![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.barbaracaseyagency.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/IMG-20110813-000211.jpg?resize=225%2C300\" "\\"Partial")
<\/a>Partial View Of Lobby, The Lodge at Sea Isle, St Simons, GA<\/p><\/div>\n
I have discovered over the past sixteen or so years that I have been giving talks on writing, or being an agent, or on the publishing industry in general, the make-up of each audience is different, and because of that, the questions following my talks seem to take on different patterns. At the Scribblers’ Conference, the room was booked full, so I had the opportunity to answer several excellent questions that fell primarily into the category of how to find an agent. I will briefly summarize some of my comments here.<\/p>\n
There is no question that if you have a manuscript ready to submit, you are much better off if you have a good agent to represent you. Most publishers now only consider manuscripts that are agented. \u00a0Another big advantage is that an agent takes on the responsibility of keeping track of submissions thereby freeing up your time to write. With the right background and experience, a good agent will know which editors in which publishing houses to approach with your work. \u00a0If you are fortunate enough to receive an offer of a contract, your agent will know what to negotiate in that contract and can advise you on the things you should accept. \u00a0Once the contract is executed, a good agent will follow your manuscript through the publishing process and offer advice on such things as cover design and marketing. \u00a0When the book is released, an agent will continue to work with you on marketing ideas, keep track of royalty payments, investigate subsidiary and foreign rights as well as film and television opportunities, and be the go-between for you and the publisher should any problems or disputes arise. \u00a0I have overly simplified the work of an agent here, but this gives you a general idea of what an agent does.<\/p>\n
If you decide that you want an agent to represent you, it is often just as difficult to find the right agent as it is to find a publisher. \u00a0Do your homework and work up a list of agencies that work with the type of material you have written. \u00a0Writers’ Market <\/em>and Literary Marketplace<\/em>\u00a0are two excellent resources that list agencies, what they represent, and how they wish to be contacted. \u00a0Once you have a list of potential agents, look at their web sites. What books have they placed? \u00a0Do they charge fees? \u00a0How long have they been in<\/p>\n Colonnade, Golf and the Sea at The Lodge<\/p><\/div>\n business? \u00a0Do they give the appearance of professionalism? \u00a0Do they look like a company you want representing you? Once those questions are answered, you should have a good feel for which agencies you want to contact. \u00a0Each agency has its own submissions policies, and you will need to follow those guidelines. \u00a0Response time can vary from one week to three or four months, so be patient. \u00a0If you are contacting several agents at once, mention it in your cover letter. \u00a0(I will talk more about what makes a good cover letter in another blog.) \u00a0If you receive an offer of representation, is that agent someone you feel comfortable with? \u00a0Do you feel that person shares your passion for your writing and will work hard to find a publisher? \u00a0If so, you are on your way toward getting published. \u00a0Keep in mind, though, that having an agent doesn’t mean you will automatically receive a book contract and a huge advance. \u00a0It\u00a0is only a tool to help you get published.<\/p>\n Barbara<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I have just returned from speaking at the Scribblers’ Retreat Writers’ Conference on Saint Simons Island, and I wanted to share some of the things I brought back with me. The conference was held at the beautiful Lodge at Sea … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.barbaracaseyagency.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/IMG-20110813-00024.jpg?resize=300%2C225\" "\\"Colonade,")
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