Bonus Read: Rosecliff Literary Agent Jessica Berg on What Agents Do All Day
Hint: It's much more than writers realize
Last year at the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference, I found myself sitting across the lunch table from Jessica Berg, an agent at Rosecliff Literary. She had just come out of a pitch session.
A pitch session is a brief meeting where writers have just a few minutes to pitch their book idea to an agent. Before these sessions, you’ll often see writers pacing the lobby, talking to themselves in corners, or running through their pitch one last time. Some get so nervous they can barely get the words out when it’s finally time for the agent meeting.
That’s how much we want it—an agent who believes in our work and will champion it to publishers.
We want it so much, in fact, that we sometimes forget: this business is built on connections.
At lunch that day, Jessica told me she didn’t want writers to feel nervous talking to her. She just wanted to have good conversations.
Relationships—with writers, editors, and others in the publishing world—are a big part of an agent’s job, Jessica said. And it’s essential that the agent connect with both the author and the idea being pitched.
I asked Jessica to share more about her role as an agent, and she does that today in this special bonus edition of Simply Write.
What Agents Do All Day
By Jessica Berg
Maybe you imagine agents spend their days sending emails to publishers and hoping for the best. Or that we sit at our desks all day reading manuscripts. Yes, we do both of those things, but my job isn’t just about selling your book. It’s about making sure you have a career.
Talking to Editors Constantly
I’m meeting with editors, tracking who’s moving where, who just got promoted, who’s looking for what. I’m constantly scouring Publisher’s Marketplace, studying what’s selling, paying attention to shifts in taste. The goal? To make sure I know exactly who is most likely to love (and buy) your book.
Helping You Position Your Book Before We Even Go on Submission
A book isn’t ready when it’s well-written. It’s ready when it’s sellable. That means I’m building the perfect pitch, crafting a submission strategy, and locking in comp titles. If I’m doing my job right, I know exactly how to frame your book before I ever hit send.
Negotiating Like Your Career Depends on It (Because It Does)
Selling your book is step one. Building your career is what comes after. That means I’m thinking about what you want your name to mean to readers, what kind of deals set you up for creative control, and how to make sure your next book builds on this one instead of resetting the clock.
I know waiting is hard. I know the silence makes you wonder what’s happening. But I promise that good agents are always working at max capacity. My job isn’t just to get you a deal. It’s to set you up for the best possible outcome, both now and in the long run.
This is a business, but it’s also an art. I’m here to ensure you can focus on the writing while I handle the rest.
Jessica Berg is the principal agent and founder of Rosecliff Literary, an agency dedicated to championing writers who feel like they don’t belong elsewhere. She specializes in bold, boundary-pushing fiction and untold history nonfiction. A multi-nominated writer and MFA graduate from Spalding University, Jessica is a member of AALA and EFA. Represented by Amy Collins of Talcott Notch, she brings expertise, vision, and deep industry knowledge to her work, advocating for authors with stories that demand to be told. Connect with Rosecliff Literary’s website, hang out on Bluesky, or on IG. Spend time with Jessica here.
For more about the writer-agent relationship, listen to Simply Write w/Polly Campbell. Jessica Berg was a guest on episode 312. Talcott Notch Literary Agent Amy Collins appeared on episode 257 and writer and agent Kate McKean, vice-president of Howard Morhaim Literary Agency was on episode 125.
Time to get to it. Enjoy the weekend and make time to sit down, and
Simply, Write.
-p
