How To Find A Literary Agent

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• Most first-time authors wish to find a literary
  agent as soon as they finish writing their book.
  Its understandable as well. Now that youve
  completed a manuscript to the best of your
  ability, it deserves to be read by its target
  group. An all-important agent who could be your
  key to accessing the world of traditional
  publishing is on everyones Wishlist. So in your
  quest of How to find a literary agent, you have
  to do thorough research and judiciously choose
  the one that is more relevant to your genre.

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Why do you need a literary agent?

• If youre a fiction author, the need for an agent
  becomes all the more important. Nearly all
  fiction authors do require the services of a
  literary agent if their book is to be produced by
  a traditional publishing house. It also applies
  to some forms of general non-fiction too- such as
  histories, memoirs, and biographies.

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How to get a literary agent

• Finding the best agent for your book is easier
  said than done. Cold-calling every agency doesnt
  help much either. To find the right literary
  agent for your book, youll have to be your own
  best advocate. It essentially means putting in
  the time and effort to carefully research agents
  and their agencies, submission guidelines, and
  Wishlist.

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How to get a literary agent

• Finding the best agent for your book is easier
  said than done. Cold-calling every agency doesnt
  help much either. To find the right literary
  agent for your book, youll have to be your own
  best advocate. It essentially means putting in
  the time and effort to carefully research agents
  and their agencies, submission guidelines, and
  Wishlist.

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Here is a step-by-step guide of how to get a
literary agent

• 1. Research your agents Most agents are eager
  for their ideal candidate to reach out to them.
  It becomes important for an author to find who
  these agents are how best to get through them.
  There is a list of agents published extensively
  online. You as an author need to go through such
  a list, shortlist them and then start approaching
  individuals from thereupon. One can access
  Publishers Marketplace although it comes costly.
  Browsing through the acknowledgments section of
  books similar to yours is another way to find the
  relevant agents rightly suited for you. Even a
  simple Google search can give you the clues and
  hints for your future agents.
• 2. Assess an agents suitability Has the agent
  represented books in your genre? Are they
  currently available and open to queries? How does
  their track record look like? Who all are there
  on their client list? Fortunately, all the
  answers to your queries can be found on the
  agency website. The compatibility with an agent
  is another aspect you as an author have to think
  over. Irrespective of the norm, it is advisable
  to avoid anyone who asks for an upfront fee. An
  agent asking for a preemptive payment is not
  trustworthy and is illegitimate.

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• 3. Standardize and Personalize the Query Letter
  A good agent is usually flooded with a
  never-ending pile of letters from authors seeking
  representation. To make sure your query letter
  makes the cut and is even read, you should read
  the agents submission guidelines to know what
  they want in terms of formatting and sample
  chapters. You will normally want to contact many
  agents, so its advisable to create a standard
  query letter for everyone. However, if you can
  personalize each letter it will help you truly
  stand out.
• 4. Follow up Often the literary agent is
  flooded with the queries and he may not be able
  to answer every one of the queries. If you dont
  hear back within the first few weeks, its not
  improper to follow up and ask whether your query
  was lost in the pile. The agent may revert to
  seeing a follow-up that he might have overlooked
  by mistake. Normally an agent tells upfront the
  time it will take him to pursue the particular
  query.

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• 5. Dont decide at the first offer So an agent
  likes your manuscript and shows an inclination.
  What next then? Often, the two of you will
  discuss how the agent might help develop your
  book and career, and then they will offer you
  representation. So far so good. But dont just
  jump the guns and research a bit on the
  particular agent and approach other similar
  agents to properly assess them.

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• So be patient, stay candid, and dont rush into
  any decisions. Since you only get one shot when
  you're querying an agent, make sure you hit it
  right. If you remain patient and determined in
  your quest of how to get a literary agent,
  you'll find your long-term business partner and
  creative soulmate sooner rather than later.

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