Finding an Agent
I don't cover a lot of nuts-and-bolts stuff during my library program, "How I Kept My Day Job and Became a Published Author—and You Can, Too!" In discussing what I call the "literary ecosystem," I focus more on building a sustainable life as a writer and reader, and also on creating the connections that lead to the serendipitous encounters that result in a book deal.
When I was starting out, I read how-to guides that instructed me to write the novel, write a query letter, and then query agents until my book was accepted. That route has worked for some writers, of course, but it didn't work for me—not one of my books was sold that way—and it didn't work for most of my writer friends.
Still, if, like me, you prefer traditional publication to self-publishing, then pursuing an agent is one of those things you can do to while away the hours while you're busy becoming an essential part of the literary ecosystem. And if you've got a presentable query letter, you need someone to send it to.
So how do you choose an agent? Well, you'll have to take my advice with a grain of kosher salt because I was introduced to my agent by a colleague who was already a client of said agent. But I do have a few ideas. I've been a part of the literary ecosystem for a long time and I've had many conversations with writers and agents.
First of all, make sure that the agent is both someone who would be a logical choice to represent you and someone you'd like to work with. To a beginning author, this may sound too choosy—most beginning authors feel flattered when any agent wants to work with them. But I've definitely encountered writers who were so poorly served by having inappropriate agents that they would have been better off waiting for a better match.
The first method of agent-finding that I recommend requires doing a little research. Make a list of books that you admire and that are somewhat similar to yours. Not similar as in identical, but thematically or topically or atmospherically similar to yours—books that appeal to a similar audience. Then find out who agented those books.
Sometimes this is as simple as looking in the acknowledgments and underlining the sentence that reads, And undying thanks to my agent, Agnes Repp, who is the best agent a writer could have! The sentiment could be fiction, but if it's not, you've got both a lead and an endorsement in one. If the agent isn't named or acknowledged, try the author's website. Then Google the author's name and add agent. You'll probably find what you're looking for, but if not, you could be a go-getter and contact the book's publisher, or e-mail the author (with an adoring note), or even subscribe to Publishers Marketplace.
(Speaking of Publishers Marketplace, it's expensive, but if you really want to study the market, it's worth a try. At least sign up for the free newsletter so you can see the deals. You'll find out which publishers are buying which books from which agents.)
The different forms of social media make it easy to get acquainted with agents, too. Even if you don't find an agent to query, you will learn more about how agents think and what they're looking for. So check out GalleyCat's "Best Literary Agents on Twitter" and follow a few.
(And speaking of best agents, beware of the worst. SFWA has long maintained an admirable list under the headline "Writers Beware.")
Another way to meet agents is face-to-face. Attend a writers' conference. You might get the chance to talk up your manuscript to several agents at official pitch sessions, or you might be able to buttonhole an agent at the bar in the evening. You should always think of the bar as a useful resource. Good contacts are made, and handshake deals get done, in hotel bars during conventions and conferences.
You can also check out (from your library) the 2011 Guide to Literary Agents from Writers Digest or Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, and Literary Agents, 2011. Or buy a copy so you can scribble in it. Wading through these fine-print tomes can feel like looking for friends in the phone book, but there is valuable information here. You may not be able to identify the absolute best match for yourself, but you can build a nice list of possibles and eliminate some nonstarters.
There are a number of free agent directories on the web that I'm not too familiar with, but if you try them, always remember to then study the actual agent's website. Look at the books they've sold and the authors they represent. Ask yourself whether the agent seems credible and whether they might be a good fit.
Then, study their submission criteria carefully. Give each agent exactly what they ask for—no more, no less—and do not deviate. If they ask for three sample chapters, don't send 30 pages, and vice versa. Never send any of your writing without permission to do so (whether explicit, in the form of an e-mail or letter, or implicit, as stated in the submission guidelines).
And never, ever, send out 100 query letters, addressed Dear Agent, to names you've culled en masse. That won't work, and it may taint your own name for future use. Better to send one perfectly crafted submission to one perfect prospect. They'll probably pass, anyway, but pick yourself up and move on to the next one.
Meanwhile, keep revising your novel!
An agent's view: Helpful thoughts on "The Unhelpful Rejection Letter"
