Yesterday I wrote a defense of agents who take the time to blog. But what do you think?
Would you want an agent who blogs? Does an agent blogging make you more or less inclined to work with them? If you had a choice between agents, would it matter in your decision?
There is a poll below, and you’ll need to click through to the post if you’re reading in a feed reader or via e-mail.
I think the only reason I may be more likely to sign with a blogging agent is because I may find them through their blog. But if I met them first, then found out they had a blog, I'd be like, 'Cool!' but it wouldn't affect my decision.
It would not make a difference in selecting an agent. I am thankful for the enlightenment and entertainment derived from the blog of an author and former agent who lives in Frisco. His post-agent blogging still hits that high mark.
Depends on the nature of the blog and the number of references to pirates (more = better). Or something like that. Really I just love all the specific information on how to avoid looking like a moron when I get out and start querying so I'm very thankful.
I think an agent that blogs helps out all us writers who want to know about an agent we might want to query. A bit of insight into who they are. It takes away some of the guess work.
That's not to say all agents will blog in a decent manner, but I'd like to think they do.
If I were a client of the agent, I don't see that it would matter one way or another, but if I'm looking for an agent, the agent's blog may be the only way I get a chance to discover who he is as a person. There are several agents that I wouldn't consider querying because of some of what they say on their blogs.
Anonymous 1:20 pm etc., this is a poll of us, Nathan's readers, a self-selecting group, and does not pretend to be anything else. But there are limits to science, no matter how large or randomized a sample is. As the old saying has it, there are lies, damned lies, and statistics.
Frogfeathers, Coke vs Pepsi? Wars have been fought over less!
Lauren, more pirates? YES! You can never have too many pirates. Except in Somalia.
My reason on my 'more likely' is because I feel like blogging helps us get to KNOW said 'blogging agent' so there is a feel for compatibility before ever submitting. The DOWNSIDE is I think y'all get more submissions, so competition is stiffer.
I never even thought about caring whether an agent blogs or not. If they do…great, if they don't…great.
I care about the work an agent does. A blog doesn't speak for said agent, but the work he/she performs does.
I voted "more likely", but there's a caveat. An agent's blog tells me more about that agent. Maybe I discover from reading Agent Y's blog that he and I wouldn't be compatible, in which case, I'd never sub to him. Or maybe I discover that we are so like-minded about writerly and literary things that it's scary, in which case I'll probably be willing to give my left eye to work with him.
And then there are agents who don't blog, who I would give a kidney to sign with.
So, it really depends on the blog, and on the agent. But if you're an agent who blogs, I'm more likely to find out about you, so that tips the balance a little bit.
It depends on the agent and the blog–I know there are excellent agents who don't blog, as well as bad ones who do–but I lean toward "more likely" because I feel an agent's blog gives me a chance to get to the the agent. If I can learn the agent's likes and dislikes, as well as what he or she is looking for at the moment, it gives me a better chance to find a true fit for my work.
I was honestly quite surprised by your blog on the topic. My impression (thought I’m fairly new to the publishing industry) has been that agents who blog are very professional, diligent and pays attention to shifts in how business is done … exactly what I’d want in an agent. But social media marketing is part of my job, so I guess that could affect how I perceive it.
I like an agent who blogs. If I'm going to be in a long term relationship with my agent, I want to know as much about that person as I can before committing to working with him/her. Can you imagine the divorce rate if we married the first person we saw?
I don't want an agent who doesn't know their way around technology. If I'm expected to have an online platform then I guess I expect the agent to have one as well.
I like agents who blog. We are living in a social media world, so those that blog, tweet, FB, etc. are probably more likely to be able to assist clients trying to utilize those tools.
Having said that, as long as the agent is good at his/her primary job, which is selling books, I'm okay either way.
The only exception would be an agent who abuses his/her position or platform. But I honestly haven't seen any of that. All the agents I've come across who blog are generous, genuine, and sharing useful information.
It wouldn't effect my decision.
In fact it doesn't even matter. It's a free world… 🙂