What does a Literary Agent do?
Bookish match-makers, deal-makers, behind the scenes movers and shakers…literary agents are the bridge between authors and publishers. Well-connected, creative and business-savvy, you generally need one to help you get the best deal for your book and navigate the sometimes choppy waters of publishing.
Agents usually have a background in bookselling, publishing or marketing. Some come from the legal world, some transition from representing non-book talent like sports people or TV presenters. The best ones have a literary sensitivity and commercial nous. It is their job to manage their clients’ careers as authors and often oversee other related areas such as speaking, podcasting or presenting. We spend a lot of time talking to publishers and editors to find out what they are looking for so we know exactly where the best home will be for your book.
If an agent is interested in representing you, make sure you meet them first to ensure you trust and like them - this is a relationship that should last many years. They should ask you to sign an agreement that sets out the terms of your business relationship, what commission they charge for which activities and how they will account to you.
Your agent will help you prepare your proposal for submission to publishers. This is a crucial element of securing a deal and a chance to ensure that you can prove the case for your book, and to anticipate any possible queries a publisher might have. Alongside this your agent should work with you on your sample text to ensure it is as good as it can be.
We like to keep authors informed at every step of the way - which publishers we are planning to submit to, what the feedback is, and we discuss all elements of publishing offers with authors so they fully understand deals and - if there is more than one offer - how they compare. We accompany authors to meetings with publishers pre-and post-deal. We negotiate the best deal possible and once the deal is done and the contract negotiated and signed, it’s not goodbye! We remain as involved through the writing process as authors want us to be, on hand to offer editorial or moral support. Once your m/s is delivered we are there in the background to offer advice on anything and everything, from cover designs, cover blurbs, Amazon pages, your social media activity, endorsements, to the all-important marketing and publicity plan. And it goes without saying that we handle all your income from book deals, royalty statements and - if appropriate - speaking engagements, brand collaboration or PR deals.
Finally, if all goes well we’ll start to talk to you about your next book.
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