Real-Life Decision Making
Agents are supposed to be guides for their clients. The clients make the final decisions. But often, the professional expertise of agents helps them to know what's best.
You are an agent working with a young writer who has just finished her first novel. She is eager to see her name on the spine of a book. She's published some short stories in literary magazines and her writing is quite good.
In your meetings with her, her eagerness impresses you. She tells you not to turn down any offers. To her, the important thing is not money or prestige, but simply getting her novel into print.
During a trip to New York City, you meet with several editors about several of your clients. During one meeting, the young novelist's work comes up. The publishing house is interested in putting the book on its list for the following year.
However, it cannot offer any advance and the royalty-sharing plan is meager. She stands to make less than $15,000, even if the novel sells the average number of copies for a first book.
The writer's words ring in your ears as you decide what to do. The offer is on the table for 24 hours only, the editor says, as the list must be firmed up quickly.
What do you do?