The Shit No One Tells You About Writing Shooting the Shit About What Agents Do All Day
11 snips
Apr 20, 2026 They pull back the curtain on a day in the life of literary agents, from time-blocking and inbox triage to back-to-back editor meetings. They explore code-switching, boundary-setting, and how relationships and timing drive deals. They discuss how prior representation is viewed and how to frame submissions after a past agent. A quick market sales snapshot rounds things out.
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Time Block Around Deals Calls And Admin
- Use time blocking and a triage pyramid to protect focus and prevent burnout.
- Carly keeps Mondays lighter for planning, banks calls midweek, and reserves Fridays for wrapping up contracts and admin.
Meeting Week In New York For Editor Relationships
- CeCe's meeting week in New York packs breakfasts, lunches and drinks with editors to nurture relationships across publishers.
- She schedules geographically clustered meetings (Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Hachette) to maximize in-person time.
In-Person Meetings Send Subtle Signals Agents Read
- In-person meetings transfer nuanced cues editors and agents use to judge fit beyond manuscripts.
- Carly and CeCe notice tone, dress, who arrives first, what people order and energy to assess availability, overwhelm or chemistry.