I'm a writer. Anyone know any good, free agents?

Question

I'm a writer and I've been to my share of Internet sites about literary agents and I have a completed manuscript. I know about the whole process to find one and everything, but some keep rejecting my query letters. Does anyone know a free, good and respectable agento or agency?

Answer 1

Agents--like publishers--have to be selective when choosing to represent a writer. Perhaps your query letter is not quite right? Or perhaps you lack writing credentials that would make an agent want to take you on as a client? Do you have publishing credits? If not, then you really need to do something to change that. Agents want to represent proven writers. The best way to show them that you're serious about writing is to pursue publishing credits wherever they're available.

I suggest entering writing competitions. Nearly all of them offer publishing as one of the prizes. Entering competitions that are looking for short stories is one of the best types to enter. Your work will wind up being published in a compilation book with perhaps 4 or 5 other writers who also won an award in the competition. As a rule, I avoid writing competitions that charge an entry fee over $10/US because generally those competitions make their prize money off entry fees! Not a good practice!

There are also book-length competitions you can enter wherein the prize awarded is publication.

Also, submit your shorter fiction work to magazines. Getting your work accepted--and being paid for it--is a publishing credit.

Build up your portfolio so that the next time you query an agent and send them an author bio, you'll have something on it besides your name and address!

When you look for agents, use books like the Literary Marketplace and the Writers Market. Go to the public library and use them for free. Purchasing them is a waste of money as these books are updated annually, which quickly puts your copy out of date.

Never ever pay an agent to represent you. All money flows to a writer...not away from her! Agents that charge fees, usually make their living off those fees instead of off selling your work to publishers.

Good luck to you! :o)

Answer 2

One - the literary agent should offer to represent you for free - they will get a percentage of your income for sold work - usually 15%. The better agents do not charge an upfront fee for reading your submission. Avoid agents who do.
Two - agents usually represent authors in a particular niche in the market. You need to find an agent who has authors who are successful selling for publication the kind of book you have written. For example, if you write a romance novel or a science fiction novel look for an agent who sells that kind of fiction.
Third, the agent is in business and they will reject your work if they feel that they are unlikely to make money representing you. My wife's agent rejects over 95% of the writers who send queries!
Keep writing and keep trying - you only need one good agent!

Answer 3

Agents are tricky... They are more careful about choosing authors and books than publishers, I think. And it really helps if you have a publishing credit to your name already because they are kind of wary of first-time writers. But there are plenty of agents who do give fair treatment to first-timers. Did you go to the Association of Authors' Representatives website? There's some respectably ones on there. I can't give you a specific name. If I could, I'd already have an agent.

Answer 4

As far as I know, a respectable, good agent won't be free. Since you have checked out websites and such, then you would know that agents get a percentage of the amount IF your book is sold. Check out http://www.writersmarket.com/ to see what's available there.

Answer 5

There must be a reason you are rejected. Enroll in a writing class at the University in the city where you live.