how do I go about finding an agent to publish a book ?

Question

I have almost finished writing my first 450 page novel (there may even be more pages...)and about to start a second one. What it the best way to find an agent to see it it's worth publishing? It's very personal and some of it is harrowing but there is a light at the end of a sometimes very dark tunnel.

Answer 1

The very best way to get an agent is by referral. If you have been taking writing classes taught by a published author, and he thinks your work is good, he could refer you to his own agent.

Most people choose to send their manuscripts to an agent for evaluation (sometimes referred to as a "cold drop"). If the manuscript is not accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope, you will not get it back. And there is no guarantee that anyone will ever read it, although most agents charge a member of their staff with skimming the new arrivals to see if there may be some gold in the pile.

An agent, if he agrees to take you on, will represent your work to the publishers, who will make up their own minds on whether they want to buy and publish your manuscript. If it is REALLY good, a bidding war will happen between a few publishers. But it is up to the agent to decide if the manuscript deserves this treatment.

To decide on which agent to approach about representing you, I suggest that you Google "Literary Agents" for your area.

Answer 2

That's very impressive! Great job - but I hope you plan to polish it up, edit it down a bit. 450 pages is quite lengthy and you might notice there aren't a lot of books out there that are more than 400 pages.

I'd suggest querying agents. You can find agent listings in a current copy of Writer's Market. Do your research - check out their websites, learn who they represents and how many books they've helped see to publication. Make sure the agents represent/are seeking the genre you have written. And watch out for "preditors" by checking the listings at Preditors and Editors (link below.) No agent or other publishing professional should charge a fee for reading your work. Agents are paid AFTER they sell your book, straight commission on sales.

Good luck and congrats!

§♥♥♥§

Answer 3

You are jumping the gun a little bit here. I have read very few novels, poems, stories, or whatnot that were absolutely perfect on the first pass. Once you are finished writing the book you should probably edit it first. Probably at least a half-dozen times.

Any decent publisher will expect you to be doing this anyway. It is not uncommon to get a book back with a variety of complaint, problems, and so on, all of which you will need to resolve or defend on your own. Nobody writes or changes your work but YOU.

As for tracking down an agent, there are a couple things you can do. Probably the means most assured of success is to get a current client of an agent to recommend you. Most of us, however, do not have those kinds of connections. What you can do instead is to find out who the agents are of people who do work very similar to yours and send then a polite solicitation.

Keep in mind that not every agent works with every kind of material, and many are not looking for new clients. They only make money if you do, and only a fraction of what you get at that, so they tend to like people with a proven track record of making somebody money with their writing... or at least someone who is likely to put out lots of successful material. Mention the genre of your work, its length in words, give a very short summary, and ask them to represent you. And expect to get a lot of 'no' answers. But most of them will at least send a form letter (or postcard) in response.

And don't lose heart. Keep in mind that rejections are part and parcel of the writing business. Some of the most successful books ever written were rejected a dozen times. So it goes.

Answer 4

You just submit your piece to the agents through the latest 2007-08 Writer's Guide for Agents, Editors, and Publishers book. Or Writer's Market 2007-08.

Answer 5

Get hold of a copy of 'Writers and Artists yearbook' it's published yearly and is available in most public libraries. It provides an up-to-date list of agents and for each on it says the type of books they are interested in and current authors they represent. Choose one at a time and write a covering letter and I think maybe the first three chapters of your book (there will be advice on this in Writers and Artists Yearbook. Wait for reply before writing to the next one if you are unsuccessful with the first - a slow process but I believe this is the correct etiquette.
Good luck with getting published.

Answer 6

Agents don't publish books. Publishers, publish books.

You need a literary agent. If the agent likes your manuscript they will contact you.

When sending a manuscript to an agent, enclose a large envelope with sufficient postage, so the script can be returned to you, if they don't have an interest in it.

It helps if you have a friend that is a published author and can refer you to his or her agent.

Buy a copy of The Writer's Market, it lists literary agents and book publishers.

Answer 7

Despite advice to the contrary, you do need an agent for most publishing. If the book is Sci-Fi, Romance, or Mystery there MAY be a chance for unagented publication.

Go to the library or bookstore and check out a copy of Writer's Digest's "Writer's Market." It will list publishers and whether they accept unagented fiction. Even if they do you will need to develop a query and synopsis for submission first. Good luck.

Answer 8

You join an author's group, read the book, The Idiot's guide for getting published, you look up agents in your area, you go online to a publishing house and find their submission requirements

also why try an agent first? if a publishing house allows unsolicited manuscripts just submit yours.

good luck and remember.....The ultimate secret of becoming a successful author is making a total, lifetime commitment.

Answer 9

positive you are able to. a number of the most customary authors in American aren't from now on from that us of a and do not stay there. Publishers do not care the position you're, or what your nationality is, as long as you've an astonishing plot, characters that grab the reader, and convey web page-turning literature.

Answer 10

You don't really need an agent!! You can send off the book to the publishers yourself!! Find a list of publishers and send it off to as many publishers as you can!! If they are interested in publishing your book they will get back to you!!