The first step to publication, aside writing the book, is the acquisition of a literary agent. A literary agent is a person who represents an author in dealings with the publisher. Seeking representation is a wise decision, as literary agents have extensive knowledge and experience in the publishing world, as well as established connections with other individuals within the industry. Many editors at publishing houses will only accept manuscripts submitted through an agent. Acquiring a literary agent that meets your needs and is a good fit for you is an important first step in seeing your novel on the shelves at your local bookstore. Here are a few important points to remember in your search for representation.
Research, Research, Research
Just as you likely researched certain aspects of your novel, you need to do your homework when looking for the person with whom you will enter the most important professional relationship of your writing career. There are many resources available. An invaluable source is The Writer’s Market. This volume is published every year with up-to-date information about agencies and agents that are currently accepting queries from new authors. It lists the type of stories the agent desires and their specific submission guidelines. It can be found at your local bookstore or you can access the same information via their website through subscription. It can be pricey, but it is well worth the investment.
Another option is to find other books in your genre, and see who represents the author. For illustrative purposes, assume you have written a young adult novel with smart, quirky characters, similar to Paper Towns by John Green. With a little bit of research, you find that Mr. Green’s work was represented by Jodi Reemer of Writer’s House, LLC. You also find out she has represented another popular young-adult author – Stephenie Meyer. Now you are on to something. You will also see other genres she is interested in – general fiction, mystery, romance, fantasy, science fiction, and so on.
Query & Submission
Now that you have researched and found a few agents who represent the type of the book you have written, now it’s time to see if they are interested in representing your work. This is another area where your research will come in handy. Each agent has his or her own guidelines for the process in which you should solicit their representation. Again, using Reemer as an example, she advises hopefuls to send the first ten pages of your manuscript (or until the end of your first chapter) along with a query letter to her, or email the material to her assistant, Alec Shane. Within the same literary agency, Writer’s House, LLC, another agent, Ken Wright, has different guidelines. For fiction, Wright asks you send a query letter, synopsis, and approximately the first twenty pages of your manuscript.
It is also important to pay close attention to the agency’s guidelines as well. Many agencies request you only query one agent within the company at a time. Some agents request to be notified if the manuscript has been submitted to another agent for consideration. You also need to notify any queried agents if another has accepted you as a client. (A convenient way of keeping up with your submission is using a tracker, such as the one available at The Writer’s Database: Market and Submission Tracker.)
The Waiting Game
After you have submitted your work to the desired agent, the hard part comes – waiting. Many agents will advise you on the average time it will take for a response. The industry average is about four to six weeks. It is very important that you do not hound the agent during this time. The last thing you want is to appear unprofessional and impatient. Clogging their inbox with emails will only frustrate them and hurt you more than help you in the long run. After the stated amount of time, it’s alright to send a reminder email with a note asking if they have had the chance to review your work.
Lastly, and perhaps the most important part of the process in regards to your outlook, remain positive. If you receive a rejection letter, do not view it as the end of the world and your writing career as you know it. Even wildly successful authors, such as JK Rowling, Stephen King, and classic author William Faulkner, received multiple rejections in the beginning of their career. These authors stood their ground, as should you. You want to work with an agent who believes in your work as much as you do.
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