t understand creatives that wait for opportunities to create work. Work and play all the time and while you are busy and putting that work out there you might just get that email or call.
You should NEVER have any costs involved signing with an agent. On the contrary it's more likely you will be invited out for a meal and a glass of something to discuss your work and have a chin wag.
Many of you were asking about the Pros and the Con’s of signing with an agent. I could not imagine being without Felicity's support in my career any more, so I think what I have written so far is mostly Pro, but the next question did lead me down the path of something perhaps a little more complex.
Do you still feel ‘free’ to work on projects you love or does it get overwhelming sometimes?
That’s a big one! It can feel claustrophobic to be scheduled in years in advance. In that regard, yes, It is overwhelming. At the same time I remember that this is my bread and butter and not my hobby. It is my work and I’m privileged to be able to carefully choose my projects and to be able to say ‘No’. I have become good at saying ‘No’ to things that I’m not excited about or I have no time for. I will address Mental Health in a separate post, but it takes time to know yourself and also your limits. I often long for time off, for time to play again, for the exhilarating beginning when everything was new, but I’m also incredibly grateful to be doing what I do and confident enough to say stop if I need a break. Most of the projects I work on are my own writings and ideas so I really want to bring them to life anyhow. Together with the publishers and my agent, we will try to schedule in adequate time for projects, but life happens and they do run over, no matter how much you work. In my twenties I would have crumbled a little under the perceived pressure, but after two burnouts I know to remember that we all are just human and not performing robots and don’t function 100% all the time either. Having a work life balance is crucial to keeping well and that balance is always something you have to newly negotiate with yourself.
I hope I have answered most of your questions. Sorry it got a bit longer than anticipated. Perhaps IG grid posts aren't the best place to discuss this. I think I will post these up on my website too for an easier re-read. Feel free to ask more in the comments and I will reply when I can, but I do have work to get on with too :-) x SD x
