Querying is not the Only way to Find an Agent
If you like this blog, why not sign up to the FREE weekly Writing Mentor newsletter for great tips on writing, breaking into Trad Publishing and immediate access to the Agent Query Letter that won me 3 offers of Representation.
Thank you for subscribing!
Have a great day!
5 Steps to Finding 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 Random House, one of the key things you need to do is find yourself 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. Before I give you a run down on how to stand out during this process, and boost your chance of getting read quickly, for those of you already querying, I’ll be sending a newsletter this Thursday, May 29th, focused on what do if you’ve already queried but are not getting responses. Sign up here.
How to Get an Agent
1. 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 bestsellers 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, my current manuscript is women’s fiction, where the main relationships are between female friends and siblings. My agent has advised me to work in a romantic relationship as I complete 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.
2. Complete your Manuscript
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.
3. 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. If you can’t afford a professional, keep an eye on the Writing Mentor, as I will be publishing a blog in the coming weeks outlining my own editing process.
4. Put Together an Amazing Pitch Package
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. For a deep dive into writing a winning query letter, sign up for the FREE Writing Mentor Newsletter and get the Agent Query Letter that won be 3 offers of agent representation, straight to your inbox.
5. 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. Also, with memberships 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 and also keep an eye on Twitter/X and the hashtag #QuestPit Also, some imprints of larger publishers, such as Hachette, hold Open Submission periods, so keep an eye out for these.
For more great writing tips and information on breaking down barriers in the Traditional Publishing industry, I can’t recommended Jane Friedman enough. Here’s a fantastic article that includes a deep dive on deciding who is the best literary agent for you
