Whenever I deal with anyone,
one of the first things
I investigate is how she gets paid.
For example:
My publishing agent
receives a portion of her writers’ sales.
The more books her writers sell,
the more she gets paid.
That’s great for me, right?
Not if I investigate deeper.
She earns the bulk of her commission
from million dollar plus deals.
I’m a smaller writer.
I’ve never even received an advance.
Which means
she could possibly involve me
in not-as-attractive
and risky-as-hell deals
to seal huge deals
for her better selling writers.
I remember that
every time she comes to me
with a story
a publisher wants written.
Know how the people
you partner with
are compensated.
That will drive their behavior.