For many writers, finding an agent to represent their work can feel like the gateway to the writing career they’ve dreamed of. And when it comes to securing a traditional trade publishing deal with a mainstream publisher, that can often be true. Good agents know what editors are looking for; they’re clued into market trends and can often be tastemakers themselves. They have established relationships with imprints and editors, and often work alongside dynamic rights and film/TV teams within their agencies. They will not only negotiate on behalf of their authors but work closely on edits before submission and handle day-to-day admin such as contracts, payments and accessibility requests.
In short, an agent should be your champion, business partner and someone you can turn to for advice during the ups and downs of a creative career. They do of course have to be remunerated for all this work – usually in the form of commission.
How to approach an agent
Firstly, get your work into the best shape you feel able to. Don’t submit a first draft – edit it and show it to trusted readers who will give you honest feedback. Edit it again. And again, if you need to. When you feel you have taken the manuscript as far as you can, that’s when you’re ready to share it with agents. You are likely to get only one shot with each agent for each individual work, so don’t rush this process.
Members often ask whether they should work with a professional editor at this stage on a ‘manuscript assessment’ for a flat fee. While this guidance can be helpful for some, it’s important to do your research. Do they have significant experience working as an editor in the industry? Have they worked on similar titles within similar parts of the market? Do they have positive testimonials? Do you know exactly what you want to achieve by working with them and can they meet those needs? Many manuscripts find agents without the use of these services and there is a lot to keep in mind, so contact the SoA if this is something you are considering.
How to find the right agent for you
Authors are often directed to the helpful, annually updated Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook as a starting point, but we’d also recommend researching who represents successful authors whose work is similar to your own. Search online, or look in a book’s acknowledgments. Many agents have a social media presence which can offer insight into the way they work and their individual tastes and wish lists. Online or in-person agent speed dating events arranged by reputable organisations (for a fee) can also offer the opportunity to meet agents first-hand, and they may also be willing to take a look at, and offer feedback, on samples of your work as part of these events. Another route is competitions that offer representation as part of their prize – though do your research beforehand to make sure that if you win, they are the right agent for you, and ideally you would see their terms of representation before submitting to the prize. And while this is not a definitive list of all the agencies in the UK, the Association of Authors’ Agents Members Directory is an excellent resource; its members have to work to a Code of Practice, which can be reassuring for authors.
Always read an agent’s website page to see what they’re looking for at the moment. Even if they have represented similar titles to yours in the past, their current wish list may have changed. Consider, too, their experience. Junior agents can be hungry and those with smaller lists may have more time to work with you closely. More experienced agents can have long-standing relationships with editors. And if an agent you particularly want to submit to is currently closed to submissions, check back in a few weeks. Agents often open and close their submissions several times across the year.
Once you’ve drawn up a shortlist of those you’d like to approach, check their submission guidelines to see what they want to see from you at this stage. These vary from agency to agency but, typically, begin with a covering letter of around a page. This should include a one- to three-line elevator pitch for your work, a clear outline of two or three comparison titles (try to choose recent titles as it shows market awareness), and a statement about where you think your work sits in the market – for example, is it romance, sci-fi, literary, commercial, etc. Explain why you think they’d be the perfect fit for your writing and add a brief paragraph about yourself (including any prize wins or listings, creative writing courses you’ve completed or details of relevant previous publications).
Ensure you tailor each approach. Sending a blanket letter to all agents is unlikely to work to your advantage: agents want to know why you want to work with them. Some agencies ask for submissions using online forms or QueryTracker (a common online platform); others accept an email approach. It’s also worth thinking about staggering approaches. Even if you are rejected, you may get feedback which you can respond to in your work before sending your manuscript out again.
Once you’ve made the approaches, be prepared for silence. This is the hard bit. Most agencies will give you a sense of their turnaround time within their submission guidelines, but it can often take weeks, sometimes months. Some will never reply personally. Be patient. If an agent would like to see more of your work, they’ll ask for it. If this does happen, or indeed if you’ve been offered representation, other agents may want to know (check their guidelines). There’s no need to say who has asked or offered (it’s industry standard to keep that confidential) and it can result in faster replies from the other agents, letting you know where they stand. Don’t be afraid to do it. If you don’t hear back, or you don’t get an offer of representation this time, try not to be disheartened. Reflect on any feedback, and look forward to the next piece of work you will create. Many successful authors have had to jump through many hurdles to get to where they are, and it can take time.
If one or more agents ask for a call or a meeting – great! If you receive several offers, don’t feel pressured into choosing quickly. Reputable agents should give you a couple of weeks to sit with the decision, and in any case we always advise our members to meet an agent before signing. It’s crucial to get a sense of whether you have the same short- and long-term ambitions for your career, and if you have rapport. Before the meeting, prepare a list of questions. What will tell you if they are the right person for you? You might want to ask them about recent successes, if they feel your work has translation or film/TV potential, and if they already have a sense of who they would submit your work to in the UK/US. If you are looking for other opportunities, such as speaking engagements or broadcast work, can they offer support? And how are they approaching AI? It’s also worth asking them what editorial work they think will be required so that you have a sense of how the coming weeks and months will look for you, and if their vision tallies with yours. You can always send follow-up questions after the meeting, too. And if an agent offers representation, our Contracts & Advisory team will be happy to review the agency agreement before you sign.
Contact the SoA via info@societyofauthors.org for more information on best practice guidelines for agency submissions, or to receive a copy of our Author Care Toolkit.
Who doesn’t need an agent?
For some authors, having an agent isn’t a requirement – for example, you may have a successful self-publishing career you
feel confident in managing yourself, or you work within a part of the industry that doesn’t tend to be agented to the same extent as others. In recent years, genre writers – particularly those in romantasy and romance – have found significant success and empowerment, by self-publishing (some being picked up by the trade at a later date) or publishing with newly established trade lists open to unsolicited submissions. Poets, short story writers and translators often work independently. Academic, professional, reference and educational writers rarely work with agents, or use agents only for more commercial work –taking commission is hard to justify in sectors where payment is modest and there is generally little room for improvement.
Words of warning
Reputable agencies will never ask for a fee to review your submission or submit your work. They will almost never
approach you out of the blue, either, unless you are an expert in your field or, increasingly, if you have had self-publishing
success in your own right. Scams are very common, so treat any approach with scepticism and get in touch with our team if you have any concerns – info@societyofauthors.org.
The Author is The Society of Author’s quarterly journal. All Society of Authors members receive a printed copy as part of their membership. Non-members can also subscribe to The Author.