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Becoming a literary agent requires education, internships, and dedication. Many start as unpaid interns before applying for assistant jobs, gaining valuable contacts and experience. Moving to areas with many agencies and working at small boutique agencies can also help.
A literary agent is the gateway between authors and the publishing world. Responsible for finding great manuscripts, plays and stories, literary agents are an important and vital link between the creative world of writing and the writing business. There is no set path to becoming a literary agent; like breaking into Hollywood, it can take many years and a strong will to put up with rejection. While it’s not necessary to meet all the mandatory requirements to become a literary agent, the good education, internships, internships, and endless dedication can help pave the way for a successful agency career.
Getting a college education can be one of the necessary first steps in becoming a literary agent. Many agents have degrees in related fields, such as English, literature, classics or even creative writing. A literary agent must first and foremost be able to recognize great writing, and an education in literature can help hone this ability. Another way to approach the educational step is to consider a degree in business or communications, as a literary agent can’t make money if they don’t understand the business world and how the book business is done. Whether in literature or business, it is important to take on the task of self-education in the other aspect, as an agent needs to have a head for business and a heart for literature.
Trying to become a literary agent is often a long learning process. Many agents start out as unpaid interns at literary agencies. This can be a good way to network and gain real-world agency experience, but it’s usually not rewarding. Aside from little or no pay, interns often have only basic responsibilities, including coffee, running errands, answering phones, and running errands around the office. However, internships can pay off in the long run, providing valuable contacts that can later lead to paid employment.
After a few months as an intern, the next step in becoming a literary agent is to apply for assistant jobs. Assistants, while still doing a lot of the heavy lifting, are usually paid and generally have greater access to the agent’s world. Assistant jobs can be incredibly competitive, so this is a good time to explore any contacts made through internships or while at school. Many literary agents treat their assistants like interns or junior agents, gradually giving them more responsibilities and opportunities to prove themselves on the job. After some success, an assistant may eventually be able to broker your way into a job as a real agent.
Other things that can help in your quest to become a literary agent include moving to an area where agencies are plentiful. New York, London, Sydney and San Francisco are all good choices for those looking to pursue a career as an agent. It is also important to consider working at small boutique agencies rather than huge but famous agencies. Large agencies may prefer to hire hot agents from other companies rather than promoting any one of their many assistants or junior agents. In a smaller company, a young agent may have more training opportunities and get to know the agents they work with better.
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