My first literary agent was Clyde Taylor at Curtis Brown, who sold my first four novels. He passed away some years ago, and we parted company professionally a few years before that, but there was something he said to me once very early in our tenure together that has stuck with me always.

This was nearly twenty years ago. He had gone out with my first novel to publishers, and we were receiving offers. One editor called me and talked about the book, how much he loved it, and why he really wanted to be the one to bring it to market. It was a very nice conversation, and for someone just starting out in the business it was an absolute thrill for me. I mean, I was talking to someone in New York about my book!

But, this editor would not be the one to bring my book to market. The offer from the publisher he worked for came in below a better one from William Morrow and Avon, and that was that.

Or was it?

A few days after I signed and returned the contracts I received a call from Clyde. He said, in essence, that I should drop the editor who wanted the book a note. I asked why, and he said, 'You will be in this business a long time, and so will he, so the likelihood that you may work together is there, but in this instance, good manners is reason enough.'

Good manners is reason enough.

Now, I consider myself a pretty nice guy. I'm not saying that in any sort of bragging way, but I try to function, especially in a professional sense, by following two rules: 1) Don't be a jerk. 2) Remember rule #1. So what Clyde was telling me wasn't any divergence from how I tried to behave without prompting.

But what I've experienced over the years since then is that there is an impetus advanced by external forces to 'move on', and to leave any connection that didn't pan out behind. To move on. Keep pushing forward. Maybe there is the expectation to extend thanks, but it is rarely given voice. Not that it never happens, but it seems almost forgotten. If it occurs, wonderful. If not, well, we all lead busy lives.

But here was my first agent, who'd worked in the business a lifetime by the time he took me on, reminding me that 'good manners is reason enough'.

I consider those words to be the best advice given me in my career, because they have little to do with writing, but everything to do with being a better person.