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We are thrilled to welcome Emmy Nordstrom Higdon, agent at Westwood Creative Associates, to talk with us about the red and green flags when querying agents--how you can show (mostly) green flags, recognize agent red flags, and give yourself the best odds of a positive, productive working relationship.
Learn more about Emmy and book a consultation here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/faculty-members/emmy-nordstrom-higdon
Transcript at:
https://manuscriptacademy.com/podcast-emmy-nordstrom-higdon-agent-red-flags
Timestamps:
**Emmy's #MSWL (00:00:35)**
Emmy discusses their soft opening to queries, their genre preferences, and the type of writing they're looking for this year.
**Top Reasons For Rejection (00:07:07)**
The challenges faced by authors in querying, including the lack of research and the competitive nature of the process.
**Query Letter Length and Precision (00:13:31)**
Emmy and the hosts discuss the ideal length and precision of query letters to capture an agent's interest.
**Query Letter and Comps (00:19:50)**
Importance of query letter personalization and clever comp selections.
**Agency Agreement and Communication Style (00:28:54)**
Discussion on agency agreements and the importance of effective communication style between authors and agents.
**Online Presence Expectations (00:34:03)**
The significance of an author's online presence and the issue of leveraging agents during the query process.
**Editorial Style As A Red Or Green Flag (00:38:38)**
Agents and authors discussing editorial changes and flexibility, green flag indicators.
**Honest Communication (00:40:21)**
Importance of honest communication in the author-agent relationship and the manifestation process for finding the right fit.
**Author-Agent Questions (00:42:32)**
The significance of authors asking targeted, specific questions, and the red flag of excessive or generic queries.
**Agent's Questions and Interest (00:43:26)**
The importance of agents asking relevant questions and showing interest in an author's goals, with red flag indicators.
**Author Vulnerability (00:46:42)**
The value of authors expressing fears and concerns, and the agent's response as a green or red flag indicator.
**Unrealistic Promises (00:49:13)**
Discussion on agents making unrealistic promises and the red flag it presents for authors.
**Decision Timeframe (00:49:59)**
The reasonable timeframe for authors to make a decision when receiving an offer from an agent.
**Nudge Process (00:55:20)**
The nudge process, its impact on agents, and the balance between author's anxiety and clear communication.
**The timestamp's title (time it starts)**
short description, with max 20 words, of what is covered in this topic.
**Agent's Response Time and Prioritization (00:57:11)**
Discussion about agents' response time and prioritization of manuscripts based on genre and offers.
**Communication and Politeness with Agents (00:58:15)**
Advice on maintaining friendly and polite communication with agents and understanding their workload and time constraints.
**Editorial Expectations and Red Flags (00:59:52)**
Exploring editorial expectations, red flags related to agent's editorial approach, and the importance of aligning expectations.
**Expectations and Realistic Publishing Goals (01:02:07)**
Discussion on setting realistic publishing goals, understanding audience expectations, and potential red flags.
**Agent-Author Relationship and Expectations (01:06:02)**
Managing expectations, dealing with rejection, and ensuring the agent's support during challenging situations.
**Agent-Author Communication and Feedback (01:08:15)**
Advice on maintaining open communication, avoiding scarcity mentality, and addressing concerns with agents in a constructive manner.
**Understanding Agents' Logic and Communication (01:12:13)**
Importance of understanding agents' reasoning and maintaining open communication for a successful author-agent relationship.