How Can a Literary Agent Help You?

If you have a manuscript just waiting for exposure on your computer, you may be wondering exactly what a literary agent will do for you. Many novelists are stuck between whether or not they should self-publish or use a literary agent for their work, so here is a little more information as food for thought.

Perhaps you’ve noticed by now that most publishing houses do not accept any unsolicited manuscripts, so they require the go-between of a literary agent to work on behalf of the author. A literary agent will represent your manuscript to give you a better chance at getting published, yet many authors are reluctant to work with a literary agent because they charge up to a 15% fee. Still, this is something that should be considered acceptable, similar to the commission that is paid to a real estate agent.

Help Editing Your Work

A literary agent will also be able to help contribute in editing your work so that it is ready for final publication. Writers need help seeing their work through a fresh set of eyes, and since a literary agent reads so many manuscripts per year, they will be the objective opinion that you have been looking for. It is important to understand that you should not work with a literary agent that charges a reading fee since all of their payment should come from the commission in selling your work.

Find a Publisher

The major component of a literary agent’s job is to understand the market and represent a specific genre for publication. You may have found by now that literary agents often only list the type of works that they will accept based on a genre that they specialize in. Once your manuscript is ready, a literary agent will work on your behalf to contact publishing houses who may be the best fit for your book. Knowing the market is essential to effectively publishing a novel, which is why it is worthwhile to pay out this commission to an agent.

Contract Negotiation

This is a very sticky and confusing part of the publishing process, and you want to make sure that you are getting a fair deal in your contract. There is a serious amount of paperwork in contract negotiation, and your agent will be able to explain the process to you each step of the way so that you get the best deal for your work.

Lastly, an agent may be able to help you with other topics related to your manuscript, such as e-book, audio, movie, and foreign rights, if necessary. This is why pays to look for an experienced agent that specializes in your genre for representation!


For a great selection of the Bodum French Press, check out Bethany Ramos' website, The Coffee Bump.

Essential Tips to Find the Right Literary Agent

Finding a literary agent is no simple task, and as you begin your search, you may realize that most literary agencies are not even accepting queries or unsolicited manuscripts. So what are you as an unpublished author to do? The most essentail tip to keep in mind is that you must never give up because you need only one positive response to your unpublished work to see success in finding the right literary agent!

1. Search by specialty. You will make a huge mistake in submitting queries and samples of your manuscript to agents who do not specialize in your subject matter. It is best to use a book like “Guide to Literary Agents”, which has literary agents split up based on their specialties, as well as what they are looking for and their contact information.
2. Research an agency’s published works. Most agencies will have their published authors on their website, which will give you a better idea if they are looking for your style of work.
3. Check how many clients they have. Most agents will also post how many clients that they represent, what percentage are new writers, their sales, and how the agency handles contracts, advances, and marketing.
4. Submit your query letter. Most literary agent websites will also have information on how to submit a query letter, and you must follow their submission guidelines to the letter. If you do not, a literary agent will see that you are not serious and probably delete your e-mail or throw out your letter right away.
5. Send a professional query letter. There a number of guidelines online for the best way to write a query letter, but it does need to be professional, concise, and clear to make an impression.
6. Do it all over again. The above steps are general guidelines to finding a literary agent, but this must be done hundreds of times before you see success. Remember that rejection has happened to everyone, even J.K. Rowling, so start searching, put yourself out there, and keep your chin up!

For a great selection of the Bodum French Press, check out Bethany Ramos' website, The Coffee Bump.