AppNewser editor Dianna Dilworth is covering the O’Reilly Tools of Change Author Revolution conference in New York, collecting publishing intelligence for our readers.
Her first dispatch focused on Jason Ashlock‘s thoughts about the future of literary agents. Here’s an excerpt:
Ashlock, the founder of Movable Type Management, spoke about his three-pronged approach to representing authors in the modern publishing world. First, he suggested that “publishing is a team sport.” He said that the radical mediator agent should not be narrow but should be expansive and looking at any possible intermediaries that will connect readers with authors. He said that agents in today’s marketplace should think of themselves in a business development position, as opposed to a sales positions. He advised thinking about lifespans as opposed to title-by-title marketing.