How do I get a major publishing house to consider my writing?

Question

Literary agents, right?

Literary agents, right? And how would I go about finding a literary agent? How much, generally, have you got to pay one of the good ones with a good reputation with the houses and all that? Thanks.

Answer 1

You got it, literary agent.

But don't count out the small presses! If you get something published through a small press, you're increasing your credentials and it'll be that much easier to catch the attention of the big guys.

Edited to add: Agents do not receive money from you. They are paid by commission from your advances/royalties. Never pay an agent up front. They don't get paid until they sell your work.

Answer 2

Yep, literary agents are the only way to go with a major publishing house. None of the large commercial publishing firms will take un-agented manuscripts.

Answer 3

You just keep sending it out to all the publishers that publish your kind of writing, Send it out to all the literay agents. Send the same stuff out to the same people once a month!
Keep trying and never give up. Many authers have spent years trying get their stuff accepted, others have hit pay dirt quickly. It is about luck and persevering.

Good luck.

Answer 4

Wrong.

Sure, the top top top publishing companies might require them, but there are plenty of decent mid-sized companies who are just as credible and are just as likely to make you successful who do not require the use of an agent.

For them, simply send in your manuscript.