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Finding a literary agent is important if you lack knowledge of the publishing market, selling yourself and your work, or time for sales and accounting. Contact agents who handle the type of work you are pitching and follow submission guidelines. Treat meetings with agents as informal job interviews and don’t be discouraged by rejection.
If you have a book or manuscript you want to publish, your first step may be to find a literary agent. Many people say it’s easier to go directly to a publisher than trying to find a literary agent. That’s true, but an agent does more than pitch your work to publishers.
First of all, how can you be sure that you really need a literary agent? If you don’t have a thorough understanding of the publishing market or the best way to sell yourself and your work, then you probably need an agent. If you don’t know how to get the best deal on your book or the appropriate publishers to contact, you’ll need an agent. Also, if you don’t have time for your sales and accounting work, contact an agent.
There are literally thousands of literary agents, many of whom have worked as editors in the publishing industry. People usually choose to be literary agents because they love books, but they also have to make a living. When finding a literary agent, remember that they are professionals and that your approach to them should be professional as well.
When contacting a literary agent or agency, make sure they handle the type of work you are pitching to them. Many agents and agencies specialize in certain areas. Some handle only fiction books, others deal with specific work for television and film. However, many larger agencies have many editors to handle different specialist areas.
Numerous writers’ books include lists of literary agents. These books provide the agents’ names, phone numbers, and email information. More importantly, they usually indicate the type of books each literary agent deals with.
It should be easy to phone an agency and ask for the name of the agent or publisher to send the work to. Also, ask if there are any guidelines for submission, such as cover letters or sample chapters. Make sure your work is typed neatly. The cover letter should only provide information that is relevant to your job.
A literary agent has the experience to tell within minutes of the cover letter and pitch whether or not the book is going to be any good. Adding lines like, “My family and friends think my book is great,” isn’t going to impress a literary agent. He explains in your letter why you wrote the book and what audience you think it will attract.
If you have professional writing credentials, please indicate them in your cover letter. Provide a resume if it is of any relevance to your job. Always remember to send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to return your work.
If a literary agent agrees to meet with you, treat the meeting as an informal job interview. The agent will want to assess your interpersonal skills. Advertising and marketing will be much easier for the agent if you are good at selling yourself and your work.
If your work is rejected by the agent or literary agency, try another agency. Look around you and don’t be put off by the rejections. The agent may not feel that your work is a good fit for her particular agency. Don’t pester agents for reasons or explanations as to why your job was rejected. The writing business is extremely competitive and you will be facing many professionals.
