Which Baby Do I Love Best?

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Today’s guest blogger is Linda Glaz.  Linda is that lovely combination of ahs1awhitened[1] writer and an agent.  She is an agent with the Hartline Agency  and has nine books in print. Her latest, Fear Is Louder Than Words was released just last month. She is married with three children and three grandchildren.

Linda will give away a copy of this book, either paperback or e-book, to one person who leaves a comment.

Here’s what she has to say about being both a writer and an agent. You’re on, Linda.

I have so many folks ask me which I love the most, writing or agenting? That is like asking me which of my kids I’d give up without a fight. And, of course, there IS no answer to that. I simply could not give one up for the other.

Writing allows me to explore and use all of the creative juices, while being an agent lets me find that next best American novel and get it into the right hands. What a rush!

janet2[1]Seeing a client’s face shining when they sign a contract I’ve negotiated for them leaves me weak-kneed and smiling like a fool. Signing a contract of my own? I guess it’s the same sappy look, and I wouldn’t trade that.

What else have folks asked me on my journey? Why I write is probably asked the most often. I’ll be honest; I have to find an outlet for all of the voices, characters, ideas swirling in my head. I find myself having mental discussions about the most absurd. Therefore, I can let them out in a novel, or find someone to analyze me for $500/hour. I prefer the novel thank you very much.

What made me want to be an agent? My own agent apparently liked the way I edited, and before long, he asked me to work as an assistant helping him to weed out the obvious nuh-uhs. When an opening happened at Hartline, I had the chance to apply for it. Thinking nothing could be better than my own novel, I soon discovered writers (many of whom I would give my left arm to write as well), with stories that transported me far behind my sweet little town in Michigan. I have been to Germany on two particularly frightening and satisfying adventures. I’ve trekked into history all the way to Rome and back. Twice, I’ve had the chance to deal with weight issues, mental issues, dual timelines that bounced me from WWII back to the present.

Are all of my clients published yet? No, more’s the pity. They are amazingJanet[1] authors. Here is an excited author signing her first contract.  But the climate has been a tad chilly for new authors without celebrity-sized platforms. Still, we keep plugging away. They to build platform while I scrape and scope out possible connections.

So I ask you. Which job do I give away? Who do I say no to?

Neither. I love them both and do my best to do justice to each.

coveronlyupdate[1]Here is the cover of my newest release, a romantic suspense called Fear is Louder Than Words. How about if I give away a copy of Fear Is Louder than Words? Anybody game?

JIM:  Interesting post, Linda.  And that’s probably not a bad position to be in.  You get to see both sides up close and personal.  Reader, take a moment and add your thoughts about this dual role – would you like it? Would you pick one or the other, if you had to select only one?  And Linda will give a FREE copy to one of you.  I must say, I am certainly intrigues by the book.  Join in.

 

 

29 thoughts on “Which Baby Do I Love Best?”

  1. I’m a writer, an editor, and a teacher of creative writing. Clients and students would like me to be an agent (their’s) too but, whoa! I wish I could bring Linda to my classes for show and tell!

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  3. Enjoyed your post a lot!! And yes…it’s wonderful to be on both sides of the fence. It’s so gratifying to help others…especially because you deeply understand the writers feelings and needs…and that’s a huge plus for both author and agent!!

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  4. What a rewarding and creativity-satisfying life you have! I think it’s good for a creative person to be able to express theirselves in more than one way. I’m a published author but also gain gobs of satisfaction helping other authors with my editing and article writing.

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  5. You’re like the energizer bunny. Where do you find enough hours in the day to write, agent and have a life? I’d like your tonic.

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  6. This is an interesting split for a creative person who also wants to help other authors. I can see the attraction in doing both. In todays challenging marketplace, I should think being an agent would be the most difficult of the two. With so many avenues open to authors and the big five so picky, it would be tempting to just write and get published. Thanks for sharing why you still hang in there helping others get published. It takes guts.

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  7. I’d love to read your book. Would love it more if you would read MY book, but that conversation is for another day!
    Thanks for sharing your thoughts of writer and agent. An interesting and diverse twist of career.

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  11. I enjoyed that peek at both sides of the writer/agent relationship. Because I too would have to turn to a therapist if I couldn’t release the characters in my head, I’d have to stick with the writing. Am intrigued by Linda’s book, so glad I don’t have to give up reading!

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