How to Sign With a Literary Agent
If you're interested in publishing a book and gaining a market
presence and income from it, you'll need a literary agent. They
are the grease that keeps the oft-rusty wheels of publishing
moving. Every day, they eat lunch or talk to editors and
acquisition people in publishing houses all over the world, all
the while pitching them on the new hot 'properties', as your
manuscript will be called.
Generally speaking, you need an agent (though there are literary
lawyers and others out there who would disagree with me.) I've
had four agents, some fine, one useless, and one downright
criminal (though eminently likeable.)
Here are some tips I can pass along that will help your search
for this important part of your team.
*Make sure you're selling something marketable. It could be
you're the only person out there who wants to read about your
Aunt Tillie's days as a pickle packer. Before you approach an
agent, find out what problem your book solves and who it will
appeal to. Research similar titles on Amazon.com and look for
gaps in the marketplace. Go to bookstores and see what's hot
(and what's not.) What's not is on the remainder shelf; what's
hot is placed up front and center, with massive piles of the
book in sight. Give an agent a good reason UP FRONT to get
excited (before they even read your mss)
*Make sure your book idea or manuscript is in top shape. There
is no substitute for excellence