How to Find a Literary Agent
Get Reputable Author Representation and Avoid Getting Scammed.
Finding the right literary agent can be a challenge. Here are several online and print resources to make the hunt less daunting, to avoid the pitfalls of scam artists
Googling 'New York' and 'literary agent', surprisingly, is a good first step because within the Big Apple’s city limits beats the heart of book publishing.
However, even though the majority ply their trade in the Five Boroughs there are good ones everywhere. More important than geography, is that a prospective agent is part of a professional body.
The Association of Authors' Representatives
The Association of Authors' Representatives (AAR) not only insists its members abide by a canon of professional ethics (for example, not charging fees as agents earn a living from a percentage of an author's advance and royalties), but has a strict admittance criterion based on how often agents are able to sell author works to publishers within a given period of time. An author would not be well served by an agent who last sold rights to a book years ago.
AAR and similar groups also have comprehensive listings of agent members, who often have websites where a writer can submit their queries online, great in this electronic age so that one doesn’t have to agonize over self-addressed stamped envelopes and being at the whim of the postal service.
These agent sites detail what material they’re specifically looking for. The business is fiercely competitive, with some agents getting hundreds of queries a month. If a writer specializes in historical non-fiction, they should only query agents open to that.
If an agent website is found through Google, make sure they are a member of AAR or its equivalent across the pond, the Association of Authors' Agents (UK). Unfortunately, there is no comparable Canadian agent oversight body, perhaps due to the industry’s relatively small size.
If an agent is NOT a member of one of the aforementioned associations, it's due to one of three reasons:
1. They charge fees, or are engaged in other unscrupulous and unethical behavior
2. They are too new to have accumulated sufficient rights sales to be considered for accreditation.
3. They are mavericks or ‘lone wolves’ who often declare that they don't need to be part of any association.
Of these, only Number 2 should be worthy of a prospective writer’s attention. It's not uncommon for an agent to work in a big, successful house, and feel the need to branch out and start up their own agency. Check for credentials and background. At MINIMUM, they should at least adhere to the codes and conduct set out by the AAR and should ideally be in the process of seeking admittance to it. Check out recent rights sales. If none are listed, that should be a red flag.
The Guide to Literary Agents
In addition to online agent sources, the annually updated book The Guide to Literary Agents, is a useful source, however the contact info is occasionally out of date by the time it’s been printed.
Writer Beware
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) operates a site called ‘Writer Beware’, (previously the slyly named, ‘Preditors & Editors). This is a great resource which lists complaints that have been raised about agent conduct. There are no guarantees and on occasion, complaints will even be levied against those who hold AAR membership. As the title implies, there are lots of shady people out there, looking to get 'reading fees' or miscellaneous ‘upfront or administrative fees’ out of often desperate writers. Some lawyers even fancy themselves book agents, as they know how to read and decipher contracts, but do not engage in proper conduct befitting a literary agent.
Be careful, and best of luck.
