All About Agents

Here you'll find:
FAQ: What's an agent, what do they do, why should I get one, how do I find and work with them?
Signing with an Agent: The Call

 

FAQ

​What’s an agent?
A publishing professional who represents you and your work. They negotiate publishing contracts on your behalf, help your work find the right home, and generally look out for your best interests. 

What's it mean to query an agent?
Querying is the process of writing query letters to agents (which you can read more about here). This is how an agent learns about your manuscript and offers to work with you. 

Is having an agent the same as having an editor?
Nope. Although a lot of agents are 'editorial agents,' that just means they're excited to help you work on your manuscript some before they send it out to editors. And that's awesome! Still different jobs, though. 

Wait, so Agents and Editors are different things?
Yep. In a nutshell: your agent pitches your manuscript to editors and negotiates your contracts on your behalf.

Do I need an agent to be a writer?
Not everybody does! If you’re self-publishing, you can seek out an agent if it seems helpful, but it's not necessary.

If you’re traditionally publishing, yeah – you probably need one. Most publishing houses will only look at manuscripts sent to them by agents (that's what it means whenever you see 'no unsolicited submissions'). And while some publishers do accepted unsolicited submissions, it's still really helpful to have an agent in your corner. 

Your agent is like a partner with a shield, helping you navigate a crowded street so you’re not lost in the shuffle, while also holding up a banner telling everyone that your writing is awesome, and unlocking doors that would otherwise be closed to you.

They do a lot of work to help you succeed.

Many agents will help you polish up your manuscript. They get editors to notice you. They help you build your career. Got questions? They’ll answer them. Need help? They’re ready. And most importantly, they negotiate your publishing contracts on your behalf, so you don’t stumble into a bad deal. A good agent can be a career-long partnership.

Sounds Expensive. 
Nope! The great thing about agents is, they don’t get paid until you do. Querying agents is free. Signing with agents is free. All the work they do for you to get your manuscript into the world is done for free. 

Then, when the book sells, your agent is paid a percentage (about 15%) of those profits. So it's in your agent's best interests to make sure your book does well!

Never pay an agent for things like sending them queries, signing with them, or pitching your manuscript. As a general rule, you shouldn’t be paying your agent at all. 

Any agent trying to empty your pockets is a scam. Check out this helpful site called Writer Beware to learn more about bad agents and their warning signs. 

How do I find an agent?
The easiest way is to look up your favorite authors. In the back of their books there's an 'Acknowledgements' section, where their agent is named. You can also check their websites. Usually, on their contact page, they'll list their agent. You can also google 'who is so-and-so's agent' pretty easily. Just be sure to do your research. Make sure the agent is from an established, legitimate agency. Look up what deals they've made recently. Anybody can say they're an agent, after all. 

Another great resource is Publisher's Marketplace, which will let you research the agent's sales record - but it costs money to use. It's not a devastating blow if you can't use it, though it can be a helpful tool. Ask other writers around if they'd be willing to split the cost of monthly payments with you, and share an account. 

A great resource is Manuscript Wish List. They compile lists of agents, their contact info, and the kinds of books each agent is looking for. 

If you write Science Fiction or Fantasy, check out SFWA and their page about literary agents, too.

So am I my agent’s boss?
No. You’re business partners – so neither one of you is the boss in this situation. You come to decisions together. An agent should never bully you, or make you feel like you can’t ask questions. You should treat your agent as an equal.
​
Can I change agents?
Yep! But before you do, always communicate with your agent first. Chances are, they can help with any worries you have. If you’re upset about something, talk to them about it. If you don’t think they’re a good fit for you anymore, talk to them about it. Always be open and up front about what you need and expect.
If you want  to part ways with your agent,  check your agency agreement - the contract you signed when they offered you representation. See if there's a clause about terminating your partnership.
Whatever you decide, never query other agents while you’re still represented by the agent you have now. ​

Signing with an Agent: The Call!

What is 'The Call?"
This is the moment you've been working toward. After all your querying and waiting, an agent has read your full manuscript and is considering offering you representation! They want to call you and talk it over.

First of all: This Is So Exciting. If you've gotten to this point, it means an agent has requested your full manuscript, read it, and maybe emailed to  talk to you a bit. It means they either want to make you an offer of representation, or they're strongly considering it. While it’s not a definite ‘yes,’ it’s a great sign. Keep your chin up!

What happens? 
The tables have turned, my friend. No longer are you waiting for the agent's approval. Now, they're coming to you, asking to be your literary partner. The ball is in your court. 

The agent will set up a time to talk to you. It's a big moment, but it's also just a phone call - so do your best to relax. 

The agent will probably talk to you about your book - why they loved it, which editors they envision submitting it to, how they would market it. (Awesome, right?) You'll ask them some questions, to decide whether this person is the best fit for you and your work. You should feel free to ask for some time (a week or two) to make a decision. If the agent is pressuring you to make a decision on the spot, get out of there.

If the agent makes an offer (Congratulations!) take a moment to email any other agents who are still considering your manuscript (subject line: Offer Of Representation), giving them a heads up that you've received an offer, and allowing them a week or two to make an offer themselves. 

What questions should you ask? 
You should come prepared with a list of questions. Trust me. You'll get flustered. You'll forget to ask things you meant to ask. Granted, the conversation will probably steer through these topics naturally. This is about you asking what you're curious about. This list isn't comprehensive - you might ask more, you might ask less - but here's the list of questions I had prepared when my agent called. I didn't use all of them. You should feel comfortable asking any and all of the questions you want. Leave yourself space to write down the answers. 
General Questions:

• Can I speak to a current client?
• Under what circumstances would you part ways with a client? 
• Can I see a copy of your agency agreement?
• What does this clause in the agency agreement mean?
• If you move agencies/leave agenting, what happens to me?
• What happens if we don't sell this book?
• What's your interest in a client's social media? Would you ever ask me to remove a post?

About the manuscript:

• What drew you to this manuscript?
• Do you have imprints/editors in mind?
• How do you think this book fits into  the market?
• How much editorial work does it still need?

Submission Questions:

• How many rounds of submissions do you do? How many editors in a round?
• What's your timeline for going on sub? How many more edits before that happens?
• Which of us decides when the book is ready to go on sub?
• When we go on sub, will you share editor/imprint info with me, like who you're sending it to, and who's rejected it?
• Will you share editor rejections with me if I want you to?

Other Projects:

• Will you submit everything I write, or will you veto some things?
• What happens if we disagree on future projects?

Communication:

• How do you prefer to communicate with clients?
• How often will we communicate during submissions?
• What's the longest I'd go without hearing from you?

Seriously, if you're getting the call, congratulations. This is awesome. You've come a long, long way, and you deserve to be excited. Good luck out  there!