A Rough Guide to Literary Agents
How do you get published?
Write a good novel.
How do you get an agent?
Write a good novel.
But what about self-publishing?
Write. A. Good. Novel.
Write the best novel you can. Then make it better. Don’t even bother thinking about agents or publishers until you’re done.
Good to go? Ready to contact publishers? You need an agent.
An agent is a necessary go-between. They’re the spokesperson for the author in negotiations.
Don’t approach publishers directly, you’ll end up on the slushpile. Get yourself an agent.
When writing to them, to gain their interest, remember to say where you studied and your publication track record. If you have experience that’s relevant to the book you’re pitching, also mention that.
Your working relationship with your agent is more important than your relationship with the publisher. You must have a good agent-writer relationship.
Agents may work editorially with you before presenting your work to publishe…
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