The publishing world is changing at an alarming pace. But with all the new digital platforms and ways to market books. So, what’s a writer to do? Fortunately, getting your work published is becoming easier than ever before. No longer are writers forced to build up a solid readership first to receive quality feedback on their manuscript. Or to put it another way, a publisher doesn’t want to risk signing a newcomer whose book they don’t know anything about. Instead, you need to find an agent who wants the same thing as you do so they can help sell your work and get it into the hands of readers worldwide.
To find an agent who will be able to read your work and see potential in it, you need to know what questions to ask. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about finding an agent and negotiating the best deal for you and your manuscript.
What to Look for in a Literary Agent
Publishing Experience: This is probably the most important thing when picking an agent. As the saying goes, “a rookie needs to stick with a rookie.” Just like publishing houses are in the business of publishing books and making money to survive, agents are also not just looking after your best interests but their own as well. So, if they’ve been in the business for a long time, they know what they’re doing.
Familiarity With Your Genre: Ultimately, the agents you find will be familiar with your genre (or at least be able to connect the dots after looking at your information).
Accomplished Authors: Like publishers, agents will be looking to publish successful authors. This is especially the case in genres that are traditionally hard to break into (like romance or mystery) because there isn’t a lot of financial incentive.
How to Find an Agent
The best way to find an agent is the same way you hunt for a publisher. First start by researching agents who represent your genre. Once you’ve identified a few, you’ll have to consider what makes them unique. That’s where things get tricky because it depends on the particular agent and the specific genre that makes them more attractive than another agent. So, let’s look at some of these different factors in more detail.
Go Beyond Your Genre: Ideally, you want to find an agent who will look at your manuscript with an open mind and be willing to take chances on new discoveries (or new authors). Instead of being selective and picking only the best-known authors and books, you want to get someone who will actively seek new talent.
Be Flexible And Alert: If a particular agent wants your work, but you’re not quite sure if they would be a good fit, don’t be afraid to ask for feedback and ideas on how they could improve your manuscript.
Be Willing To Negotiate: Like publishers, agents are in business to make money and it is unlikely that they will take a risk on an unknown author’s book without getting paid for doing so. So, it’s important to be able to get them on board the right deal for you and your work.
Conclusion
There are many different factors to consider when searching for an agent. Whether you’re looking for a traditional publisher, self-publishing resources, or just looking for a place to publish your work that will ensure your work gets noticed, the process of picking an agent will be extremely similar. That’s not to say it’s easy, but you want to ensure it’s worth your time and effort.
