{"id":250,"date":"2020-11-17T09:55:44","date_gmt":"2020-11-17T09:55:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/?p=250"},"modified":"2024-10-28T11:42:08","modified_gmt":"2024-10-28T11:42:08","slug":"literary-agents-all-your-questions-answered","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/literary-agents-all-your-questions-answered\/","title":{"rendered":"Literary Agents: All Your Questions Answered"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>You have a <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/editorial-services\/manuscript-assessment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">manuscript<\/a>. You want it published. You know that you probably need a literary agent. But that, roughly, is where your certainty ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And no worries: all newbie writers are in a very similar position. So here are all the questions you\u2019re probably worrying about right now \u2026 plus some candid and totally straightforward answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tuck in. Have fun. And if there are other questions you\u2019d like to ask about, just<a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/jericho-writers\/about-us\/contact-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;drop us a line<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion has-icon-left\" data-active-element=\"none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header-wrapper\"><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header\"><a href=\"#\"><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header-title\">What are literary agents. What do agents do?<\/span><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__icon is-active\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__icon is-passive\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__content-wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__content\">\n<p><strong>&#8230; and what is the role of the agent vs that of the publisher?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Agents are primarily salespeople: their job is to sell your manuscript to a publisher. In effect, they make their living from selling your intellectual property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The buyers of that IP \u2013 your publisher, in other words \u2013 will produce and market the book to retailers and, ultimately, to readers themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But though literary agents are primarily salespeople, they will also:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Help you edit your book into shape prior to sale (though they will only do this if your manuscript is pretty stellar in the first place.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Figure out which editors at which publishing houses are right for your work.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Figure out the best approach to selling your manuscript<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Oversee the publication process<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Step in, if and when problems arise<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Negotiate additional rights sales (eg: TV and film, foreign rights, audio, and so on)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Offer long term advice and career guidance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Agents may work solo, but typically work as part of a larger literary agency, which may have anywhere from two to a dozen or more agents. Most agents are based in New York or London, though in the US especially you\u2019ll find literary agents in most large cities.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header-wrapper\"><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header\"><a href=\"#\"><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header-title\">Are literary agents free? If not, what do they cost?<\/span><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__icon is-active\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__icon is-passive\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__content-wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__content\">\n<p>Literary agents charge nothing upfront. There is no fixed fee attached to their services. So how do they get paid? Instead, they charge commission, typically 15% for sales of your work to domestic publishers and 20% for more complex sales (eg: foreign or TV sales.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The two great things about this arrangement are (A) that you only pay for an agent if they succeed in selling your work, and (B) their financial incentives are almost completely aligned with yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The not-such-a-small downside is that literary agents won\u2019t agree to represent you unless they think they can make money. That means getting an agent is an extremely competitive business \u2013 an agent typically takes about 1 manuscript from every 1000 that she receives. (About 2\/3 of agents are women.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That level of competition shouldn&#8217;t frighten you exactly, but it should nudge you in the direction of thinking hard about the quality of what you&#8217;re putting out there. Is your manuscript really ready to go? Have you edited it hard? Does the story shine? The single biggest mistake you can make is to send your book out before it&#8217;s ready. If in doubt: do more.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header-wrapper\"><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header\"><a href=\"#\"><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header-title\">Do I need to have an agent? Are they worth it?<\/span><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__icon is-active\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__icon is-passive\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__content-wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__content\">\n<p>Most big trade publishers take work seriously only if it comes via a literary agent. That means if you are writing a novel or mainstream non-fiction, you do really need an agent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That 15% commission might sting a little, but think about it. You get a seasoned pro to sell your work, advise you editorially, assist with any problems in the publication process, sell additional rights, and manage your career. Quite likely, that 15% is the best money you\u2019ll ever spend. If your agent can\u2019t earn you multiples of what you would have achieved on your own, then they\u2019re not really doing their job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are intending to self-publish, of course, an agent is totally unnecessary \u2013 at least for now. When your sales are massive, agents will be begging you for your business &#8230;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header-wrapper\"><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header\"><a href=\"#\"><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header-title\">What are literary agents looking for?<\/span><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__icon is-active\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__icon is-passive\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__content-wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__content\">\n<p>Go into any large bookstore. Look on the front tables. Ignore the work of past bestsellers and focus on books by debut or other newer authors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Those books right there are the ones that literary agents are looking to buy: the sort of commercially successful debut work that commands big bucks from publishers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To find the kind of books that are making waves in your genre, you can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Look at what books in your genre are being heavily promoted by the bookstore. (Again: ignore major past bestsellers. So Stephen King will always command massive shelf space in the \u201chorror\u201d section, but he does that because he\u2019s Stephen King.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Look at what books in your genre are on sale at a major supermarket.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Look at Amazon bestseller lists in your genre, ignoring ignore books by self-published authors and by past bestsellers. That\u2019ll leave you with newer, successful traditionally published authors in your genre.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In a nutshell: agents are looking for books that are the same-but-different. That is, they take an existing successful concept and give it a twist that re-energises it for the same broad audience. Another thing you\u2019ll hear from most agents is that they\u2019re looking for an original and compelling voice \u2013 that is, they want your writing to sound fresh and distinctive. Easier said than done, we know!<\/p>\n\n\n\r\n<section class=\"promo-block  alignfull\" id=\"\">\r\n    <div class=\"content-container\">\r\n        <div class=\"promo-block-container\">\r\n                            <div class=\"promo-image-container\">\r\n                                            <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/our-services\/121-support\/agents\/\" target=\"\">\r\n                                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/121-agents.png\" alt=\"\">\r\n                                            <p class=\"tag has-background has-thriller-background-color\">Feedback from literary agents<\/p>\r\n                                                                <\/a>\r\n                                    <\/div>\r\n                        <div class=\"promo-text-container\">\r\n                <div class=\"promo-text-wrapper\">\r\n                    <h2>Book an Agent One-to-One<\/h2>                    <div class=\"wysiwyg-container\"><p>Receive honest feedback from a professional literary agent on your query letter, synopsis and first 5000 words, and learn how you can make your submission pack shine.<\/p>\n<\/div>                                            <div class=\"cta-container\">\r\n                            <a class=\"cta-btn has-background has-thriller-background-color\" href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/our-services\/121-support\/agents\/\" target=\"\"><span>Find out more<\/span><\/a>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n                                    <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header-wrapper\"><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header\"><a href=\"#\"><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header-title\">Where can I find literary agents?<\/span><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__icon is-active\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__icon is-passive\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__content-wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__content\">\n<p>You\u2019re in the right place. Jericho Writers has a service called AgentMatch, which represents a complete database of all literary agents in the US, UK and elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That database allows you to sort in a million different ways \u2013 for example, \u201cAgents looking for science fiction\u201d or \u201cAgents in a smaller agency currently looking to expand their list.\u201d It\u2019s a natural first stop for almost any writer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Go <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/our-services\/agentmatch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here to see what AgentMatch looks like<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/our-services\/agentmatch\/#buyagentmatchfreetrial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Go here to get your free, 7-day trial <\/a>(and free means free: we don\u2019t even ask for payment details). Easy, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\r\n<section class=\"promo-block  alignfull\" id=\"\">\r\n    <div class=\"content-container\">\r\n        <div class=\"promo-block-container\">\r\n                            <div class=\"promo-image-container\">\r\n                                            <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/our-services\/agentmatch\/\" target=\"\">\r\n                                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/feature-94-how-agents-work-conville-walsh.jpg\" alt=\"\">\r\n                                            <p class=\"tag has-background has-thriller-background-color\">Start your agent search now<\/p>\r\n                                                                <\/a>\r\n                                    <\/div>\r\n                        <div class=\"promo-text-container\">\r\n                <div class=\"promo-text-wrapper\">\r\n                    <h2>Looking for agents who will love your work?<\/h2>                    <div class=\"wysiwyg-container\"><p>Take the stress out of querying by searching our database of literary agents from the UK, US, Canada and Australia. View bios at a glance, access exclusive interviews, and build your shortlist of agents in your genre.<\/p>\n<\/div>                                            <div class=\"cta-container\">\r\n                            <a class=\"cta-btn has-background has-thriller-background-color\" href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/our-services\/agentmatch\/\" target=\"\"><span>Start searching<\/span><\/a>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n                                    <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header-wrapper\"><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header\"><a href=\"#\"><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header-title\">How many literary agents should I query?<\/span><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__icon is-active\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__icon is-passive\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__content-wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__content\">\n<p>Because it\u2019s hard to get an agent, we strongly recommend that writers query about 10-12 agents when they are ready to submit their work.&nbsp;Why 10-12? Why not more? Why not fewer? We&#8217;ll tell you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Why not more?<\/em><br>Realistically, there are probably only 6-10 strong potential publishers for your book. That&#8217;s one for for each of the Big 5 publishers, maybe a couple more for leading imprints within each publishing house, and maybe one or two large independent publishers too. (ie: big publishers, but just not quite on that Big 5 scale.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And publishers are harder to get than agents. Yes, most agents will sell most of the manuscripts they take on &#8230; but their overall success rate is still probably only 2 out of 3, or something like that. <em>So if you can&#8217;t get 1 agent in 10 or 12 to take you on, the chances are you won&#8217;t find a publisher<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What that tells you is you need to do more damn work on your book. Only then will you be confident of success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Why not fewer?<br><\/em>If you only go to a handful of agents, you&#8217;ll find that some are busy, some aren&#8217;t quite right for your book and &#8230; whoops. You&#8217;ve run out of agents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if you query 10 agents, and still get nowhere: well, you know that you need to take a further look at your manuscript. If you query 10, and get an offer of representation &#8211; then well done you!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header-wrapper\"><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header\"><a href=\"#\"><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header-title\">Which literary agents should I choose?<\/span><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__icon is-active\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__icon is-passive\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__content-wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__content\">\n<p>Let\u2019s say, you\u2019ve got your manuscript into shape (quite possibly with the help of our <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/editorial-services\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">amazing editorial services<\/a>). You&#8217;ve decided (sensibly) to look for about 10-12 agents to approach. How do you pick those dozen? How do you find the ones most likely to respond to your submission?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, there\u2019s no fixed rule there, but here\u2019s what we\u2019d suggest:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Look for agents who are looking to build their list. That means looking for newer \/ younger agents \u2013 possibly someone who has just set up their own agency, or someone who has just been promoted to agent within a larger agency.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Look for agents who are open to work in your genre \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/members.jerichowriters.com\/agentmatch\/search\/\">AgentMatch<\/a> can help with this, but do always check back against the agent\u2019s own site, as AgentMatch doesn\u2019t always update the instant an agent makes a change.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Look for agents where you feel a point of contact. Maybe that\u2019s something they\u2019ve said in a blog post or interview. Maybe that\u2019s because they represent an author you love. Or possibly something else. But look for something that speaks to you.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Those three guidelines should be your guiding principles. You&#8217;re looking for agents who want you (ie: they want new clients and they&#8217;re active in your genre.) And you&#8217;re looking for agents that you quite likely have something in common with (ie: those ones with some areas of identifiable overlap.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You should be able to find these agents with a morning or two&#8217;s search. Again, you can get your <a href=\"https:\/\/members.jerichowriters.com\/bazaar\/agentmatch-free-trial\/\">AgentMatch trial here<\/a>. Now it&#8217;s time to send your work out &#8230;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header-wrapper\"><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header\"><a href=\"#\"><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header-title\">How do I query a literary agent?<\/span><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__icon is-active\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__icon is-passive\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__content-wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__content\">\n<p>What an agent wants to see when you query them can be a little variable, so do always check an agent\u2019s website for details. That said, when it comes to fiction, most agents want to see:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A <strong>query letter<\/strong> (also called a covering letter in the UK.) Details on how to write a query letter can be found <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/read-a-sample-literary-agent-query-letter-with-hints-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A <strong>synopsis<\/strong>. A synopsis is basically a short, neutral summary of your story. To be clear, this is nothing like the blurb you\u2019ll find on the back of a book. More info on how to write a great synopsis <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/how-to-write-a-novel-synopsis-with-an-example\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A <strong>chunk of your book<\/strong> itself. Typically agents want about 10,000 words \/ 3 chapters \/ 50 pages. But again, do check the agent\u2019s site, because requirements vary quite widely.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Writing a great submission pack is absolutely essential. It\u2019s not too much to say that the fate of your query depends on it, and nothing else. To make absolutely sure you put together a great submission pack,<a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/resource-downloads\/query-letter-synopsis-worksheet\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> use the Agent Submission Builder available free right here<\/a>. That tool tells you how to structure both query letter and synopsis, and explains how to provide the content that the agent is looking to find.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header-wrapper\"><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header\"><a href=\"#\"><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header-title\">Why do literary agents reject manuscripts?<\/span><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__icon is-active\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__icon is-passive\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__content-wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__content\">\n<p>The most common reason for rejection is simply that your manuscript just isn\u2019t (yet) good enough to make the grade. An agent, or other professional reader, can very quickly tell whether:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your writing itself is poor. (If your writing itself doesn\u2019t feel competent and professional, an agent will say \u2018no\u2019 without reading more.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your basic concept is flawed (for example, there just isn\u2019t a market for eco-thrillers that include long, long explanations of why plastic pollution is bad.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, there are a million other reasons why your manuscript might not get an instant Yes. Common reasons are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A given agent is just too busy. Their other work with existing clients is currently active enough that they have no time to spend on the slushpile.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Something random. For example, an agent is looking for new clients, they like your stuff \u2026 but they\u2019ve just taken on something really similar and can\u2019t handle both.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You haven\u2019t properly understood what an agent\u2019s tastes and interests are. In some cases, that\u2019s because agents are poor at explaining what they\u2019re after. In other cases, it\u2019s because the information is out there, but you haven\u2019t properly absorbed it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You haven\u2019t queried enough agents. As we\u2019ve already said, you need to go out to at least 10 agents to get a real feel for the market.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are rejected, don&#8217;t feel too downcast. I&#8217;m Harry Bingham and I&#8217;ve been published all over the world, in fiction, and non-fiction, multiple times. But have I been rejected? You betcha. So many times I can&#8217;t even vaguely remember how often. By agents. By publishers. By TV and film companies. And truthfully? I hardly care. All you need is one Yes. A million Noes are neither here nor there.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header-wrapper\"><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header\"><a href=\"#\"><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header-title\">What if a literary agent wants to call or meet me?<\/span><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__icon is-active\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__icon is-passive\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__content-wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__content\">\n<p>If an agent wants to call you or meet with you, it\u2019s highly likely that they are very interested in your work. Any exchange between the two of you is likely to involve as much of them marketing themselves to you, as the other way round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Great. That\u2019s the good news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In terms of you marketing yourself to the agent, you\u2019ve already done most of the work. Your manuscript IS your marketing tool. If that\u2019s in really great shape, you\u2019ve done 99% of what you need to do. That said, you can make yourself seem even better, if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You are reasonably articulate. Trad publishers may want to push you out on book tours or newspaper interviews. If you can string a sentence together when in public, that\u2019s helpful.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For non-fiction authors, indeed, this capacity can be essential. I remember one Jericho Writers client who had written a great non-fiction book that got interest from three major NY publishers. Trouble was, they all wanted to meet the guy before they confirmed their indicative offers. At meetings, he was a difficult combination of over-confident and not truly articulate. None of those three offers materialised. Whoops!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You are prepared for the idea that agents may want some editorial changes to your manuscript or title. Unless you really hate the idea presented by the agent, you are strongly advised to be open to their suggestions. That doesn\u2019t mean to say there can be no further discussion \u2026 but if you seem closed to any advice at all, an agent may think you are not going to be a valuable client.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A lot of the selling, however, will come from the agent\u2019s side not yours. After all, if one capable agent loves your work, the chances are there&#8217;ll be another one who thinks the exact same thing.So things you want to ask include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Why did you like this book<\/strong>? What made it stand out to you? That\u2019s not you seeking praise. That\u2019s you checking that your understanding of the book\u2019s purpose matches what your agent sees.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What <strong>editorial issues<\/strong> do you see in this book? What will I need to work on? Most books will need further work before submission. So you better make sure that you\u2019re going to be happy with the agent\u2019s workplan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What is the agent\u2019s policy on <strong>communications<\/strong>? Will they check a draft submissions list with you? How often would they update you with progress?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If your work is rejected<\/strong> by publishers, will the agent still want you as a client? Another way to put this is, is the agent making the choice to represent <em>you<\/em>, or the book? How involved will the agent want to be in developing and thinking about the next book you write?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How involved will the agent be during the <strong>publication process<\/strong>? Do they intend to accompany you to publishers\u2019 meetings?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What is the agent\u2019s attitude to <strong>self-publishing<\/strong>? Will they be OK with you self-publishing some material at some point in your career? It&#8217;s worth laying down this marker now. You may well have no current intention to self-publish, but increasingly professional authors will straddle both traditional and indie publishing routes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How are <strong>foreign rights<\/strong> handled?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How are <strong>TV and film rights<\/strong> handled?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>That gives you a great set of talking points \u2026 but in the end, your decision will be made as much in terms of chemistry as anything else. Yes, you want your agent to give the right answers to these questions \u2013 but most agents will. If you come away from your agent feeling excited, then you\u2019ve found a perfect match. If you come away with more negative feelings, then you really may prefer to go on looking.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header-wrapper\"><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header\"><a href=\"#\"><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header-title\">What do I do if a literary agent rejects me?<\/span><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__icon is-active\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__icon is-passive\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__content-wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__content\">\n<p>Let&#8217;s say you&#8217;ve sent out your work to 10-12 intelligently chosen literary agents. Here&#8217;s the spectrum of possible responses:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>An agent offers you representation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An agent offers you representation if you make certain changes to your book<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An agent gives you a warm, but reluctant, rejection after having read your manuscript in full<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An agent doesn&#8217;t ask for your full manuscript, but rejects your submission in a warm, encouraging and clearly personal way. (That is: the email or letter isn&#8217;t just boilerplate that goes out to everyone.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An agent sends you out a form rejection<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You hear absolutely nothing at all.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately for writers, the vast majority of responses fall into the last two categories. That&#8217;s just the brutal fact of competition in this hardest of industries. So what do you do? Well, you can give up and play golf. But you&#8217;re not going to do that, because you&#8217;re a writer to the tips of your tippy toes, so you&#8217;re going to saddle up again and try again. The options facing you are roughly these:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Query more agents. Not recommended unless you had 2-3 near misses from this batch of submissions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Revise your novel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Write a new book<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Self-publish.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>There are virtues to all of these routes. When it comes to revising your novel, I would urge you to consider getting editorial help (<a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/editorial-services\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">of the sort that we provide<\/a>, for example.) Professional, third party editorial feedback remains THE gold-standard way to analyse and improve a manuscript. That&#8217;s why we offer the service. That&#8217;s why so many of our editorial clients go on to succeed. If you&#8217;ve had some near-misses with agents, that&#8217;s a screamingly huge clue telling you not to give up. If you&#8217;re that close already, one more heave with a top quality editor (<a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/editors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">like one of ours<\/a>) may well do the trick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you think that there may be a fundamental issue with the concept behind your book, then writing a new book can be a great idea. What I would say, is that you need to make sure that your basic skills are in shape. Editorial feedback on your current manuscript is one great learning tool. Going on a writing course (like, yes, <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/creative-writing-courses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">one of ours<\/a>) is also a really good step to take. And because you&#8217;ve already written one book, you&#8217;ll be in vastly better shape to absorb and make use of the skills transmitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And self-publishing? Well, look, I love self-publishing. But I do think you need to attack it as a Plan A type option, not a fallback because you couldn&#8217;t crack the trad industry. Standards in self-published books are now very high, and it&#8217;s going to be seriously hard to build a career and a loyal readership unless your books are of a quality to rub shoulders with anyone else&#8217;s in your genre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More than ready to get the ball rolling with agents, but just need a little push? Or perhaps you\u2019ve had a few rejections but aren\u2019t sure why? Our <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/editorial-services\/agent-submission-pack\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Agent Submission Pack Review<\/a> gives you detailed professional advice on how to perfect your submission and increase your chances of securing an agent.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header-wrapper\"><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header\"><a href=\"#\"><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header-title\">Agents + trad publishing vs self-publishing: which is better?<\/span><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__icon is-active\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__icon is-passive\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__content-wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__content\">\n<p>OK, this is a real apples-and-oranges question if ever there was one. The two publishing routes simply offer very different things and require very different approaches. The books and authors best suited to trad publishing are just different from those best suited to self-publishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, for a rough guide, self-publishing will tend to be favoured by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Authors with quite an entrepreneurial, small business mindset<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Authors writing genre fiction (or subject-led non fiction, for example \u201cHow to write a business plan\u201d or \u201cEquine Care: all you need to know about looking after your horse\u201d.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For authors of fiction, ones who write in series, rather than standalones<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Authors who have the capacity to be quite prolific. It\u2019s common enough for indie authors to set 20 books as their benchmark for when they can make a full-time living from writing. Personally, I think that benchmark should be set a lot lower than that \u2013 but the point about being prolific is good, no matter what.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Authors who aren\u2019t afraid of a little tech and a few numbers. You certainly don\u2019t need to be massively technical or numerate, but you will need to deal with a few different platforms and services and you will be dealing with some spreadsheets and some dashboards. If you hate and loathe those things, you\u2019ll never realistically make a go of self-publishing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Authors who primarily want to make a living from writing. That means that the various other attractions of trad publishing (the kudos, having your book in physical bookstores, getting book reviews in newspapers, etc) are of relatively lower value.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Traditional publishing on the other hand will work better for authors who:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Prefer to hand the whole publishing process over to others<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Write more literary fiction, or one-off works of non-fiction (eg: \u201cFear: Trump in the White House\u201d)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Write standalones rather than series<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are not especially prolific, and who don\u2019t especially want to be<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Authors who really don\u2019t want to get down and dirty with mailing lists and ad-tech and all that<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Authors who place a high value on the various things that tradititional publishing can offer (the kudos, your books in physical stores, the possibility of newspaper reviews, etc)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Truth is, you probably already know which kind of author you are \u2013 and if you think you know, you\u2019re probably right!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header-wrapper\"><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header\"><a href=\"#\"><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__header-title\">Who do I need ? Literary agents vs managers vs publicists.<\/span><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__icon is-active\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__icon is-passive\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__content-wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-accordion__content\">\n<p>If you have a book to sell then you need a literary agent, period. The term \u201cmanager\u201d just isn\u2019t really used in the literary world, but in effect your agent <em>is<\/em> your manager. They\u2019re going to be the one making sales on your behalf, turning down bad offers, chasing good ones, advising you on which opportunity to pursue next. And because your financial incentives are highly aligned with your agent\u2019s, you can (nearly always) rely on the basic truthfulness of what you\u2019re being told.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the agent versus publicist question: well, this is usually asked by people who have self-published their work on Amazon, find it\u2019s not selling, and are wondering what to do next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re in that position, then you need to ask yourself, what you really want. If you want to self-publish, then you don\u2019t need an agent or a publicist: you need a self-publishing strategy and you need to write more books. You can find our short guide to self-pub <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/self-publishing-how-to-self-publish-your-book-on-amazon-kindle-direct-kdp\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">right here<\/a>. But you\u2019ll notice that guide doesn\u2019t talk about agents or publicists at all. Those guys can\u2019t help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A lot of writers will want to reject that advice. Their argument will be, roughly, \u201cYes, but I <em>have<\/em> self-published. My book exists. Now I just need to get the word out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hmm. Well, an agent definitely can\u2019t help with that: their job is selling manuscripts to publishers and you\u2019ve chosen to self-publish. You can reverse that decision and seek trad publication instead (that\u2019s fine), but you can\u2019t both self-publish and have a trad deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hiring a publicist is a very slightly better idea, but it\u2019s still a terrible one. For one thing, a half-decent publicist will cost $10,000 or more \u2026 and for another thing, they\u2019ll reject the assignment. A publicist needs something to work with, and \u201cself-pub author releases new book\u201d just isn\u2019t a news story. There are way over 7,000,000 e-books on Amazon. What makes yours special? Why would a newspaper or radio show want to cover your book?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And truthfully, even if \u2013 which would never happen \u2013 you got a 1,000 word book review in the New York Times Review of Books, possibly the world\u2019s most prestigious review outlet, what then? The answer is you\u2019d sell maybe 20 or 30 additional copies, then everything would go back to just the way it was. $10,000 for 30 extra sales? It doesn\u2019t even remotely add up. That\u2019s why no indie author that I know uses a traditional publicist in any meaningful way. It just isn\u2019t how self-published books get sold. (What does? Well: email lists, price promotions, book discount sites, paid advertising, cross promotions with other authors \u2026 and a whole bunch of other stuff that has nothing to do with traditionally oriented publicity.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In short: either self-publish properly, or seek proper traditional publication. Attempting some mash-up of the two will be a horribly costly way to sell almost no books at all. Oh yes, and I know that\u2019s not what you wanted to hear, so sorry!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You have a manuscript. You want it published. You know that you probably need a literary agent. But that, roughly, is where your certainty ends. And no worries: all newbie writers are in a very similar position. So here are all the questions you\u2019re probably worrying about right now \u2026 plus some candid and totally<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":462404,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[27486],"class_list":["post-250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-agents","tag-get-published"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Jericho Writers<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/literary-agents-all-your-questions-answered\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Literary Agents: all your Questions Answered | Jericho Writers\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"You have a manuscript. 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