Literary Agent or not?

[E-beth]

I have written several stories for children, and have done a bit of research on getting them published. I have come across some publishing companies that say "agented writers only."

Does anyone know anything about how a literary agent works, and if it is recommended. And how do you find one?

And here I thought the writing was the hard part!!!!

 

[morningstar2651]

[font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,SunSans-Regular][/font]It's definantly recommended. Books to read

Web guide to getting published (Site has pop-ups)

 

[Blessed-one]

uh, and i heard it's hard to find an agent also..

 

[oncewaslost]

i've honestly never thought of trying to find an agent though i can imagine the difficulty of it.

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

It's a lot easier to find a publisher on your own than it is to secure a good agent. Not only that, but if you get a bad agent, publishers won't be responding favorably anyhow. It's better to research the query process and sell your first book yourself.

But what might be helpful after researching agents very carefully and securing your first publisher on your own, is to call a very good agent in your genre, tell the agent you already have a publisher, and offer him the opportunity to earn an easy fifteen percent by negotiating the contract terms. Good terms are very important, so some writers find this a very helpful service. Not only that, but after you have your first book, the agent will want to represent you for the rest. There are other writers who choose not to use agents. They do their own negotiating and save the fifteen percent. But if you select this route it's a good idea to learn everything you can about market research and contract negotiations.

 

[E-beth]

If I got somebody to actually accept the book, I would definitely feel the hard part was over! I might not get a great contract, but I would be printed!
(dreamy sigh)

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

If I got somebody to actually accept the book, I would definitely feel the hard part was over! I might not get a great contract, but I would be printed!
(dreamy sigh)

You're right-a lot of writing is actually business. A good starting point for your market research is either The Christian Writer's Market Guide or The Writer's Market-these are annual books that list publishers, contacts, market needs, useful articles, contests, what have you. Some 8,000 editors in the latter. Of course the Christian Writer's Market Guide has far many more Christian publishers, but the down side is that many of these pay nothing or very little. And I think it's robbery for any publisher to make money on your work but give you nothing.

But these guides and the guidelines in them are just starting points. After that, contact the publishers with SASE on 20-pound, white business paper, 12 pt. Courier or Times Roman font and request guidelines. After you've received and reviewed them, head for the bookstore and thumb through their present works. This will give you an idea of what they like or don't. Some children's editors will turn down a book because they hate certain kinds of animals, for example. Get a feel for the stories, give them all the beta they require when you query and fill a need in the market that hasn't been met. Publishers that are best represented on the shelf will probably do the best job marketing your work.

You can do it!!!

 

[Joshua Cintron]

I have written several stories for children, and have done a bit of research on getting them published. I have come across some publishing companies that say "agented writers only."

Does anyone know anything about how a literary agent works, and if it is recommended. And how do you find one?

And here I thought the writing was the hard part!!!!

I'm apart of several writing groups across the Internet and the consensus is that literary agent's are hit or miss. Some work hard, others pitch a book and leave the marketing up to you.

Personally, taking to the Internet and marketing yourself is the key.