I prepared this for a grad school presentation, and I hope it will be helpful for you as well. As you go through the list, note your gut reaction to the following phrases. There are no right or wrong answers, this is just a jumping off point as you consider representation.

True or False:
I would prefer my agent be tougher in negotiations than more responsive to me as a writer.

True or False:
I would prefer a smaller agency with more a more personalized approach rather than a big agency where I’d be on a list with a lot of A-list clients.

True or False:
I would rather have an agent submit as widely as possible verses smaller, more targeted rounds.

True or False:
I am looking for someone to build my whole career, instead of just this particular book.

True or False:
I take criticism to heart and need to be told bad news very gently.

True or False:
I am okay with not hearing from my agent unless s/he has an offer or other news.

True or False:
I want to be at an agency with lots of New York Times Bestsellers, even if it means that more time will be spent on their work than mine.

True or False:
I don’t need my agent to be nice to me. I need her to make me money.

True or False:
I am a prolific writer and don’t feel like I have time to do editorial rounds with every project before it goes out. I want someone to submit and let the editor worry about revising if they’re interested.

True or False:
I value a personal connection with my agent, as well as a working business relationship.

As you look at your responses, you’ll probably notice a preference towards a smaller or larger agency, an editorial vs. non-editorial agent, and the level of interaction you desire.

To download this as a .pdf, you can also click the button below. Hope this helps!