Literary Agents

Gone are the days when a fiction writer could send a manuscript to a mainstream publisher uninvited and expect it to be read, if only by some junior flunky whose job it was to screen submissions. In today’s market, such “over-the-transom” submissions are relegated to the trash can without even being opened. Furthermore, most editors refuse to consider any proposal that does not come recommended by an agent—or by an established author whose work and judgment are known and respected. Since few novice writers rub shoulders with such an author, they are left with the arduous task of attracting an agent who will represent their work.

So how do you go about it? The first step is to identify which agents consider your particular genre of fiction. A first step might be to search online for literary agents seeking submissions, even including your genre to whittle the list down. Each listing should give the following information about the agent: name of agency, location, website, preferred contact method, genres the agent prefers representing, and perhaps previous clients. Most important of all, whether the agent is open to receiving queries.

Once you have identified a working list of agents who might be right for you, I highly recommend that you do some further vetting for each. You have already determined that they represent your particular genre of fiction. Next stop should be the agencies’ web sites. You want to know whether they belong to any professional organizations such as the AAR (Association of Authors’ Representatives, Inc.) The AAR requires strict ethical standards of its members, and your agency’s membership gives you a high level of confidence in their professional integrity. You want to read their submissions page to make sure you have the most up-to-date information about how they wish to be contacted. You also want to know how many writers they represent and what their rate of success is. There are pros and cons to being represented by a large agency vs. a smaller one. You’ll have plenty of time to consider that issue when and if you receive an actual offer of representation.

Many smaller agencies do not belong to any of the representatives’ organizations. This is not to say they are not legitimate businesses who will do their best for you. It is wise, however, to do an extra layer of investigation in these cases. One of the simplest ways is to “google” the agent’s name and see what comes up. If writers have had a bad experience with the agent, you will probably find their testimony somewhere on the web.

A word of caution. Never pay an agent to read your work. This practice is verboten within the profession’s ethical standards. An agent might also read your proposal, or even your entire manuscript if they have asked for it, and tell you it needs editing, a service they will provide for a fee. Do not fall for this! The chances of such an agent ever selling your work are next to nothing. If you want your manuscript professionally edited, find someone whose only interest is in helping you improve the manuscript and your skills. Do your rewrite and then go looking for a reputable agent.

Once you have decided which agents might be a good fit for your manuscript, you can begin contacting them. We’ll talk about the written submission in a separate article. Another option is to attend a writers’ conference where your agent will be appearing. You can find this information by going to the agent’s web site. Many conferences offer the opportunity for conferees to sign up for a private consultation with an agent wherein you can present a sample of your work. Conferences also offer classes and workshops on various aspects of writing and allow you to form relationships with other aspiring writers. If it is within your budget, conferencing can be a valuable experience. It does require patience, however. Particular conferences happen only once a year and will give you access to only one or two of your target agents. That said, I encourage you to consider attending one or more in conjunction with the more traditional method of querying agents through correspondence.

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