How would an agent approach a debut piece written by two new authors (co-authors)?
Asked by: Charlie Keys
How do debut authors get published?
Traditionally, budding authors that want to publish a book first need to partner with a literary agent. Once an agent is convinced of your book’s quality, that person then takes it to publishers on your behalf. This is still a regular practice, especially with big publishing houses.
How do you get an agent for writing?
Here are some ways you can find a literary agent of your own:
- Do research. Before you reach out to any literary agencies, research them thoroughly and create a wish list of the ones you think would be the best fit for you. …
- Check agent listings. …
- Start querying. …
- Try self-publishing.
How do you pitch a book idea to a literary agent?
How to write the perfect pitch letter to an agent
- Write to a specific agent and do your research. …
- Address the agent by their first name. …
- Keep the pitch-letter short. …
- Kick off your letter by pitching your novel. …
- Talk about why you’re addressing this particular agent. …
- Include mention of one or two comparison novels.
How do literary agents work?
Literary agents represent writers by pitching unpublished work to editors, negotiating book deals and liaising between authors and publishers. Literary agents focus mainly on the business side of publishing. Literary agents are employed by literary agencies to identify and represent literary talent.
How much do literary agents cost?
Agents generally are paid a fee of between 10 and 20 percent of sales that they help negotiate on behalf of the writer they represent.
How can I publish a book without an agent?
15 Book Publishers That Don’t Require a Literary Agent
- Persea Books. Persea Books is an independent publisher based in New York. …
- Chicago Review Press. …
- Chronicle Books. …
- Page Street Publishing. …
- Holiday House. …
- Regal House Publishing. …
- Platypus Press. …
- Seren Books.
What should I ask a literary agent?
Advice for Writers: What to Ask a Literary Agent
- How many other clients do you represent? …
- How do you communicate with your authors? …
- What is your ideal client? …
- What publishers do you have in mind for my book? …
- How much work do I need to do on my book before submission to publishers? …
- What’s your international approach?
What should you expect from a literary agent?
Timely responses. Agents usually have a lot of clients on their rosters at any given time, but you should always expect a timely response. If your request isn’t urgent, they should get back to you within a week or so. If it is urgent, your agent should get back to you within 24-48 hours.
Should I get my book edited before sending it to an agent?
You don’t need to hire an editor before submitting to agents and publishers. Because many of the editorial stages would be provided for you in traditional publishing, you don’t need to hire an independent editor before you send your work out.
Do literary agents find editors?
A literary agent’s top job is to find an editor who likes your book enough to buy it. Reputable literary agents have a wide network of contacts and relationships with acquisition editors at publishing houses.
Do you find an agent or editor first?
Should I approach agents or editors? The easy answer is: Most writers should pitch agents first, especially since it’s hard to go wrong with that approach.
Can you send a first draft to a literary agent?
No. Until you a complete book, which a first draft is absolutely not. You don’t have anything a publisher would want. That’s for a fictional work.
How many submissions do literary agents get?
The literary agent filter
Most agents receive between 5,000 and 20,000 or more submissions a year and choose only a few carefully selected projects to send to editors. Agents may specialize in certain areas or they may be generalists, but all have to reject way way way more projects than they are able to take on.
How many literary agents are rejected?
No one really does because 90% of them are rejected. The ones that got accepted worked for the agent who accepted them, but there’s no telling how well they would have worked on everyone else.
How often do agents request full manuscript?
In a recent Book Broker interview, literary agent Harvey Klinger told us that he receives hundreds of queries annually. “I lost count years ago,” he said. Of those, he requests a full manuscript from 10-15% percent.