This article was co-authored by Lydia Stevens. Lydia Stevens is the author of the Hellfire Series and the Ginger Davenport Escapades. She is a Developmental Editor and Writing Coach through her company "Creative Content Critiquing and Consulting." She also co-hosts a writing podcast on the craft of writing called "The REDink Writers." With over ten years of experience, she specializes in writing fantasy fiction, paranormal fiction, memoirs, and inspirational novels. Lydia holds a BA and MA in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University.
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You've written your novel, but you don't know how to get it in bookstores. Assuming you don't want to self-publish, and assuming you're a first-time author, you're going to need a literary agent. Literary agents are the gatekeepers of the publishing world. Here's a step-by-step outline for snaring the elusive beast.
Steps
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1First, be sure your novel is finished and well-edited. You may wish to have your manuscript professionally edited. You should only pitch agents your absolute best work.
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2Research potential agents. Top resource books include Writers Market and the Jeff Herman Guide to Literary Agents. Plus, almost every literary agency hosts a website. Consult for the most up-to-date information.Advertisement
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3Make a list of agents who represent your type of work, be it young adult, romance, science fiction, non-fiction, and so on.
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4Narrow your agent pool by researching titles each agent has represented. Dozens of agents specialize in young adult paranormal fiction; don't pitch them if you've written a young adult book about a kid detective.
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5Craft your query letter. A query letter is an agent's first look at you the writer. It needs to be dynamite. It should 1. Tell what you book is about in three compelling sentences; 2. State why you are querying that specific agent; and 3. Explain why you are the person to write this particular book. One page, max.
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6Follow each agent's query submission guidelines and send your letters. Yes, you can query more than one agent at a time. Just be sure to personalize each query and only solicit one agent per literary house. Note: make sure your first chapter is dynamite. Some agents request a first chapter along with your query letter. This is your chance to impress. You need to make the most of it.
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7If an agent is interested in seeing your work, he/she will request either a partial or full manuscript. Follow submission instructions closely. At this point it is perfectly acceptable to ask for a reading timeline. A reputable agent should respond to a manuscript within 2-3 months.
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8While you wait, keep writing. If you do receive an offer of representation, the agent will want to know what else you are working on. Think of it as a long-term relationship.
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9The offer. If you get it, be prepared with a list of questions. Commission structure? Foreign rights? Editing process? You want to know exactly what you're entering into.
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10Publication. Remember, an agent needs to sell your book to a publishing house. This may take one week. Or one year. Or it may not happen at all. Be patient and professional in this process and let the agent do his/her job.
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11Be persistent. The book The Help was rejected over two dozen times before it was eventually published. Look how that turned out. Literary agents are busy, in-demand folks. But they want to discover the next great novel. Keep after them.
Community Q&A
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QuestionCan I try to publish a book at the age of 14?
Community AnswerYes! You can publish a book at any age assuming you can find a publisher. -
QuestionWhat is the cost of publishing a book?Community AnswerThe cost depends on how you want to publish the book (paper vs. online), its length and how many copies you want.
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QuestionWhat does a literary agent charge?
Community AnswerA literary agent shouldn't charge anything up front. They get about 10-15% of your profits from the book. The fee is negotiable.
Warnings
- Beware the agency without a website.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Beware the agent who charges a "reading fee."⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Beware the agency not listed with the Association of Authors' Representatives.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Securing an agent does not guarantee a published book.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Never address a query letter "Dear Agent." Always use Mr. or Miss or Mrs. + last name.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Copyright your book before sending it off to agents, editors, and publishers. Some agents have been known to steal their client's work!⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Never pitch more than one agent at a literary house.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Never call a literary agency to pitch your book or to follow-up on a query.⧼thumbs_response⧽
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