I’m a writer blog

Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

Is it possible to find authors’ agents?

PublishersMarketplace.com is the best place to research literary agents; not only do many agents have member pages there, but you can search the publishing deals database by genre, category, and/or keyword to pinpoint the best agents for your work.

Is it hard to find a literary agent?

Your odds of getting a literary agent are 1 in 6,000. That does NOT mean 1 out of every 6,000 authors who try to get an agent will make it, and the other 5,999 will fail.

Do authors have agents?

Literary agents—also known as book agents, play an important role in the careers of book authors. They act as representatives of the authors and their written works to industry members. They may approach publishers, film producers, editors, studios, and other outlets as they attempt to market your work.

Do all authors have agents?

Do You Need a Literary Agent? You need an agent if you want a traditional publisher. But for 99.99% of nonfiction authors, self-publishing is the better (and often only) option. If you want to write a nonfiction book and you’re in that 99.99%, then you don’t need an agent.

Should I finish my book before finding an agent?

Finish Writing Your Book



Please do not attempt to find a literary agent until you’ve finished writing your book. You’d be surprised how many writers send out a query with an incomplete manuscript and a bucket full of dreams. Many agents will ask for a sample from your manuscript.

Did JK Rowling have a literary agent?

Christopher Little, who ran the agency, also managed Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling from and has been credited with single-handedly managing Rowling’s career and turning the Harry Potter franchise into a multi-million pound industry.

Do first time authors need agents?

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 much does a writing agent 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.

Do literary agents steal ideas?

They can’t steal it wholesale because you can show that you wrote it and submitted it. By writing it, you automatically own the copyright to those words. (Not the ideas, that would require a patent.)

Can you publish without an agent?

If you choose to go without a literary agent, you must query publishers yourself and then work directly with the publishing house to negotiate the best offer for your book. This process can prove intimidating, especially for new authors, and you may need to hire a lawyer to run through contracts with you.

Who is the best literary agent for new authors?

Best Literary Agents for New Writers | 25 Top Book Agents for First-Time Authors and Debut Authors

  • Marly Rusoff (Marly Rusoff & Associates)
  • Jenny Bent (The Bent Agency)
  • Susan Golomb (Writers House)
  • Dorian Karchmar (William Morris Endeavor)
  • Daniel Lazar (Writers House)
  • Bill Clegg (The Clegg Agency)

What to do if you cant get a literary agent?

Quote from video: If you can't get a literary agent is to consider self-publishing. Self-publishing can be a really really great.

How do I submit my novel to an agent?

How to Submit Your Manuscript to an Agent in 6 Steps

  1. Polish your manuscript. …
  2. Do background research. …
  3. Network within your genre. …
  4. Develop a strategy for contacting potential agents. …
  5. Send query letters. …
  6. Send manuscripts.




Do writers still need agents?

The quick answer is, “Depends.” If your goal is to get published by one of the imprints at Penguin Random House or HarperCollins, then you’ll need a literary agent just to get over the transom. Many mid-sized publishers require an agent as well.

Can you publish a book without an agent?

If you choose to go without a literary agent, you must query publishers yourself and then work directly with the publishing house to negotiate the best offer for your book. This process can prove intimidating, especially for new authors, and you may need to hire a lawyer to run through contracts with you.

What does a writer’s agent do?

A literary agent is a person who represents the business interests of writers and their written works. Agents work with new writers and bestselling authors alike, acting as business-minded intermediaries between creatives and book publishing houses, film producers, and theatrical or film producers.

Do I need an agent for my novel?

You DO need an agent if: You’re writing commercial fiction. A traditional publishing house (ie the kind who dominate book stores and trade press) only takes submissions via literary agents. You won’t even get close to them without the right agent.

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.



Who is the best literary agent for new authors?

Best Literary Agents for New Writers | 25 Top Book Agents for First-Time Authors and Debut Authors

  • Marly Rusoff (Marly Rusoff & Associates)
  • Jenny Bent (The Bent Agency)
  • Susan Golomb (Writers House)
  • Dorian Karchmar (William Morris Endeavor)
  • Daniel Lazar (Writers House)
  • Bill Clegg (The Clegg Agency)