Anyone know websites I can go to to get an agent to help publish my book? Also, are you aware of the average charge for one or at least a rough estimate? I don't want to be ripped off.
2007-12-29 16:02:30 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
You don't pay an agent. They receive a portion of your royalties. The only things they can legally charge you for are things like postage, copying of your manuscript, long distance calls. If an agent requests a reading fee or any other front money from you, they are a scam and should be reported to Preditors and Editors and Absolute Write Water Cooler's Bewares and Background Checks.
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They're, Their, There - Three Different Words.
Careful or you may wind up in my next novel.
Pax - C
2007-12-29 16:13:18 · answer #1 · answered by Persiphone_Hellecat 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
What you need to do, once you have a highly polished novel complete and impossible to improve, is identify agents who have recently sold other novels like it. This takes time and trips to a big bookstore, usually. Jot down the names of the authors in your genre whose books are currently on bookstore shelves. Look inside for thanks and dedications, where agents may be named.
You can do a search of each author's name, in quotation marks, and the word agent and learn who represents whom. You can find other agents seeking work in your genre through Writer's Market and Literary Marketplace (US) or Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook (UK).
Research each agent. Find websites with career history, sales, personal bio, AAR membership, etc. Determine whether they prefer email or regular mail for queries. Figure out who’s a good fit for you. Don’t be afraid to aim high. The worst that can happen is they say no.
Write a one-page query letter, tailoring it to individual agents as it’s possible with the information you got from research, and send it to the few agents you'd most like to represent you. If the query letter is really good and you've done your homework well, at least some will ask for a partial or full manuscript. If none does, rewrite the query before sending out the next batch.
2007-12-30 11:29:23 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The "Writer's Market" is the best place to look for a literary agent. It comes in book form, updated every year and usually available at any bookstore, and it also has a website, but you have to pay a subscription fee (it is only a few dollars I believe).
It is really an invaluable resource for any writer.
Good luck!
2007-12-30 00:08:14 · answer #3 · answered by Kess 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Preditors and Editors is a good site to go to.
(PS: Agents don't "charge" to represent you, nor do you pay them to represent you. If either one does...? RUN.
Also: Be prepared for a load of rejections. It's more common than you think.)
2007-12-30 02:58:38 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Listen to Persiphone_Hellecat and Maryn Bittner. They know better! Good luck.
2007-12-30 12:01:01 · answer #5 · answered by Miss M ♥ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋