The days of being able to pitch your proposal to a traditional publisher are pretty much gone. And, if you’re a first-time author, don’t get excited about getting an advance, you need a substantial track record to get that.
There are two ways into traditional publishing – networking and a literary agent.
Networking to find your way into a publisher is going to take time and effort. It might be worth starting by attending some of the bigger book fairs and festivals to start making connections.
Another networking route is to meet authors who already have a publishing contract and know you well enough to recommend you, but, in reality, they’re more likely to introduce you to their agent than their publisher.
So, let’s look at literary agents.
What does a literary agent do?
They’re there to be your business manager and their primary aim is to get you a publishing contract – because they only get paid when you start selling books!
They’ll help you to refine your manuscript and they usually have good ideas because they know what the publishers want. If you don’t have a finished manuscript they’ll help you to put together a book proposal for submission.
Publishers talk to agents, so they have the open door to reach the right publishers for your book and then pitch your book.
Because they get paid on a commission basis (usually 15%, but could be a little lower), they’ll be negotiating your deals to ensure you get the best royalties available and a contract that is in your favour. If there’s the possibility of an advance, a good literary agent has the best chance of getting one for you.
Your agent should also protect your rights so, if the book is sold overseas to a foreign publishing house, you’ll get properly recompensed. And, if Steven Spielberg comes knocking, your rights as the author get you a sensible fee.
They’ll keep on top of payments from publishers and ensure these are kept up-to-date.
If an agent asks you for reading, editing, or representation fees, keep looking, this is not the norm.
Your agent will also earn commission from audiobooks, large-print editions, or book club features.
They’re not really a promoter, although a good agent will certainly give you guidance on promoting your book. They will help you with your career ongoing, it’s in their interests if you write more books.
Before engaging an agent do your research and ask a lot of questions!
