when looking for a literary agent?

Question

is it better to give them your work in person or can you send it to them via net or mail if you're not from the states but how seriously will they take you - or is it just the quality of your work that matters? any help or advice would be appreciated. thanx

Answer 1

Locate a copy of the current Writer's Market--either in your library or bookstore. Then peruse the countless listings of literary (ahem, literary) agents that might accept the genre of your manuscript.

Follow their submission guidelines exactly, making sure that your manuscript is free of spelling and grammatical errors. Some agencies allow e-mail submissions, but many prefer receiving them by regular mail.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Do not hand your work to an agent in person, and do not call them to tell them how wonderful it is. Agents almost universally want their submissions by either snail mail, or e-mail. You must do your research to find out what a particular agent wants to see from you!

So do your homework. Take a look at the most recent "Writer's Market"... or even better, try the "Guide to Literary Agents". Make sure that you follow their exact submission specifications. Yes I am saying this twice because it is THAT important. Many agents will just trash your letter immediately if you did not follow the directions. You can't send them your book, but you should be sending them a query letter (Nicholas Sparks has a good example on his website).

Here are some websites that can help. Read them thoroughly and research, research, research! Pay special attention to Miss Snark, because her archives can answer any question you ever have about publishing:
http://www.publishersmarketplace.com
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/
http://www.agentquery.com/
http://www.misssnark.blogspot.com

And be warned of the people on this list:
http://www.sfwa.org/beware/twentyworst.html

Good luck

Answer 3

Handing a manuscript to an agent in person is a rarity.

Some agents are open to email and virtually all accept mailed manuscripts--but agents do not want to see manuscripts before they ask for them.

Write a one-page query letter and identify agents who are reputable, have recent sales of books like yours, and determine whether they accept email queries or prefer mailed queries. Send out your query letters according to the agent's preference.

If one "bites" and wants to see part or all of your manuscript, that's the time to explain you are not in the same country and to inquire if you may send it via email. Agents are aware of both the cost and in some cases the unreliability or slowness of international mail, and most would be open to such manuscript transmission, especially for a partial.

Answer 4

There is a great site for listing top agents, their clients, the books genres they deal with and contact info.

http://www.publishersmarketplace.com

and a advisory site on what to be careful of when dealing with agents.

http://www.authorhouse.com/GetPublished/LiteraryAgents.aspx