If you’re an aspiring author, then you’ve probably read plenty of articles about finding, enticing and keeping a literary agent, but do you know the primary job of a literary agent? For some reason, the role of literary agents has become an obscurity that even some published authors don’t understand.
The Role of Your Literary Agent: Finding Great Books
The very first job a literary agent has is finding new and promising talent, which means reading submissions from aspiring authors and choosing which ones they would like to represent. Much of a literary agent’s day is spent wading through massive piles of query letters and manuscripts, usually with the help of an assistant.
Some literary agents have full-fledged agencies while others work primarily on their own. When you submit a query or a manuscript to a literary agency, it may be read by multiple agents.
The Role of Your Literary Agent: Networking with Publishers
Just because an individual calls him- or herself a literary agent doesn’t mean that editors of publishing houses will be knocking down the door trying to see manuscripts. A large part of a literary agent’s job is meeting and networking with publishing houses.
Much of this is accomplished at various annual writing conferences in New York and California. Attendees of writing conferences go from booth to booth, seeking out business and talking with people who “matter”. Most literary agents attend at least two or three writing conferences a year.
The Role of Your Literary Agent: Finding Buyers
Once you’ve been granted representation by a literary agent, he or she will begin to “shop” your book. Usually, this involves submitting your manuscript to a list of hand-picked editors at various publishing houses. This process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few years, sometimes with positive results, sometimes not.
If your literary agent finds several interested editors, he or she will auction your book. This essentially means selling your book to the highest bidder, though other considerations are taken (such as printings). Once your book has been auctioned, you and your literary agent will select the lucky publishing house.
The Role of Your Literary Agent: Negotiating Contracts
After your book has found itself a publishing home, your literary agent will help you to negotiate the contract. A publishing contract consists of several pages full of legal jargon, which is why having a literary agent comes in handy. He or she can explain to you concepts such as rights, advances, royalties and certain options.
If you’ve auctioned your book, the advance and royalty rate will likely have already been set.
The Role of Your Literary Agent: Foreign Rights, Movie Rights & Sequels
Your literary agent’s job isn’t finished once your manuscript sells. If the book does well, your publishing house (or another publishing house) will likely want to consider foreign rights or subsequent printing. Typically, literary agents take a larger cut of foreign rights than they do domestic rights, and the same goes for a book that warrants a movie option.
The Role of Your Literary Agent: Your Personal Advocate
And finally, the primary role of your literary agent is to be your personal advocate. Your success is your agent’s success which means that you’re working toward the same goals. Questions, concerns, problems and issues will be handled through your literary agent and you can always count on him or her to help you out with situations you don’t understand.
