As an aspiring writer, what is the best way to go about finding an agent?

Question

I'm an aspiring writer, who will soon be submitting some short stories off for review. I've been studying the Writers Market like a bible for the last few months. Eventually I hope to move onto novels.

Has anyone here been published? If so, how did you go about finding your agent? What, exactly, was the process that you underwent the first time you were published? Any information useful for an aspiring writer would be most helpful.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Currently I'm averaging about one magazine article a month and would like to begin work on a book shortly as well. My focus is non-fiction however, so this may not be as targeted to those looking into finding an agent for a novel.

I'm also a year away from finishing my MFA, so I'm taking insight and advice from that source as well.

Two books I'd strongly suggest you read as you begin to look into getting an agent and getting published are Noah Lukeman's 'The First Five Pages' and 'Making a Literary Life' by Carolyn See. This will be a real asset for you; there are links to both authors below.

I'd talk to all of the editors and publishers you are working with. They "swim" in this industry daily and will be able to direct you towards an agent that works with authors in the genre you are writing in --historical fiction, short story, mystery, etc.

If you live in a campus town great! Get to know those that work with the institutions press (i.e., Harvard Press, University of Washington Press, etc.). They often know a number of local literary agents and can also guide you to agents specific to your writing.

Keep up with all the "trade" magazines. Paris Review, Writers' Digest, The New York Times Review of Books, etc. Start to scan these with an eye towards how books came to be published and what the authors have to say about that process. You might even find a few agents that appeal to you this way as well.

Best of luck to you! I hope this helps. --Andy

Answer 2

I had to stop reading that site before I snorted coffee out of my nose. I wholeheartedly support what this guy is doing. A cure for stupidity seems as far away as ever, so the best he can do is blow off some steam and give the rest of us a few laughs in the process. He doesn't name any of the authors; by definition, hardly anybody's going to recognise them. Maybe he should name them - writers need a thick skin. If they can't cope with being mocked by an agent on a site that will probably be read only by other agents and writers, how are they going to handle bad reviews, which will be read by far more people? It's one thing to be ignorant of how this business is supposed to work - nobody was born knowing how to get an agent. It's another thing to be unaware that you're ignorant and expect other people to pick up the slack. It's not particularly difficult to educate yourself in the basics of how you go about getting an agent. I wonder if it's just that they don't appreciate the scale of the challenge facing them, or if they genuinely are that clueless and arrogant. Do you think these people approach job-hunting or dating in the same way?

Answer 3

I got this advice from a couple writers, here are some guidelines to find an agent.

1. Yellow pages, best place not on the Internet and on the Internet to find an agent

2. Before you give them your manuscript, always send them a letter asking if they are interested in looking at your manuscript, it doesnt matter if what is in your manuscript is the next Lord of the Rings, they get 100's of manuscripts a day and dont want to be bothered by unprofessionalism.

2.5: You may want to send your manuscripts out to other agents as well in case you get rejected by your first agent

3. When you have an agent that has a good policy for you
and likes your book idea, you then proceed to pitching your book to a publishing company, but first you must of course send a letter with your name and your book name to the publisher.

4. Send the manuscript to the publisher.

5 You must now pitch the story to the publishing company, if you dont get through without editing a couple things, dont get discouraged

6. Your book becomes popular

Good luck with your stories.

Loren Hansen

Answer 4

Good advice here. My little suggestion is for you to look up publishers and literary agents in New York City. Make a list. Call each person or entity on the list and ask for an appointment Plan a little 3 to 5 day trip and blitz publishing houses and agents. Make one personal appointment after another using a map to determine how long it will take to get to each destination and taking into account rush hours, etc. Take samples of your writing or the novel you want to pitch. Sure some will not bother with you but getting your foot in the door and putting your face in front of them is important.

I would not just send a manuscript to someone I had not met.

Answer 5

I didn't have an agent, but I am comfortable with marketing myself and my book, "Beaten by Nuns". Your biggest obstacle, no matter what your writing topic, is the pitch. Your pitch has to be short and earth stopping, to grab the attention of an agent or publisher.
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/pubagent.htm
is a good website, and has information on agents, and publishers.
No matter which way you go, agent or finding the publisher yourself, you still have to be able to sell yourself and your work. Figure out your angle and why anyone would want to read it, and you're in! If it is boring to you, then it will be to others as well... good luck and no matter how many rejections, never never give up. It took me a year to get published.
Kelly

Answer 6

If you have connections it is good to be commissioned to write something where you donate your words.Then you can honestly say that you have published....it will sound impressive.

It isn't easy to find an agent to even look at your work. You really need to catch their attention within the first moment that they see your work, otherwise they just move on to the next promising author.

Look on-line for agents and publishers. Go to a book store and find book similar to what you have written and contact those publishers concerning what you have written.

Answer 7

I am also an aspiring writer and attending school to improve my craft. In fact we were discussing publishing to day.

To find a agent I was told to check out:
aaa-online.org/index.html (association of authors rep. homepage)
and the Editors & Prededitors web site at :
www.anotherealm.com/prededitors

Beware of self-publishers! And check out the editors & prededitors before you sign with anyone. Good luck.

Answer 8

I found my first agent through another writer. Though she didn't work out (and now I'm in the same boat as you), networking is one excellent way. Talk to other writers, see who they use, and whether they like them. Sometimes a writer can get you an in with his/her own agent.

Answer 9

Make use of the USPTO web site.The Patent and Trademark Office also has,I believe,a section dealing with intellectual properties such as writings.If not there,check out the Library Of Congress.They may be able to point you in the right direction.Reason being----PROPERTY THEFT.Get protected before seeing ANYone.Hope this is usefull,"Link"

Answer 10

Check out writer's market (the book). My wife found her agent through that guide and became a NYT best seller.