Literary Agency Research Secrets To Help You Get In Print
What I really dislike about looking for a literary agent is the uncertainty. You never know what the agent is really going to be like until you start to work together. You can talk on the phone, read up on the agent, and google the agent, but there’s nothing like working together for a few years to tell you what someone is really like.
So how can you evaluate a literary agent thoroughly beforehand? Is it even possible?
EVALUATING LITERARY AGENCIES
The best way to evaluate a literary agent is to google it and look for things other than its official description. True, the official description is something you want to look at. But you must dig deeper than that if you want the real inside story. You must look below the surface.
One way to do this is to see if the agency or the agent you’re considering has been discussed on any writing forums. Now, you must also use your common sense when doing this. Keep in mind that there are a lot of disgruntled writers with nothing better to do than throw slop at anyone they can just to make themselves feel good. They may talk an agent down, criticize his policies, intelligence, and business sense. But they may never have met the individual.
On the other hand, sometimes they are onto something. Sometimes their praise or criticism is valid. More likely than not, however, criticism must be seriously discounted. Praise is another matter. People are often correct when they say something positive about an agent. So just be forewarned that you must evaluate what you read when you surf the Web.
READING BETWEEN THE LINES
What I mean by this is that when you look at the official description of a literary agency, you’ve got to keep in mind that it was written for mass consumption. Don’t believe everything it says. For example, it might flatly state, “We don’t accept new clients.” You shouldn’t let that stop you from sending a query if a particular agent is right up your alley.
Also keep in mind that the official description may have been written a few years ago, so it may not be up to date.
By carefully evaluating literary agencies, and by using common sense, you’re likely to find an agent and an agency that will be a good match for you and your books.
Copyright © 2007 William Cane
William Cane is the author of The Art of Kissing, translated into 19 languages. He taught English at Boston College for fourteen years and today is a widely sought-after speaker at colleges and universities nationwide. His Web site contains more insider writing advice for those wishing to get published: http://www.hiwrite.com/
Tags: book proposals, literary agents, publishing, writing