Do you need a Literary Agent?
by: eightplay
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Novelists often turn to agents for various reasons: a few widely known, powerful, and well-paying publishing houses do not admit unagented submissions. A wise agent knows the business, and may well be a source of important profession advice and tutelage. Being a publishable writer doesn't routinely make you an technical expert on the most recent publishing contracts and procedures, especially where television, film, or foreign rights are concerned. Many and various writers think best to have an agent respond to such matters. The reasons are varied. Some writers don't want to negotiate or deal with monetary concerns.
Literary agencies could range in size from a single agent who looks after perhaps a dozen novelists, to a large firm with senior partners, sub-agents as well as clients numbering in the hundreds. Most agencies will work at certain genres like cookbooks, fantasy books or textbooks. Virtually no agents will represent short stories or poetry.
Anyone might call himself or herself an agent in the book world, along with can only legally take up to 20% of the client's fee (15% is the yardstick).
Authentic agents and agencies in the publishing world are not required to be members of the Association of Authors' Representatives (AAR), nonetheless most are. Outstanding professional agents virtually always learn their trade while working for another agent, nonetheless some cross over to agenting after working as editors. It customarily takes a long time for novice employees to change into sub-agents as well as obtain their own group of profitable authors. They may in due course choose to go on their own and form a new agency, or they may continue with their original agency in hope of rising to the top.
Authentic agents do not bill reading fees, demand retainers, bill authors for the cost of submissions or other operating charges, or otherwise take on compensation from any source other than the sales they make on their clients' service. They additionally will not place their clients' work with a vanity press or subsidy press. Both these practices may indicate that the writer is dealing with a fraudulent agent. An extra suspect practice consists of referring the writer to a so-called "professional editor" or "manuscript doctor" who is in association with the agent. The ensuing edit may or may not be best, or of professional quality, and is almost often pricey.
A client typically establishes relationships with an agent through querying, although the two may meet at a writer's conference, through a competition, or in other ways. A query is an unsolicited proposal for representation. Various agents request different elements in a query packet. It typically begins with a query letter that explains the purpose of the product along with any writing qualifications of the writer.
If an agent is interested in a work, they will request a partial, which is typically a number of chapters of your work. Frequently, contracts between agents and clientele are simply verbal; however, many agents are using written contracts. Usually, if you get a rejection letter it will be a form letter.
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