Finding an agent who can see the potential in your book is the stuff aspiring writers dream of. To find out more about the intricacies of the agent/writer relationship Words Away zoomed with the dynamic literary agent Nelle Andrew of RML. Nelle runs a list of best-selling and award-winning fiction and non-fiction authors including Jing Jing Lee, Costa winner Sara Collins, and six Richard and Judy bookclub picks such as Elizabeth Day and Bryony Gordon. With a background in publishing and a track record as a successful agent, Nelle is also a published author in her own right and wowed this month’s crowd with her passion and drive.

Nelle is passionate about her authors and signs people she’s proud to represent. She takes on books that she instinctually knows will do really well or win a lot of awards to launch a career. She’s always clear with her authors that it’s a team effort - you are building a relationship together. She makes no secret of the fact that she loves making money and wants to make as much money as possible for all concerned! However don’t expect, no matter how well you may be doing, to give up your day job. No one is going to be making lottery money.

We were keen to discover what makes Nelle think when reading a submission, that she might want to work with a writer. She’ll ask herself, do I like the writing style, is there a journey, a conflict - does the story draw you in? What’s the drama and the stakes? Does the book deliver on the promise of its earlier pages? A book, said Nelle, can be judged by two questions, “Why bother?” i.e. do I care enough to continue reading? And “as if,” meaning do I believe in the premise - is the story plausible.

We were curious about the effect of the pandemic on Nelle’s approach to business. People’s taste have changed, she said. No one has patience anymore for the book, or the movie, that takes a while to get into. The book has to sink it’s hooks into you from the get go. “You’ve got the first fifty pages or 20% of the kindle to grab the reader before they abandon the book.” Nelle said that in the past she may have made allowances for some slow-to-start submissions but not in this market.

The question everyone wanted to know was how editorially involved Nelle is with her authors. While every agent has a different style, Nelle said she edits from the space of a reader and offers constructive feedback. Her aim is to amplify and enhance the book’s potential. She actively likes to help her authors create the best book it can be before she sends it out to editors. She gets involved extensively with authors for their very first submission, but tends not to be too rigorous once they’ve gone to an editor.

From Nelle’s list: Costa Prize winner: The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins

Nellie launched in to the Q&A, working her way effortlessly through the Zoom chat, the highlights were;

Slush Pile: Nelle sits down every two weeks or so and goes through the slush pile. She makes a point to reply to all submissions out of courtesy.
Authors seeking representation: Read the agent’s website and find out what they are looking for. Question if this person is right for you. Consider applying to a variety of agents who are at different stages of their career. More established agents might have the power and influence but those starting out will be growing a list and may have more time and space to dedicate themselves to you and your work. Nelle’s list is temporarily closed after a demanding but successful year with a 100% hit rate, placing all her authors with publishers (Keep an eye on the RML website for updates).
How do you know when your book is ready to submit to an agent? Nelle emphasised how important it is for emerging authors to take the time over their book and not rush to submit. Do everything you can to make it the best it can be. “A book is never finished, said Nelle, “it’s done. That’s the time to hand it over to someone else.”
Ideal time of year to submit to agents: NOT before a book fair. London Book Fair is usually held in the spring and Frankfurt Book Fair is in the autumn with six months between. Check the timings online for 2021. Otherwise a good time is in the new year when people are open to new energy.
Age is not a barrier to publication. One of Nelle’s authors said one of the best things her kids did for her career is to grow up and leave home!

With a big thank you to Nelle for her incredibly useful and engaging take on the agent/writer relationship!

The 2021 line-up of guests and events will be winging it’s way to you shortly! For prior notice do sign up for the newsletter or keep an eye on the website. And if you’re in need of a little inspiration…on Monday 7th December at 6-7pm we’ll be seeing out the year with a creative writing zalon, “The Fragment Is…” led by the poet and prose writer Bhanu Kapil. Bhanu is the recipient of the 2020 Windham-Campbell Award and is currently shortlisted for the 2020 TS Eliot Prize for her collection How To Wash A Heart. Think about a scene or place in your on-going work (be it prose or any genre) that needs revision but somehow when you try to write it…it deflects the gaze or enquiry. It might be helpful beforehand to consider the scene or event or moment in the work you’d like to revisit. Bring something to write with, and something to write on and let the magic happen!

Take care and hope to see you soon!

Kellie

Links and References:

Nelle Andrew, Rachel Mills Literary, The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins, The Lucy Cavendish College Prize For Fiction, Friend Request by Laura Marshall, Swan Song by Kelleigh Greenberg-Jephcott, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman, Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stewart, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, London Book Fair, Frankfurt Book Fair