Literary Agents
Literary Agents
According to Solveig C. Robinson, author of The Book In Society: An Introduction To Print Culture, a literary agent is someone who serves "as artistic and business representatives for authors, advising them on everything from how their work might best be revised to meet current literary tastes, which firms to pitch the work to, and what financial terms to expect."[1] Not all authors have literary agents, but many do.
How Do Authors Find Literary Agents?
There are a numerous amount of ways that writers can find agents. In some cases, after an author is published in a magazine or journal, agents may reach out to them. Additionally, in some cases, authors may be able to find their own agents through the internet or during in-person networking events.
"The Poets & Writer's Guide to Literary Agents"
On March 7, 2025, the company Poets and Writers published a guide for writers who are trying to find and deal with literary agents. According to the company, this book "includes straightforward advice from professionals in the literary field and additional resources with insider tips."[3]
Here are some of the topics that are discussed in the book, sourced from the product description:
- The essentials of querying and agent etiquette
- How to read an agency contract
- How to use comp titles to draw positive attention to your book
- Advice from editors on how to find the best fit with an agent
- How to use agent feedback to your advantage[4]
Why is Having a Literary Agent Helpful?
Having a literary agent in today's world of publishing is immensely helpful, especially if you're desiring to publish full-length works to well-known publishing companies. Henry Holt, a successful figure in the publishing industry, stated that he "recognized the agent's service as a screen for sorting out and reducing the volume of unsolicited manuscripts they daily received. Holt labeled this gatekeeping activity that of "a sift-reader for publishers."[5] In retrospect, having a literary agent doesn't just help the author, it also holds value for the publishers in which one will attempt to work with. Publishers believe that work that comes from an author with an agent has already gone through at least a bit of polishing and screening.
- ↑ Robinson, Solveig. The Book in Society: An Introduction to Print Culture. Broadview Press, 2013.
- ↑ “The Poets and Writers Guide to Literary Agents.” Poets & Writers, 7 Mar. 2025, www.pw.org/content/the_poets_and_writers_guide_to_literary_agents.
- ↑ “The Poets and Writers Guide to Literary Agents.” Poets & Writers, 7 Mar. 2025, www.pw.org/content/the_poets_and_writers_guide_to_literary_agents.
- ↑ “The Poets and Writers Guide to Literary Agents.” Poets & Writers, 7 Mar. 2025, www.pw.org/content/the_poets_and_writers_guide_to_literary_agents.
- ↑ Bonn, Thomas L. “Henry Holt A-Spinning in His Grave: Literary Agenting Yesterday and Today.” Publishing Research Quarterly, vol. 10, no. 1, Mar. 1994, p. 55. EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02680437.
