Benefits of an agent?

Crazy Ivan · 06-01-2012, 02:27 AM

Sorry if this could be found in this thread:

http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13531

But, what are the main benefits?

Getting your work in front of somebody big; a decision maker?

I'm new to this....so....uh....have a heart.

(N.B. I wrote what I'm calling a chronicle of my trying to understand what those who have faith "get" that don't. It is almost a travelogue of trying to understand. I've had a few people read it and they LOVE it. I went to a publisher here in Raleigh and they LOVED it. Turns out they are a vanity publisher and I'm sure they'd love just about anything thrown their way...)

Little Ming · 06-01-2012, 02:45 AM

I see you've dodged a vanity publisher. Always a good step.

Not everyone needs an agent and there are actually a few successful writers on this cite who don't have one.

Here's a few pages to get you started:

http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/agents/

http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/real/

http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/

The cite is SFWA, but I think a lot of the advice (if not all of it) applies to other genres.

Good luck.

Drachen Jager · 06-01-2012, 02:58 AM

An agent does several things for an author.

1) They open the door to publishers who do not accept author submissions (which includes most of the top publishing houses).

2) They assist in contract negotiation. A good agent should be able to arrange contracts that are enough of an improvement over the offered terms to cover their own fee, often more. They also know all the contractual pitfalls that authors can be trapped in and help the author to avoid such difficulties.

3) Many agents offer editorial help, suggestions on how to make the manuscript stronger, moral support and a good kick in the rear when the author needs it. (avoid the agents who give you a kick in the rear just for the hell of it)

I think it's certainly worthwhile for a new author to look into getting an agent. Not necessary, but IMO they can dramatically improve an author's chances of success.

Just watch out for the bad ones. A bad agent is worse than no agent at all. Never pay an agent a dime of your money up-front. Their pay should come entirely from your royalties. If you don't get paid, they don't either.

Toothpaste · 06-01-2012, 03:30 AM

Adding to the above they also seek out film/audio/foreign deals. They know what editor is looking for what, what editor is at which house etc.

Crazy Ivan · 06-01-2012, 03:42 AM

So...what I'm hearing is....GET ONE!

(and don't pay up front)

Old Hack · 06-01-2012, 09:43 AM

Agents also ensure that publishers adhere to contract terms, ensure that payments are made promptly and in accordance with the contract, stand up for their authors if and when publishers are less than helpful, and (don't forget this one) almost always earn the writers they represent bigger advances than the writers could negotiate for themselves.

A good agent is well worth having. A bad agent? Nope.

Crazy Ivan · 06-01-2012, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Hack

Agents also ensure that publishers adhere to contract terms, ensure that payments are made promptly and in accordance with the contract, stand up for their authors if and when publishers are less than helpful, and (don't forget this one) almost always earn the writers they represent bigger advances than the writers could negotiate for themselves.

A good agent is well worth having. A bad agent? Nope.

Now, just to find the good agent/bad agent filter.

I guess I could Google choice terms such as, "Literary agents review"

I guess starting here is a good idea: http://www.agentquery.com/writer_sa.aspx

Mr Flibble · 06-01-2012, 03:41 PM

Or, once you have a list of people you think you might like to sub to, check out the bewares and background checks forum here. Lots of info.

Filigree · 06-01-2012, 04:10 PM

This advice has been offered on other threads, but it's worth repeating here.

Look for already-published books similar to yours. Then research the author's name to see if they have an agent. From there, you can find out if the agent is taking new clients, and whether you want to submit to them. We've thrashed out the pro's/con's of an established agent with a big agency (but maybe not that much time for you), or a new agent with lots of enthusiasm (but maybe not enough industry contacts to be an effective seller). That will have to be your choice.

You can get an agent by querying, meeting them at conferences and workshops, and getting recommendations from their current clients. The best way to get an agent, really, is to make sure you're ready to get one.
Your mms must be polished and strong, and you should have an idea of future works, either sequels or standalones. Agents want writers who want careers!

I blew two years of research and querying because I wasn't ready, on a project that (though it won some minor awards) still needs revision. I used a quickly-written genre novel to snag an e-pub offer, then begged an introduction to a well-known agent to help me with the contract (for a percentage that I judge reasonable, since it may save my career). The agent wants to see my mainstream work, when it is ready. She's not 'my' agent yet, but this is closer than I came in querying nearly 70 other agents.

Siri Kirpal · 06-02-2012, 12:20 AM

Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting)

Two suggestions: 1. Make sure your work is as good as possible before the agent hunt. You can ask folks in the beta readers section of this site if they'd like to read and critique your work. 2. Preditors and Editors is an excellent online site for weeding out the bad agents.

Blessings,

Siri Kirpal

Crazy Ivan · 06-02-2012, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siri Kirpal

Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting)

Two suggestions: 1. Make sure your work is as good as possible before the agent hunt. You can ask folks in the beta readers section of this site if they'd like to read and critique your work. 2. Preditors and Editors is an excellent online site for weeding out the bad agents.

Blessings,

Siri Kirpal

I went through http://www.agentquery.com/default.aspx after typing it the genre of my book and sorted through until I found 10 agents which (seemed) to fit my needs.

Yes, then I was going to preds&eds to compare my list to theirs....

At least doing this today gave me an excuse to avoid doing the dishes.

I'm not up to the 50 post count to go and post my work...yet...

Drachen Jager · 06-02-2012, 02:15 AM

Check QueryTracker and there's a good forum called Bewares and Background Checks here on AW. Publisher's Marketplace is another good place to look and has details about recent sales for many agencies.

About 90% of the reputable agencies are on QT/AQ, but some of the very best don't advertise at all. They're harder to find, but can be worthwhile.

I highly recommend you hold off on querying until you hit that 50 post mark and can get some feedback. To push you up to that 50 post mark, the best way is to hang out in SYW and critique the work of others. That will give you a handle on how SYW works, and it makes it much more likely for other users to give your material a look.

Siri Kirpal · 06-02-2012, 02:18 AM

Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting)

Even without 50 posts you can go into the Beta Readers section of this site and ask for readers. You just can't post what you've written there.

Blessings,

Siri Kirpal

jonaki · 06-08-2012, 05:18 AM

My agent was invaluable. She had rock-solid faith in my novel. She marketed it aggressively. She just signed me up for a 3-book deal with a major publisher. We got offers from two publishers at the same time. She pitted one against the other and drove my advance higher. Then she went through the contract with a tooth comb (I cannot even tell how intimidating a publishing contract can be: it's a 24 page legal document) and explained everything. She hired the best Contracts Attorney and negotiated for me a whopping deal. She kept me updated on every move. She was right on the ball the entire time, while I quietly sweated behind the scenes - just watching the emails fly between her and publisher's legal. Phew! It was a couple of nerve racking weeks before we signed the deal. We ended up selling world English rights and keeping movie rights, merchandising rights and foreign rights to sell separately. You have no idea how confusing a publishing contract can be. Very difficult for a lay person to understand.
DO NOT UNDERMINE THE VALUE OF A LITERARY AGENT. I WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD WITHOUT MINE.

And oh - forgot to add this one. My agent helped me clean up and make my manuscript submission-ready. She turned out to be a super editor too. Here is an interview I did with her for my blog.

06-01-2012, 02:27 AM	#1
Crazy Ivan Arch Duke of Raleigh Join Date: May 2012 Location: Just outside Raleigh, NC Posts: 16	Benefits of an agent? Sorry if this could be found in this thread: http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13531 But, what are the main benefits? Getting your work in front of somebody big; a decision maker? I'm new to this....so....uh....have a heart. (N.B. I wrote what I'm calling a chronicle of my trying to understand what those who have faith "get" that don't. It is almost a travelogue of trying to understand. I've had a few people read it and they LOVE it. I went to a publisher here in Raleigh and they LOVED it. Turns out they are a vanity publisher and I'm sure they'd love just about anything thrown their way...)

06-01-2012, 02:58 AM	#3
Drachen Jager Professor of applied misanthropy Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Vancouver Posts: 10,451	An agent does several things for an author. 1) They open the door to publishers who do not accept author submissions (which includes most of the top publishing houses). 2) They assist in contract negotiation. A good agent should be able to arrange contracts that are enough of an improvement over the offered terms to cover their own fee, often more. They also know all the contractual pitfalls that authors can be trapped in and help the author to avoid such difficulties. 3) Many agents offer editorial help, suggestions on how to make the manuscript stronger, moral support and a good kick in the rear when the author needs it. (avoid the agents who give you a kick in the rear just for the hell of it) I think it's certainly worthwhile for a new author to look into getting an agent. Not necessary, but IMO they can dramatically improve an author's chances of success. Just watch out for the bad ones. A bad agent is worse than no agent at all. Never pay an agent a dime of your money up-front. Their pay should come entirely from your royalties. If you don't get paid, they don't either. __________________ When people tell you something’s wrong or doesn’t work for them, they're almost always right. When they tell you exactly what they think is wrong and how to fix it, they're almost always wrong.—Gaiman The story must strike a nerve—in me. My heart should start pounding when I hear the first line in my head. I start trembling at the risk.—Sontag Creativity is the residue of wasted time.—Einstein

06-01-2012, 03:30 AM	#4
Toothpaste THE FRIDAY SOCIETY is out now!!!! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 7,435	Adding to the above they also seek out film/audio/foreign deals. They know what editor is looking for what, what editor is at which house etc. __________________ THE_FRIDAY_SOCIETY is out NOW!!!!! My Blog, My Website, Follow Me on Twitter! Alex_and_the_Ironic_Gentleman Timothy_and_the_Dragon's_Gate Corsets_&_Clockwork YA Steampunk Romance Anthology The Girl Who Was On Fire HUNGER GAMES essay Anthology

06-01-2012, 09:43 AM	#6
Old Hack You'll have to run faster than that SuperModerator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In the watchtower Posts: 11,493	Agents also ensure that publishers adhere to contract terms, ensure that payments are made promptly and in accordance with the contract, stand up for their authors if and when publishers are less than helpful, and (don't forget this one) almost always earn the writers they represent bigger advances than the writers could negotiate for themselves. A good agent is well worth having. A bad agent? Nope. __________________ I blog at How Publishing Really Works and The Self-Publishing Review, and I tweet as @hprw. See you around.

06-01-2012, 03:41 PM	#8
Mr Flibble They've been very bad, Mr Flibble Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: We couldn't possibly do that. Who'd clear up the mess? Posts: 15,792	Or, once you have a list of people you think you might like to sub to, check out the bewares and background checks forum here. Lots of info. __________________ The Rojan Dizon books, book one out now from Orbit Website Twitter

06-01-2012, 02:45 AM	#2
Little Ming practical experience, FTW Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1,555	I see you've dodged a vanity publisher. Always a good step. Not everyone needs an agent and there are actually a few successful writers on this cite who don't have one. Here's a few pages to get you started: http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/agents/ http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/real/ http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/ The cite is SFWA, but I think a lot of the advice (if not all of it) applies to other genres. Good luck.

06-01-2012, 03:42 AM	#5
Crazy Ivan Arch Duke of Raleigh Join Date: May 2012 Location: Just outside Raleigh, NC Posts: 16	So...what I'm hearing is....GET ONE! (and don't pay up front)

06-01-2012, 04:10 PM	#9
Filigree nobody's sidekick Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: between rising apes and falling angels Posts: 6,413	This advice has been offered on other threads, but it's worth repeating here. Look for already-published books similar to yours. Then research the author's name to see if they have an agent. From there, you can find out if the agent is taking new clients, and whether you want to submit to them. We've thrashed out the pro's/con's of an established agent with a big agency (but maybe not that much time for you), or a new agent with lots of enthusiasm (but maybe not enough industry contacts to be an effective seller). That will have to be your choice. You can get an agent by querying, meeting them at conferences and workshops, and getting recommendations from their current clients. The best way to get an agent, really, is to make sure you're ready to get one. Your mms must be polished and strong, and you should have an idea of future works, either sequels or standalones. Agents want writers who want careers! I blew two years of research and querying because I wasn't ready, on a project that (though it won some minor awards) still needs revision. I used a quickly-written genre novel to snag an e-pub offer, then begged an introduction to a well-known agent to help me with the contract (for a percentage that I judge reasonable, since it may save my career). The agent wants to see my mainstream work, when it is ready. She's not 'my' agent yet, but this is closer than I came in querying nearly 70 other agents. __________________ Blog in progress (with buy links): http://www.cranehanabooks.com/blog works in progress: MORO'S SHIELD MORO'S CROWN LEOPARD'S LEAP (working title) BLOODSHADOW untitled Foodie Spy erotic romance RUNNER AND WALKER (working title) UNSTRUNG

06-02-2012, 12:20 AM	#10
Siri Kirpal Swan in Process Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: In God I dwell, especially in Eugene OR Posts: 2,628	Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting) Two suggestions: 1. Make sure your work is as good as possible before the agent hunt. You can ask folks in the beta readers section of this site if they'd like to read and critique your work. 2. Preditors and Editors is an excellent online site for weeding out the bad agents. Blessings, Siri Kirpal __________________ "The only freedom any of us ever has is the freedom to choose how we will not be free."

06-02-2012, 02:15 AM	#12
Drachen Jager Professor of applied misanthropy Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Vancouver Posts: 10,451	Check QueryTracker and there's a good forum called Bewares and Background Checks here on AW. Publisher's Marketplace is another good place to look and has details about recent sales for many agencies. About 90% of the reputable agencies are on QT/AQ, but some of the very best don't advertise at all. They're harder to find, but can be worthwhile. I highly recommend you hold off on querying until you hit that 50 post mark and can get some feedback. To push you up to that 50 post mark, the best way is to hang out in SYW and critique the work of others. That will give you a handle on how SYW works, and it makes it much more likely for other users to give your material a look. __________________ When people tell you something’s wrong or doesn’t work for them, they're almost always right. When they tell you exactly what they think is wrong and how to fix it, they're almost always wrong.—Gaiman The story must strike a nerve—in me. My heart should start pounding when I hear the first line in my head. I start trembling at the risk.—Sontag Creativity is the residue of wasted time.—Einstein

06-02-2012, 02:18 AM	#13
Siri Kirpal Swan in Process Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: In God I dwell, especially in Eugene OR Posts: 2,628	Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting) Even without 50 posts you can go into the Beta Readers section of this site and ask for readers. You just can't post what you've written there. Blessings, Siri Kirpal __________________ "The only freedom any of us ever has is the freedom to choose how we will not be free."

06-08-2012, 05:18 AM	#14
jonaki Almost Famous Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Fountain Hills, Arizona Posts: 33	My agent was invaluable. She had rock-solid faith in my novel. She marketed it aggressively. She just signed me up for a 3-book deal with a major publisher. We got offers from two publishers at the same time. She pitted one against the other and drove my advance higher. Then she went through the contract with a tooth comb (I cannot even tell how intimidating a publishing contract can be: it's a 24 page legal document) and explained everything. She hired the best Contracts Attorney and negotiated for me a whopping deal. She kept me updated on every move. She was right on the ball the entire time, while I quietly sweated behind the scenes - just watching the emails fly between her and publisher's legal. Phew! It was a couple of nerve racking weeks before we signed the deal. We ended up selling world English rights and keeping movie rights, merchandising rights and foreign rights to sell separately. You have no idea how confusing a publishing contract can be. Very difficult for a lay person to understand. DO NOT UNDERMINE THE VALUE OF A LITERARY AGENT. I WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD WITHOUT MINE. And oh - forgot to add this one. My agent helped me clean up and make my manuscript submission-ready. She turned out to be a super editor too. Here is an interview I did with her for my blog. __________________ My debut novel is "Teatime for the Firefly". I am repped by April Eberhardt Literary. Last edited by jonaki; 06-08-2012 at 05:38 AM. Reason: typo

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