Reading Writing And Negotiating

Reading, Writing, and Negotiating


"I’d like to thank my agent." How often have you heard those words? You may be surprised to learn that the sentiment isn’t gushed exclusively at Hollywood awards shows. You hear them at book awards ceremonies, too.

Who are these secret agents anyway? And what exactly do they do that places them in such high esteem? Believe me- authors love their agents just as much as actors; maybe even more so.

Reading, writing, and negotiating make up the majority of a literary agent’s work.

If you want to be a literary agent, first of all, you must love to read. I mean really, really love to read. And even though there are no educational requirements for becoming a literary agent, you must be well read coming into it. If you don’t have a vast array of reading experiences to compare submissions to, you’re done before you even start.

Even more important, you must be able to read with a discerning eye. Not only do you have to distinguish the good, the bad, and the ugly writing for yourself, you must also appreciate public trends. You have to know a hit when you see it, even if it isn’t your cup of tea. Some agents even go so far as to offer basic editing advice in order to help a story fit a certain market.

Marketing a manuscript is where the negotiating comes in. In order to negotiate with editors successfully you will need inside information and connections in the publishing world. This may take some time to acquire, but it isn’t impossible. Working in publishing or for another agent first is helpful, but not necessary. You can make your own way if you are consistent and persistent.

Membership in the Association of Authors Representatives is a big credibility booster. Even before you become a member, however, make sure you practice their code of ethics. For example, never charge a reading or submission fee. Instead charge a 15% commission. Reputation is extremely important in this business. Check out www.aar-online.org for more helpful tips and membership registration.

The idea that you must live in New York to be a literary agent is a myth. Successful agents can be found anywhere. And yes, you can do it from home. Sometimes you will want to travel in order to attend writer’s conferences or workshops, though. Also, make sure you have plenty of room to stack up those incoming manuscripts.

As a literary agent, getting established is the hardest part. Once you’re over the hump you’ll have no shortage of potential clients. After all, everyone has a story to tell, but not everyone can sell it. They need an agent for that.

Resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literary_agent

http://www.adlerbooks.com/mostask.html

http://www.publishingcentral.com/subject.html?sid=16&si=1

http://www.ehow.com/how_2121717_become-literary-agent.html