What is a Passion Project and Is It Considered a Bad Thing in the Minds of Agents and Publishers?
Asked by: Sven Doak
What do literary agents really want?
Essentially, the publishing industry is fairly conservative. Agents and editors want books they know will sell and they’ll always have an eye on how similar books to yours have performed in the market – hence the perennial popularity of crime fiction and psychological thrillers, which always sell well.
What agents wish writers knew?
5 Things Literary Agents Wish You Knew
- Think of Yourself As a Pizza Pie.
- Have a Unique Take.
- Write an Article First.
- Think Non-Fiction for Children.
How do I know if my literary agent is good?
Five Signs a Literary Agent is a Good Match For You
- He or she commonly works with books like yours. Finding someone who is actually interested in the kind of work that you’re producing is essential. …
- He or she pushes you. …
- He or she is excited about your work. …
- He or she is there when you need them. …
- You actually get along.
Should I break up with my literary agent?
Your agent’s job is to make this process feel manageable and safe. It sounds like that hasn’t happened in this case, and it’s perfectly fine for you step away. It’s not uncommon for authors to leave agents (and vice versa), and for it to take a few tries before you find the right agent for you.
Do I have to pay a literary agent?
Literary agents do cost money, but the good news is that reputable literary agents do not charge any upfront fees. They work on commission, which means they don’t cost any money until they actually earn their clients—the writers they represent—money.
What do agents look for in an author?
Like Eric, I look at an author’s credentials (why he or she is someone to listen to on the subject), platform (the ability to deliver readers and book buyers—very important), and at an author’s savvy about the business and his or her cooperative spirit (i.e. they understand they have to do a lot of the publicity for …
Who is Brene Brown’s literary agent?
Jo-Lynne Worley and Joanie Shoemaker have mentored and guided me through every aspect of the publishing and entertainment jungle–from books to film to stage, their wisdom and savvy are incomparable.
When should you fire a literary agent?
Your agent has not fulfilled his or her promises. Your agent is taking a very long time to submit your manuscript to editors. Your agent has submitted your manuscript to editors, but has not kept you up to date regarding responses. Your agent seems to be hiding information from you or dodging questions.
How do I break up with my agent?
Breaking up with a real estate agent is best done as early as possible in the relationship, before they’ve invested unpaid hours into finding your next home. It can be as easy as simply telling your agent you’re no longer interested in their services and thanking them for their time and expertise.
How do you part a literary agent?
If you want to part ways with your agent you send her a certified letter saying so (if that’s what the contract calls for, and most of them do.) And most reputable agents won’t discuss representation with you until after you’ve parted ways with Agent #1. As to whether an agent takes it personally, it doesn’t matter.
How do you terminate a contract with a literary agent?
Follow your contract guidelines.
Your contract may stipulate the method of termination. Most literary agents require sixty days written notice. Some will require a letter; for others email is acceptable. Be sure that you follow the terms of your contract so there can be no question later on about the termination.
Can I have two literary agents?
Having More Than One Literary Agent is Okay When…
For example, you also write adult (and you can have an adult book agent either at the same agency or a different one) or screenplays (another agent or manager there). Those divisions are much clearer than the divisions between kidlit categories.
How many clients does a literary agent have?
An established agent may have between 30–70 clients depending on their workflow. They likely aren’t submitting work for all of those clients at the same time, so that number is doable.
How many queries do agents get in a year?
So, agents receive thousands of submissions each year. And of those thousands of submissions, how many new authors do they take on every year? Usually between three and ten.
How many submissions do literary agents get?
A typical agent in NY or London receives approximately 2,000 submissions a year. They are likely to accept 2-3 writers from that deluge. Some agents will accept fewer. So, as a rough rule of thumb, and allowing for plenty of variation, the chance of getting an agent are about 1 in 1000.