How to Find a Literary Agent
Finish your manuscript and prepare it for submission. Most literary agents only accept submissions if your manuscript is complete. Before you start querying agents, make sure your book is finished, edited, and proofread to the best of your ability. It often helps to have other people read it to make sure everything makes sense. Then, make sure your manuscript is properly formatted (usually in the form of a 12 pt font, double-spaced Word document) for submission. Some recommend hiring a professional editor to take a look at your manuscript before you submit it. This can be pricey, however, and it may not be necessary since literary agents will help you edit your book at no extra cost to you. It may be enough to have a few beta readers (people who read the early drafts of your book) read through your manuscript before you submit it. This can help you catch any grammatical errors you missed or fix any plot holes or areas of confusion in your story. The exact formatting needed may vary from agent to agent, so carefully read all submission guidelines before submitting and make adjustments as necessary.
Determine how to market your book. At the end of the day, publishing is a business, and literary agents and publishing houses are both looking for manuscripts that will make money. Look at recent, popular titles in your genre and see where your book fits. It’s important to know what publishing trends are popular so you can find “comp titles,” or books to compare your manuscript to. Knowing the market will help your pitch stand out when it’s time to query agents. Comp titles are important because they help literary agents know if they’ll be able to market your book to fans of other popular books.
Research literary agents online. While there are thousands of literary agents out there, not all of them will represent your genre or be interested in a plot like yours. Don’t submit to every agent you come across. Instead, focus your search on agents who are interested in and have sold books like yours. The best way to do this is by looking online. Check out agents’ profiles on their literary agency’s website, industry sites like Publisher’s Marketplace and Manuscript Wish List, and even by following agents on social media. Publisher’s Marketplace lists the sales records of different agents so you can find one who sells books like yours. It does cost $25 a month, however. Manuscript Wish List is a website in which many literary agents post what they’re looking for in new manuscripts, as well as their favorite books, TV shows, and other media. This is a great way to see which agents have a similar taste in books as you. If you’re not sure where to start with researching agents, flip to the “Acknowledgements” section of some of your favorite books or comp titles. Most authors will thank their agent here, so you can look them up and see if they’re accepting submissions. Screenwriter Lucy V. Hay recommends following agents on social media: “Agents love Twitter, for instance. So [use social media to find out] what agents are interested in, and [target] the right ones. It sounds really, really straightforward, but you wouldn't believe how many people send the wrong stuff to the wrong people, or the right stuff to the wrong people.”
Narrow down a list of potential agents. Researching hundreds of agents can seem daunting, but it will make the process easier once it’s time to query. As you’re researching, make a list or spreadsheet of any agents that catch your eye. Note what genres they’re looking for, whether they’re open to submissions, which agency they work for, and any necessary links, like where to submit your manuscript. This helps ensure you send your manuscript to agents who are most likely to enjoy it, and it allows you to keep track of who you’ve queried and who you haven’t. Understand that as a new writer, it’s unlikely you’ll sign with a top agent, as they typically don’t take unsolicited submissions. Instead, Hay says, “You need to find the people that are just further down the ladder in the agent world: the agent's assistants who will become agents, for example, or junior agents who are just starting out and building their [client] lists.”
Write and personalize your query letter. A query letter is a formal letter addressed to the literary agent that allows you to pitch your manuscript and entice the agent to read it. Think of it as a cover letter for your query. The query letter is likely the first thing an agent will read, so it’s important to personalize it by explaining why you think your book is a good fit for that particular agent. Be sure to follow all formatting guidelines provided by the agent, as well. For a detailed guide on what to include in your query letter, skip to the next section of this article. Carefully proofread each query letter you send to an agent to make sure you don’t accidentally address it to the wrong person. That would likely get you an automatic rejection!
Submit to multiple agents simultaneously. In many cases, it takes at least 3 months to hear back from a literary agent, so submitting to one at a time would be too slow. In general, try to query about 12-15 agents at once. If you don’t hear back or get rejections from all of these agents, it’s often a sign to adjust your query. Try changing up your query letter and submit to another batch of agents. If you still get the same results, it may be time to take another look at your manuscript. Each agent will specify what they’re looking for in a submission. In general, though, most agents require a query letter, a short synopsis of your book, and the first chapter or 10 pages of your manuscript. Make sure to follow each agent’s guidelines specifically to increase your chances of having your manuscript read. Don’t submit to more than 15 agents at once. If you blow through your whole list at once, there will be no one left to submit to once you make any necessary changes to your query. If an agent likes your submission, they may request to read your partial or full manuscript. This is a good sign and you’re more likely to get personalized feedback this way, but it doesn’t guarantee the agent will offer you representation. If you don’t hear back from an agent within the timespan it typically takes them to reply, send a polite follow-up email. This often encourages agents to read your submission and could even land a request for your full manuscript.
Prepare for rejection. Literary agents receive thousands of submissions a year, so unfortunately, your chances of landing an agent are pretty slim. Getting a rejection doesn’t mean your book is bad—the odds are just against you and every other writer out there. When you get rejected, it’s important to stay positive and have faith in yourself and your book. Be persistent and keep submitting. It may take some time, but the right agent will come along. Try not to take it personally when you get a rejection, and remember to be professional and courteous. The publishing industry is small, so you will inevitably cross paths with these people again.
Don’t accept your first offer immediately. If a literary agent likes your submission, they may request to read your full manuscript, and if they like that, they may schedule a call to offer representation. This is great news, but don’t accept it immediately. It’s important to make sure the agent is the best fit for you and your manuscript. Ask them any questions you have and tell them you’ll give them an answer in 2 weeks. This is the industry standard, so quality agents will expect and accept this. Then, send a follow-up email to any agents you’re waiting to hear back from, telling them you’ve received an offer. This way, if other agents plan to make an offer, they know to do so immediately. When an agent offers to represent you, ask to contact their other clients. This way, you know if other authors have had a good experience working with the agent. If you choose to accept the offer, congratulations! Once you sign the contract, you officially have a literary agent and are one step closer to getting your book published. If you don’t accept the offer, don’t get discouraged. Keep submitting and remember the best agent for you is still out there.
How to Write a Query Letter
Address the literary agent by name. Open your query letter with “Dear [agent’s name].” This lets the agent know that you took the time to personalize your letter rather than sending a generic one. It may be a small detail, but addressing the agent by name creates a more personal connection than simply writing “Dear agent.” Double-check to make sure you spell the agent’s name correctly.
Introduce your novel and state why you chose this agent. In the first paragraph of your query letter, show the agent that you picked them for a reason by personalizing your pitch to their work. This shows that you know who they are and that you’re not submitting to every agent you come across. In the same paragraph, briefly introduce your manuscript by including your title, word count, and genre. For example, say “I’m submitting to you because I saw that you represent two of my favorite authors, X and Y.” Or, “We met at a writing conference last year and chatted briefly about your work with up-and-coming horror and thriller writers.” Introducing your manuscript can be as simple as saying, “I’m seeking representation for my 70,000-word contemporary romance novel, TITLE.”
Summarize your story in 1 or 2 paragraphs. A query letter should be no longer than a page, so it’s important to hook the agent with your book’s synopsis in no more than 2 paragraphs. This section should present the most interesting elements of your story, like an original plot or concept, an intriguing conflict, or a compelling question. The agent should be able to understand who and what the book is about within just a few sentences. For example, this could be a potential query for Twilight by Stephenie Meyer: “When 17-year-old Bella Swan moves to the sleepy town of Forks, Washington, she is quickly captivated by the mysterious Edward Cullen, a boy with strange golden eyes and icy skin who always seems to know when she’s in danger. Even though Edward warns her to stay away, Bella is drawn to him and quickly finds herself immersed in a world of bloodthirsty vampires.” If you’re not sure how to summarize your manuscript, start by filling in the blanks in this template and adding detail as you go: “MAIN CHARACTER, a ________, desperately wants to ______, but _______ is getting in the way. To reach their goal, they _________ but fail because of ___________.”
Compare your book to published titles. At the end of your synopsis, mention your comp titles, or the books your book can be compared to. While you want your book to be unique, having comp titles shows agents that your book can be marketed and sold. Choose 2 books that have elements similar to yours (this could be plot, theme, setting, etc) and briefly compare them in one sentence. For example, “With fast-paced action scenes like The Hunger Games and a lush, fantasy world like A Court of Thorns and Roses, this book is perfect for fans of YA fantasy.” Or, “For fans of Stephen King and Grady Hendrix, this is an eerie horror novel that will keep you up at night.”
List any writing credentials you have. Once you’ve summarized your book, include another brief paragraph dedicated to any relevant writing experience you have. This could be other books that you’ve published, degrees you’ve obtained, or residencies you’ve attended. If you don’t yet have any credentials, that’s okay, too. Instead, mention how passionate you are about your chosen genre and how long you’ve been writing as a hobby. For example, “I’ve previously self-published 3 novels in a high fantasy series and received a Bachelor’s degree in English.” Or, “I’ve been reading horror for as long as I can remember and writing since my fifth grade teacher gave us a creative writing assignment for English class.”
End with a professional closing. Your closing should be short and polite, like “Thank you for your time and consideration” or “I look forward to hearing from you.” If the agent requested any additional materials, like the opening chapters, mention those attachments here as well.
Benefits of Having a Literary Agent
They can land lucrative book deals. While it’s possible to make money by self-publishing or publishing with an independent press, most of the money in the publishing world comes from the Big 5 publishers—Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group, Harper Collins, Simon and Schuster, and Macmillan. These publishing houses do not accept unsolicited manuscripts, so having a literary agent is your only shot for getting your book picked up. Agents often have the contact information for publishing executives, and these relationships can increase your chances of signing a lucrative book deal.
They review and edit your manuscript. Even if you’ve already self-edited and proofread your manuscript, a literary agent can offer creative insights and edits before submitting it for publication. Agents understand the business side of publishing and know what publishers are looking for in new books, and the best part is they offer these edits at no cost to you.
Literary agents allow you to focus solely on your writing. Literary agents handle the business side of publishing, including negotiating foreign and subsidiary rights and keeping track of royalty statements. They can also help plan book tours and hire a publicist. This takes a lot of unnecessary stress off of writers and allows you to focus on writing and editing your work.
Literary agents help guide your career. Literary agents work on commission, so they only get paid if you get paid. For this reason, it’s in their best interest to make sure you have a successful writing career. They’re here to assist and encourage you at every step of your career, and they should be a trusted advisor and confidante.
Query Letter Example
Dear Jane Doe, I see that you represent YA fiction and am currently seeking representation for my first novel, TITLE, an 80,000-word YA fantasy novel, perfect for fans of the magic school system in Harry Potter. TITLE follows CHARACTER A as she discovers she can see the future and is sent to study at a school for psychics, where she soon learns danger lurks around every corner. With the help of a few unlikely friends, CHARACTER A must piece together the clues to uncover who is plotting the murder of their beloved professor and put a stop to it before it’s too late. While TITLE is my first novel, I’ve written and published several short stories in various literary magazines and hold an MFA in Creative Writing. I’m impressed with the work of your clients and feel that my own work will complement theirs and delight similar audiences. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your consideration, John Smith
Getting a Literary Agent FAQs
How much does it cost to hire a literary agent? You do not have to pay to hire a literary agent. Literary agents work on commission, meaning they get a percentage of your earnings. This is typically 15% of income earned on home sales and 20% of income earned on overseas or film/TV sales. In short, if you don’t make money, they don’t make money. Never pay a literary agent upfront, whether that’s to read and edit your manuscript, submit it to editors or publishers, or anything else the agent requests. This is a scam, so do not sign with an agent who requires payment.
Do I have to have a literary agent to get published? It depends on what you’re publishing and where you want to get published. In general, you need an agent if you’re seeking traditional publication through a publishing house (like Penguin Random House, Harper Collins, etc.), as these publishers only take submissions from agents. This includes both fiction and nonfiction works. You do not need a literary agent if you intend to self-publish your book or if you’re considering small indie publishers that accept submissions from non-agented authors. If you’re publishing poetry, flash fiction, or other niche or non-commercial art forms, you don’t need a literary agent and you’d likely have difficulty finding one. Agents look for manuscripts that are easy to market and sell, and these genres often don’t have wide-range commercial appeal.
Does having a literary agent guarantee my book will be published? No, having a literary agent does not guarantee that your book will be published. Once you and your agent work together to make your manuscript the best it can be, your agent will submit your book to potential publishers. The publishers then decide if they want to offer you a contract for publication. Some books get picked up the first time they go on submission while others go through several rounds before being picked up. Some do not get picked up at all.
How hard is it to get a literary agent? Unfortunately, it’s pretty difficult to get a literary agent, as agents reject 95-99% of all submissions. Your odds of getting a literary agent are about 1 in 6,000. But don’t give up! Stay positive and focus on making your manuscript, pitch, and query letter the best they can be. Remember, most or all of your favorite authors have been in your shoes before. If they gave up, your favorite book might not exist!
Is having a literary agent worth it? If you’re looking for commercial success, having a literary agent is worth it. Having an agent can get your book into the hands of large publishers you wouldn’t otherwise have access to, which can potentially land you a lot of money and a spot on a bestsellers list. Agents also handle the business side of publishing which takes a lot of responsibility off your shoulders.
How do you get a literary agent for a screenplay? Getting an agent for a screenplay is very similar to getting a literary agent for a book. Make sure your screenplay is complete and as polished as possible, and research agents that might be interested in your script. Write a short query letter and synopsis and send it to agents that are accepting submissions. Additionally, attend screenwriting conferences and summits for a chance to meet and talk to agents in person, and submit your work to online pitch sites and competitions. Similarly, if you’re seeking an agent for TV, follow the guidelines above or choose an agent for your novel who also has experience in film rights. Many agencies have an in-house agent who specializes in film rights, or they work with a partner agency.
How do you get an agent for poetry? In most cases, literary agents aren’t looking for poetry manuscripts, as they’re more likely to take on works of commercial fiction, genre fiction, and nonfiction. It’s easier to get a literary agent as a poet if you’re already extremely successful as a poet (like being a poet laureate), if you’ve already published a novel or memoir, or if you have a large following.
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