A literary agent must be at the top of a fiction writer's list to Father Christmas (along with a Go Go Hamster - who doesn't want one?!).And that's because the vast majority of fiction publishers rely on literary agents to filter submissions and approach them with the cream of the crop.
Getting an agent is not only your gateway to the publishers, but also the best way to secure a good deal. Agents will negotiate key terms for their clients such as the advance and rights. Yes they’ll charge you a commission, but good contractual terms should more than offset the cost.
In addition, an agent will save you precious (writing) time by looking after the business side for you.
As a potential author you'll want to find an agent who’s interested in you, has good relationships and does plenty of business with reputable publishers. Be wary of agencies seeking upfront payments in the form of ‘joining’ or ‘editing’ fees. Reading fees are increasingly common these days, but it’s up to you to check that the terms of the payment are clear. If in doubt, The Society of Authors is always there for advice.
So where to begin? The Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook lists around 300 UK agents and includes the articles 'How literary agencies work', 'The role of the literary agent', 'How to attract the attention of a literary agent' and many more.
Concern yourself with genre as it’s vital to only submit to those agents who deal with your subject. Once you have your shortlist of agents, look at their websites and familiarise yourself with their submission guidelines - it’s crucial to approach them in the way they ask.
Good luck with your agent search. Authors sometimes say that finding their agent was down to luck, time and place or a personal ‘click’. JK Rowling admits she chose her agent (Christopher Little) because she liked his name!
Christmas wishes, Jo
(Editor, Writers' & Artists' Yearbook)
Anthony Joyce on December 30, 2009
.....ok that's all very interesting... BUT what is a Go Go hamster? is it a bit like a furry Yo-Yo?
or is it a Hamster that got at the xmas pud and is not suffering from dysentery?
or is it related to Gadget man who had a memorable catch phrase - Go Go Gadget?
Superzig:-
'Forever in love with words and worms....they are more commited, loving and faithful'
Sean O\'Hara on January 2, 2010
You're right, an agent was at the top of my Christmas list, but as I've missed out this year, I would still like to get one as a New Year present.
I submitted, unsolicited, my first novel to a well known agency in May 2009. In July 2009 I sent them another letter reminding them about my book. In early August an assistant at the agency got in touch by email and told me they liked what they had read so far and asked me to send the whole manuscript. I sent the manuscript in early August.
It then went quiet so I sent the assistant an email at the end of September asking how their deliberations were going. I got an automated out of office reply (on holiday). So I followed that up by contacting the person named as an alternative contact in the out of office reply. I got a "read receipt" for my email but apart from that have not heard from the agency since their August email.
The agency has had my manuscript for 7 months now. I fear it might be sitting in the bottom of someone's "in tray" or that the member of staff who contacted me in August has since left. My questions are:
* Does my novel still constitute an unsolicited manuscript with this agency since the agency asked me to send them the full manuscript after they looked at my initial submission?
* Do you agree the agency is due another reminder about my work (is a 7 month wait acceptable/normal)?
* I wonder if this time I should take a more assertive approach & press them for an answer, but would value your thoughts on this also.
Thank you.
M T McGuire on January 3, 2010
I sympathise with Los. It took me 6 months to approach three agents last year. Two for out-and-out no's and one who said no when they saw my first 3 chapters.
I do understand about exclusivity, approaching one at a time and all that but the thing is, I'm no spring chicken, I know it will take me several goes to land an agent for my book, if at all and... dammit, I don't have 10 years to spare while I approach my list of 20.
I want to find an agent before I die... but on last year's performance it looks as if that might be unlikely.
I think pressing them is bad, I know when the ad-sales people pressed me in my old job I'd say "no" straight off to get them off my case. Judging by their response times, Agents must be incredibly busy so I'd guess they are likely to react the way I did. They're only human after all! ;-)
Cheers
M T McGuire
Cressida Downing on January 4, 2010
Los and M T McGuire - that does sound like a long time to me.
Los - why not contact them and say you would like to submit it to other agents now, can they come back to you in 30 days?
Most agents I work with would read a full manuscript within 60 days.
Cressida
John Warwick on January 4, 2010
I am working on an historical novel and have identified an agent that I would like to send it to when it is finished. Their guidelines say that they like to see the synopsis and the first 10,000 words of the work to begin with.
This is fine, but what happens if I am lucky enough to get a positive response? Won’t the agent expect me to produce the remainder of the book straight away? They say that they do not like "proposals" for novels, and that they prefer to assess the actual work, but doesn’t this realistically mean that I have to write the entire book before the agent will even consider the synopsis? What if they reject the central idea for the story without even reading the work itself? I can research the market until I get little sharp aching feelings in my temples, but if the agent simply disagrees with me and says “No, there’s no commercial potential in this idea,” I will have spent a year writing something that they could have rejected at synopsis stage.
Is it really not acceptable to simply ask "I've had an idea about so-and-so: do you think I should write it?" I'm not asking for a contract and a million pound advance, just the briefest of assessments.