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If you're interested in publishing a book and gaining a market
presence and income from it, you'll need a literary agent.
They are the grease that keeps the oft-rusty wheels of publishing
moving. Every day, they eat lunch or talk to editors and acquisition
people in publishing houses all over the world, all the while
pitching them on the new hot 'properties', as your manuscript
will be called.
Generally speaking, you need an agent (though there are literary
lawyers and others out there who would disagree with me.)
I've had four agents, some fine, one useless, and one downright
criminal (though eminently likeable.)
Here are some tips I can pass along that will help your search
for this important part of your team.
* Make sure you're selling something marketable. It could
be you're the only person out there who wants to read about
your Aunt Tillie's days as a pickle packer. Before you approach
an agent, find out what problem your book solves and who it
will appeal to. Research similar titles on Amazon.com and
look for gaps in the marketplace. Go to bookstores and see
what's hot (and what's not.) What's not is on the remainder
shelf; what's hot is placed up front and center, with massive
piles of the book in sight. Give an agent a good reason UP
FRONT to get excited (before they even read your stuff). Make
sure your book idea or manuscript is in top shape. There is
no substitute for excellence. it helps! You've got to have
an awesome concept, and an even better title.
* Make your book proposal as professional possible. (Book
proposals are only for non-fiction books, those other than
novels.) You'll want to include a lot more than just what
the book's about. You'll need to include any market research
you've done on who'd buy the book, ideas for unusual places
the books could be sold, or ways to tie it in with 'special
sales' (that's pub-speak for big wholesale orders) to certain
industries, or connections with your workshops, speaking gigs,
web site, etc.. You'll also want to include an impressive
bio, merchandising ideas, a sketch of the competitive marketplace
and publicity ideas. (If this sounds daunting, worry not.
See my blurb at the bottom.)
* Establish your credibility. If you're writing fiction,
let them know you've either had unique life experiences that
will make your book especially interesting to the media. (If
you're writing about your white water rafting exploits, did
you have a great experience related to this you could spin
on air?) If you're writing non-fiction, are you a PhD or do
you have a masters, or lots of great professional experience?
It's tougher to sell a great book written by someone who's
got no credentials in the field to back them up . but it can
be done.
* Hook up with a star. Can you get a celebrity endorsement,
or a testimonial or foreword from a highly placed industry
star? This will help an agent feel they can sell your work.
* Find the niche no one has explored. They're out there,
even in your chosen field. This is especially true for non-fiction,
though niches apply to both genres. The best niche comes from
your own passions and interests. What’s really you?
* Do not send your manuscript! Send a one page letter describing
your project and why you are the person to write it, plus
your proposal (non-fiction only) or a few sample chapters
of your manuscript (fiction.) Offer to send the rest right
away if they are interested. Make sure everything is spell-checked,
double spaced, with correct margins, etc..
* Hand pick the agents you submit to. DO NOT SEND MASS MAILINGS
TO AGENTS. It won't work, and is a waste of time and money.
Instead, research who to approach and pick the 5, 10, 20 or
so who actually sell your type of work. Agents stick to niches
themselves, and one way to find that niche is in various resource
guides like Writer's Market, the LMP (Literary Market Place
. in all big libraries), or the Writer's Digest 2002
Guide to Literary Agents. (I have several other techniques
I share in my Self Help Author's Crash Course, which is on
sale at the moment. See below.)
* Make your letter great. Your pitch will be placed in a
pile with the other cold submissions that arrived that day
(maybe 25-50) and an assistant will thumb through them, spending
about 10 seconds on each one. This means if you have a personal
contact, you mention it in the first sentence. Trim your description
of your book into a meaty, mouth-watering paragraph. Add a
bit on why you are the person to write it. And BE SURE to
let them know you hand picked them, out of all the agents
out there, because of the great work they've done for authors
X, Y and Z. In fact, you predict they will have similar success
with your property, as they did with Book X they just sold
to Q Publisher, etc. In other words, make it personal, a little
witty, and smart
* Don't use old contact info and call to see that the agent
you're contacting is still at the address you have before
you send anything* Don't ever pay an agent to evaluate your
book. This is not how standard agents work, and is illegal.
* Give the agent one month to evaluate your work. Then follow
up by phone or email. Many will tell you how they like to
be
contacted in guides such as The Writer's Market and those
listed above. Continue to follow up, until such actions are
ridiculous. You'll probably get some kind of response, especially
if your letter is great
* Follow up and ask for referrals. If you're lucky, you'll
get the intended agent on the phone. They may seem interested,
but just won't commit. (A standard line is "I'm not taking
on any new clients right now.") So ask if they know any
agents they might recommend, or someone who is expanding their
operation. Then send a thank you note if their info has been
helpful. Agenting is a small world, and many people stay in
it for life. They'll remember when you reappear at their door
years later. And this time it may open
* Be persistent. You may have to go through several lists
of hand-picked agents, before you get the bite you need.
* Work your personal connections. Be exhaustive, thinking
of anyone you know who might connect you with other agents,
or even authors. Most authors will want to see the project
you're pitching, and may not feel comfortable sharing their
contact with you. but many may.
For information on how to create your own publisher-ready
book proposal that agents will sit up and pay attention to,
drop
by Suzanne's site, http://www.getknownnow.com
and get her free listing of 25 Top Self Help Literary Agents.
www.liwomen.com
March 2005
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