Those who want to get published don’t have to get a literary agent to accomplish the deed - but it makes breaking the barrier much, much easier. It’s possible to get everything from freelance writing gigs online to a full-fledged book deal without an agent, but it’s more likely writers will get better-paying gigs and much more lucrative book deals if they have a literary agent working for them.
Many writers who want to get published would like to have a literary agent, but even great writers may find the process very, very difficult. Learn how to get a literary agent, and find out how challenging this task can be.
Finding Literary Agents
For those who want to get published using a literary agent, the first step is lengthy but very necessary. It would be impossible to get a literary agent without having a few names and addresses, right? The first step in finding that agent is compiling long lists. It sounds boring and it takes a great deal of time - but without out, there’s no way to get a literary agent.
How do writers find agents? Use any number of resources, and get ready to create a list. The Writer’s Market is a very extensive resource for writers that includes a listing of many, many different literary agencies. Many literary agencies also have their own Web sites, so an online search will yield a great deal of results. All of these agencies should have contact information listed. There are some online directories (such as Agent Query) which offer listings as well.
Choose agents who work with the genre of the book in question. If the book is a thriller, why send a letter to agents who specialize in romance? Be sure to check the market for each agent, and compile a list of those who match the right criteria.
Get a Literary Agent
To get published with the services of a literary agent, it’s necessary to sell an agent on an idea. Once the list of agents is compiled, it’s time to start the real work. Have a single idea to pitch - just one manuscript. When trying to get a literary agent, be sure and have a completed manuscript in mind for publication. Literary agents are not necessarily editors or good friends - they want completed works only.
Create a great query letter. This is the tool used to lure in and interest any number of literary agents - this is the bait. The letter should easily fit on one page and be written in proper letter style. It should not be too personal, and should explain the manuscript descriptively and succinctly. Remember, the query letter has to absolutely wow an agent to persuade them to respond - agents get a hundred such letters every single week. If the query letter is any good and the agent list is very complete (the more addresses, the better), a response will arrive.
Much of the time, this response will be a rejection. However, that shouldn’t be the case every time (if it is, revise that letter!). When a literary agent responds to a query, they will ask for a very specific sample (some will want the first ten pages of a manuscript, others will ask for full chapters, a few many want a brief synapses only). Be sure to follow these instructions to the letter and present the very best (and most polished) work possible.
At the end of the road, after the list-making and e-mailing, the goal of all of this is to get a literary agent - to wow them with words. So present the best, keep writing letters and keep trying. Getting a literary agent and getting published is often about perseverance as well as writing.
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