Think Querying is the Only Way to get a Literary Agent?
There's more than one way to get a literary agent. Querying is not your only option.
Like most writers, I spent years trying to find a literary agent. I did everything right. Drafted, edited and polished novels, searched for agents seeking books in my genre (romcom), tailored query letters to the agent's requirements, searched for relevant comparison titles and with ridicously high hopes, sent off my queries.
Most of the time I was ghosted. Those manuscripts are now stuffed in a drawer.
Back in 2021, I began working on a new manuscript in a new genre. I spent 18 months writing, editing and polishing. The I decided my mental health couldn't quite handle all the rejection and ghosting again, so I decided on a different approach.
If you haven't yet started looking for an agent, here's the rundown of why you might need one. If you're already in the query trenches skip past this and down to my Top 5 Tips on how to actually land an agent.
Why you Might Need a Literary Agent
Most Traditional Publishing houses will not accept unsolicited manuscripts. Unsolicited means sent directly from the author, as opposed to sent by an agent. So, if you want a Traditional Book deal with a leading publisher such as Penguin, Harper Collins or Simon and Schuster, you need to do is find a Literary Agent. Even mid-size publishers usually require authors to be agented. The process of seeking an agent is called querying.
However, securing a Literary Agent is not easy. The best agents in the business can receive hundreds of manuscripts a week, even lesser-known agents receive twenty or thirty. As the agent’s priority is always the clients they already have, reading through all these submissions takes time, usually months, sometimes years. Another key thing to know about agents is, you don't pay them up front. An agent gets paid when they sell your book, usually taking 15% of your payments from the publisher. What that means is agents are VERY PICKY about what books they are willing to represent.
5 Tips on How to Get a Literary Agent
1. Understand that Querying is Not the Only Route to Representation
Agents find their clients in a number of ways including via events, competitions and recommendations. Building a network of contacts in the industry, other writers, editors, and advisors can be a great way to lead you to your agent. Here's some of the places you can look at for other routes to connecting with agents…
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The 5 Tips to Getting a Literary Agent and finally getting a Book Deal
1. Understand that Querying is Not the Only Route to Representation
Agents find their clients in a number of ways including via events, competitions and recommendations. Building a network of contacts in the industry, other writers, editors, and advisors can be a great way to lead you to your agent. Here's some of the places you can look at for other routes to connecting with agents…
With membership of organizations like Jericho Writers, for a fee you can do an online agent one-on-one where you can get an agent's feedback on your manuscript, and of course, if you capture the interest of an agent this has the potential to lead to an offer of representation. For Irish based writers there's the annual Date with an Agent Event, usually in April as part of the International Literature Festival Dublin Also, some imprints of larger publishers, such as Hachette, hold Open Submission periods, so keep an eye out for these by following the social media accounts of publishers.
2. Put Together an Amazing Pitch Package
Even if you are introduced to an agent and they show interest in your manuscript, chances are you will still need to give them some kind of pitch. A pitch package includes a query letter, a synopsis and the opening chapters of your book. Different agents have different requirements for pitch packages. These will be outlined on the agent’s bio on their agency website. Make sure to tailor your pitch package to individual requirements. There are certain industry expectations as to what your query letter should contain - comp titles, information about you etc.
If you need support with compiling a winning query package, at WritingMentor.Net I provide an affordable querying support service based on my own experience of querying and finally landing an agent and a two book deal. Take a look at what I can provide here and pop me a message to discuss your options further.
3. Check out the Market and see What’s Selling
This is really important. Publishing is a business, and agents only get paid if they sell your book, so if there’s already a market and an established audience for your book, you are a step ahead. To understand the market, look at what’s selling on Amazon, on the shelves of your local bookshop and on bestseller lists. Writers are often told not to write for the market, but if your aim is to get a traditional publishing deal and actually make some cash from your writing, writing for the market is important. You don’t have to sell out.
For example, while I was writing my RomCom Lucy Gallagher's Big Move to Spain (out next April 2027 with Bloodhound books) I wrote it as women’s fiction, with the main relationships between female friends and siblings. But my agent advised me to work in a romantic relationship as I completed a developmental edit. The plot remains the same, the female friendships and sibling relationships are still there but there’s also an element of romance, because romance sells.
4. Complete your Manuscript to the Absolute Highest Standard
If you’re writing fiction, don’t even think about pitching to agents without a completed manuscript. Most agents want an initial couple of chapters to get a flavour of your book. It doesn’t happen often, but if they respond quickly seeking the full manuscript, the last thing you want is to miss your opportunity because you don’t have a complete and polished manuscript ready to go.
5. Edit your Manuscript to Death
You’re not ready to pitch to agents unless you’ve completed so many edits of your manuscript that you absolutely hate it. I would advise, if you can afford it, to hire a professional editor to complete a developmental edit. There are lots of professional editors advertising their services online but be careful as there are also scammers out there. Insist on being provided with a contract that includes detailed information on timelines, scope of work and costs.
I provide both a novel editing service and a one-on-one support service on how to self-edit. If you’d like to learn more about these services contact me to set up a call.
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Chat soon,
Antoinette xx
