How I Found My Literary Agent (And Things you can do to find one too)

As a perpetual procrastinator, I used to think that the hardest part about writing a book… was writing a book. And while I still struggle with overcoming common roadblocks to book-writing (see: writer’s block, too many WIP ideas, imposter syndrome), I’ve realized that putting thoughts onto paper isn’t the only thing that can get in the way of publishing a book. This fact is especially true for those who want to get into traditional publishing.

That's why I decided to write this blog post; to help those who want to navigate the traditional publishing landscape find a literary agent. So, if you would like to know more, do read on.

Disclaimer: I should not be treated as the sole source of truth as I only have ~one~ book deal under my belt so far, set to release May 20. But I do think my experience can be helpful, hence the creation of this blog post.

With that settled, let’s get into it.

So, you’ve written the dang thing… now what?

It might seem like, as soon as you type ‘THE END’, you should start blasting your manuscript out to agents. And, if you’re just that talented, maybe you can. I, however, needed some time to take a mental break before diving back into my work to make sure it was… passable. I use the word ‘passable’ because I have the tendency to edit myself into oblivion. I can spend months if not years picking away at a manuscript. Not exactly conducive to publishing anything.

My advice? Edit your work. Polish it up. But don’t overdo it. In traditional publishing, you will have an agent, an editor, and copyeditors all looking over your manuscript prior to actual publication. Therefore, if it’s not 100% perfect, you’re still okay. I do recommend getting familiar with manuscript standards, as it can make things easier for your agent(s) and editor(s) down the line.

Thelifeofawriter on YouTube has short, helpful videos showing how you can format manuscripts in Google Docs and Microsoft Word. If you prefer reading to video instruction, you can check out The Novelry’s manuscript formatting guide.

Entering the Query Trenches

This topic could honestly be a whole blog post on its own. In fact, it could be a whole blog series! For the sake of all of our attention spans, I will do my best to keep it brief.

It’s important to find the right agent for you and your story. Literary agents are parsing through hundreds upon hundreds of submissions, and they are looking for the ones that best resonate with them. Whether your work resonates with a particular agent isn't necessarily an indication of your ability as a writer or even how strong your manuscript is. Sometimes, you and your agent of interest are just not best fit for each other.

That is okay.

I emphasize this because it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that everyone but you is getting an agent and the reason is because you alone are a bad writer. In reality, it can take a very long time before your find one. To help your odds, be intentional about who you query (and how). Finding agents who represent similar work or are looking to represent a novel in your genre is a great way to make sure that you and your future agent are aligned. Searching for those best-fit agents can seem a little complex at first.

I, myself, wasn’t sure where to start looking when I'd started querying RUN LIKE A GIRL. I Googled agent lists, sleuthed on social media, and scoured the internet for the names of agents who repped authors I liked. I don’t have an issue with this method, looking back, but there are probably easier, more reliable ways to search. Online databases, for example, are extremely helpful. Some to start investigating include:

• QueryTracker

• ManuscriptWishlist

• Writer’s Digest also has a great list to check out

  
  

Pay attention to what agents are looking for, who they’ve represented, and how your story can fit within their portfolio. Then double-check your query package to make sure you’ve got everything they’re requesting. While different agents ask for different things, you can typically expect to include the following items in your query package:

• Query Letter

• Author bio (the only writing feat I had to my name was a college writing competition that I didn’t win, so don’t feel bad if you don’t have much to share here)

• Comp titles

• Target audience (don’t say “everyone”)

• Story synopsis

• Excerpt (length depends on agent)

  
  

Try your best with your query package and don't be afraid to seek feedback from friends or fellow writers. Also, don't be afraid if it's not 'perfect'. I put perfect in quotes because sometimes, our nerves can convince us that our work will never be good enough. I have definitely been there. But remember; the only surefire way to never get an agent is to never query. If your submission isn't the best submission to grace the Earth, it's okay. Mine certainly wasn't, and I still have a book coming out this year.

So once again, don’t let perfectionism or doubt or fear stop you from trying.

Considerations before signing with your agent

Let’s say that you’ve done the needful and, after months of waiting, your dream agent has reached out! What’s next? Well, for me, that was a phone call.

My agent scheduled a call with me to introduce herself and explain what working together would be like. She then encouraged me to carefully consider whether I wanted to take her on as my agent. I appreciated her client-first approach because I didn’t feel pressured to commit to something I wasn’t ready for. My agent was also open to answer any questions I had which, if you’ve read my blog on self-advocacy, is a big ol’ green flag for me.

At that time, I didn’t have too many questions, but before signing the dotted line of my contract, I made sure to look out for these key things:

• How easy is it for you to get out of your contract? I am a careful person, so I make sure I understand what it would take to find new representation if needed. If you need to jump through hoops before you can drop your agent, you may want to consider signing it carefully.

• How much of a percentage does your agent make off of your royalties? The average is about 15%, so any number around there should be good. If you’re seeing something like 50%... you better start consider other options.

• THERE IS NO UPFRONT PAYMENT OF ANY KIND. I’m putting this in capitol letters to emphasize the importance of this message. You should not be paying your agent to represent you. As stated in the previous bullet, your agent makes commission off of your book sales. If they ask you to pay them, run.

So yeah, that’s how I looked for and got my agent. I hope this was helpful! Soon, I’ll talk about the “what comes next”, because this really is only the start of the traditional publishing journey.