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Authors many times take on agents for a few reasons: a few acclaimed, formidable, and productive publishing houses do not admit unagented submissions. A knowledgeable agent knows the market, and might be a fountain of valuable profession recommendations and encouragement. Being a publishable author doesn't automatically make you an technical expert on modern publishing contracts and practices, especially where television, film, or foreign rights are negotiated. Many times writers prefer to have an agent examine such matters. The reasons are varied. Some writers don't want to negotiate or deal with monetary matters.
Literary agencies can range in size from a single agent who looks after possibly a dozen authors, to a large-scale firm with senior partners, sub-agents along with clients numbering in the hundreds. Most agencies will major in certain genres like mystery novels, fantasy books or business books. Just about no agents will represent short stories or poetry.
Any individual may call himself or herself an agent in the book world, along with can only legally take up to 20% of the client's fee (15% is the norm).
Legitimate agents in addition to agencies in the publishing world are not required to be members of the Association of Authors' Representatives (AAR), however most are. Competent professional agents virtually always learn their trade while working for another agent, though some cross over to agenting following working as editors. It usually takes years for entry-level employees to turn into sub-agents as well as buy their own string of money making writers. They may in time see fit to go on their own and form a new agency, or they may continue with their old agency to become a more senior employee.
Authentic agents do not bill reading fees, demand retainers, bill writers for the value of submissions or other operating expenses, or otherwise collect wages from any source other than the sales they make on their clients' behalf. They similarly will not place their clients' product with a vanity press or subsidy press. Both these practices may indicate that the author is dealing with a scam agent. An additional shameless practice involves referring the author to a so-called "professional editor" or "book doctor" who is in cahoots with the agent. The ensuing edit may or may not be sensible, or of professional quality, and is virtually often expensive.
A client typically establishes relationships with an agent through querying, albeit the two may meet at a writer's conference, through a contest, or in other ways. A query is an unsolicited proposal for representation. Various agents request different elements in a query pack. It typically begins with a query letter that explains the purpose of the product along with any writing qualifications of the writer.
If an agent is interested in a work, he/she will request a partial, which is typically a number of chapters of your work. Frequently, contracts between agents and clients are simply verbal; however, agents using written contracts will soon be the norm. Usually, if you get a rejection letter it will be a form letter.
Category: Article WritingLiterary Agents - How to Get Published! was written by:Author:Jim WilsonAdded: Thu, 29 Mar 2007 01:04:35 -0400 This Article Has Been Read 536 times View all Jim Wilson's articlesAbout the Author: Sign up for a free course on getting published: Writers-Publish.com.To find out more about copyright issues Writers-Publish.com/copyright |
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