Herein are some tips for not only ensuring call-backs from the right people but heeding warning signs about the wrong ones. Agents on top of their game are savvy about what's selling, what's not, and what has the highest potential for crossover marketing. Congenial as they may be at a party and ask you to give them a call sometime, the truth is that very few of them actually hope you will. You should also be wary of those who demand that you not see anyone else, even though they have yet to declare their own intentions toward you or even return your phone calls. New authors, on the other hand, have the rosy view that their days of struggle are finally gone now that their future is in someone else's hands.
Agents can be just as critical.
While constructive advice certainly has its place, the last thing you need is someone who tries to reshape your style to fit the limitations of their own sales ability. I briefly was involved with such an agent who tried to turn every mainstream plot into a formulaic romance. Because the romance market was the only one where she felt comfortable. Always keep in mind that although an agent may possess the map to get you to your destination, the car still belongs to you. The reality, of course, was that Mr. Right never materialized from any of these encounters, nor are any of these friends still in the picture.