Researching Agents

I've talked to multi-published authors and unpublished authors, and everyone has an opinion on agents. Talk about a hot topic!


What is a literary agent?

Literary agents represent authors by selling their books to publishing houses and negotiating their contracts. Agents rarely charge reading fees. They earn a percentage of the proceeds (usually 15-20%) when the book is sold.

Do I need an agent?

Few publishing houses accept submissions directly from authors. Most publishers will only accept submissions from agents.

Agents work very hard for their commission. They build relationships with editors and understand what books these editors are looking for. They also are well-versed in contracts and will do their best to get their authors the best deal possible. They will negotiate things many unpublished authors don't even know about, such as wrangling a good release month or getting more free author copies.

Nathan Bransford wrote a terrific snapshot of the publishing process over at his blog, Nathan Bransford, Literary Agent. Read his post "How a Book Gets Published" and pay particular attention to the paragraphs describing what happens after the contracts are signed. Agents help authors through this process.

Authors can get published without an agent. If you want to try to get published without one, you should research publishers who accept queries directly from authors. You'll also need to understand contracts. There are plenty of good books to help. One in particular, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Published by Sheree Bykofsky and Jennifer Basye Sander, has several chapters on agents, contracts, and editors.

What should I look for in an agent?

First, spend a few minutes thinking about what you want from an agent.

-Do you want someone to praise your book, to hold your hand through the publishing process, and to be your cheerleader?

-Do you want someone who doesn't pat your back every five minutes, but who will aggressively sell your book?

-Do you want someone who will help edit your book before submiting it?

-Do you want someone who keeps you on track with deadlines?

Next, spend time researching reputable agents. What agency does the agent work for? Find out the company's policies.

Look for agents who represent the genre books you write. Check their client roster. Keep a list of potential agents to submit to. If you belong to a local writer's group, ask the members about agents. Read interviews of agents. If you attend a conference, go to workshops featuring agents and set-up a pitch appointment. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

The more research you do on different agents, the more you'll get to know if they offer what you're looking for. Always keep in mind, though, the relationship is a business arrangement. You are not their only client. Yes, agents should, and do, work hard for you, but they also work hard for their other clients. Don't have unrealistic expectations. Expect them to do their job, yes. Don't expect them to be at your beck and call. Always be professional.

And if you are querying an agent, please print out and double-check the submission guidelines. Don't sabotage your submission by straying from them. Give agents exactly what they ask for.

Join me on Wednesday when we'll look at trends in publishing.

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