Agents

Original Post: 9 October 2012
Posted Here: 3 December 2017

I don't have an agent, but now that "Silver Threads" is ready for publication, I'm trying to find one. I may never get one. Perhaps you would be interested in my experience in trying to find one.

What is an agent? An agent is someone who contacts editors at publishing houses to try to find one which will publish your novel. Since publishing involves the sale of certain rights, a contract is involved, and an agent is probably more familiar with the terms of such contracts than you, or even your local attorney. An agent can keep you from getting stiffed by a publisher. She can also negotiate with the publisher to get you the best terms.

Is an agent necessary? Maybe. Probably. Many publishers will not even look at a novel unless it is presented by an agent. If, on your own, you should be lucky enough to find an editor who would like to handle your novel, he'll probably suggest that you find an agent to represent you.

A few words of caution. Anyone can be an agent. Some agents are former writers or editors. They may already know editors personally. But anyone can call himself an agent. No license is required. All that's needed is an email address or a post office box. Watch out for "agents" who are really scam artists.

Don't pay a reading fee. Real agents say that reading fees are unethical. Except for, perhaps, paying for copies or supplies involved in sending your novel to publishers, any fees paid to an agent should come from sales of your novel. An agent's only job is to help you make money, not to spend it: if you don't make money, neither does she.

Where can an agent be found? Agents often frequent writers' conferences. Shake a lot of hands if you do, too. Sometimes someone you know can recommend an agent. Sometimes her agent is someone a writer thanks in the acknowledgments page of her novel.

A few books are available which talk about agents and list them. You might want to check your bookstore for "Agents, Editors, and You," edited by Michelle Howery, "How to Get a Literary Agent," by Michael Larsen, or the most recent "Guide to Literary Agents" from Writer's Digest. Remember, by the time one of these books gets to your bookstore, whatever is says about an agent may very well be out of date. Reputable agents (or the agency they work for) will have a website listed in the book. Always check it out to see what's current. The agent may have moved on or may no longer be taking new clients. What she wants along with your query may have changed.

Writers' magazines like The Writer or Writer's Digest periodically list agents. Again, make sure that you check the website for current info.

You will also find online sites that list agents. Four that I've seen are: 1000 Literary Agents, Association of Authors' Representatives, AgentQuery.com), and Publishers Marketplace.

Please note: Just because you can find thousands of agents doesn't mean that you have thousands to choose from. Not many are interested in science fiction.

Most listings that you find are actually not for agents, but for agencies - groups of agents. So it is especially important to check their web sites. Even if the agency's web site gives information about submissions, check each agent's web page for his specific likes, dislikes, and submission requirements. Even if you've been led to believe that the agency wants submissions of science fiction, this may not be true of every agent there.

What do agents want you to submit? The answer can only be found by checking their web pages. Some agents want only a query. Some want a query and a synopsis. Some will also want the first 5 pages, the first 10 pages, the first chapter, the first 5 chapters, who knows? Some also want a short bio for you. Most want these things pasted into your email. Almost none of the agencies that I've found will open attachments. One would accept Word (.doc) attachments. Some want you to use a special online submission page. (One of those wanted some really specific info, like, "What is my favorite sentence in my novel?)

Some agents will tell you that you can expect a reply in some specific time frame (a few weeks to a few months.) Some tell you not to expect a reply unless they are interested in your novel. Because you may never find out that your novel has been rejected, simultaneous submissions are the rule: Send a query (and whatever else they ask for) to every agent on your list. Some agents will even tell you to do this, then tell you that if they ask to see your manuscript, they expect that to be on an exclusive basis.

Here are some agencies/agents who are interested in science fiction (as of right now):

Andrea Brown Literary andreabrownlit.com
Barbara Bova Literary Agency barbarabovaliteraryagency.com
Curtis Brown curtisbrown.com
Donald Maass Literary Agency maassagency.com
Ethan Ellenberg ethanellenberg.com
Fox Literary foxliterary.com
Frances Collin Literary Agent francescollin.com
JABerwocky awfulagent.com
Jennifer DeChiara jdlit.com
Knight Agency, The knightagency.net
L Perkins Agency lperkinsagency.com
Larsen-Pomada Literary larsenpomada.com
Laura Dail Literary Agency ldlainc.com
Linn Prentis Literary linnprentisliterary.blogspot.com
Liza Dawson Associates lizadawsonassociates.com
Lyons Literary www.lyonsliterary.com
Marsal Lyon Literary Agency marsallyonliteraryagency.com
Nelson Literary Agency nelsonagency.com
Prospect Agency prospectagency.com
Sanford J Greenburger greenburger.com
Scovil Galen Ghosh sgglit.com
Seymour Agency, The theseymouragency.com
Three Seas Literary Agency threeseasonsagency.com
Trident Media Group tridentmediagroup.com
Wendy Weil Agency wendyweil.com
Writers House writershouse.com

Keep reading/keep writing - Jack