![]() Kim Perel, Irene Goodman Literary Agency This might not seem relevant, but, depending on where you land, you can either get one agent as your advocate or, in a more collaborative setting, the full force of a whole team behind you. I suggest asking how their agency works internally. How do you make payments? Directly from the publisher (85/15 split)? Or do you take the payments and have to pay me? If the latter, how long does it take you to make the payment? Jim McCarthy, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret Knowing what happens if the first book doesn’t work out says a lot about how much you’re seen as a long-term investment as opposed to the author of one great book. What happens if you can’t sell my project? No matter how confident an agent is in their ability to place your book, no one can guarantee a deal until an offer has been made. There’s not an automatic right or wrong but it should be a conversation.) I’ve taken on projects that felt out of step with the market because I’ve loved them and taken on projects that felt in step with the market and not necessarily a perfect fit for me. Why do you want to represent this? (The answer should be holistic about what they want their list to look like, as well as the market. How hands-on are you editorially? What if I don't agree with some of your editorial suggestions? How does your agency handle the sale of foreign rights and dramatic rights? ![]() Danya Kukafka, Aevitas Creative Management How does the agent envision your career in the long-term? What are their hopes and dreams for you, and how do those hopes and dreams intersect with yours? Jeff Kleinman, Folio Literary Management So I prefer emails. Ask the agent who is interested in your work what their own communication style is like and how quickly you should expect to hear back from them. Some clients prefer to do calls, which is fine, but can be intrusive and difficult to schedule. What is your communication style? Very often, clients are confused about the best way to be in touch with me. How do you see my book fitting into your overall list and what you are looking to accomplish as an agent? Heather Jackson, Heather Jackson Literary Agency What if I don’t agree with a publisher’s vision for the jacket or the marketing or some element of the plan or issue? How will you help me navigate that? What brings you to/informs the work you do? If our professional relationship doesn’t work out (which I hope wouldn’t be the case if we chose to work together!), can you describe the process of severing professional ties? Cherise Fisher, Wendy Sherman Associates What is your general timeline from the moment we sign our agency agreement to submission to publishers? What are the timeline markers along the way? Sonali Chanchani, Folio Literary Managementĭo you have a strong sense of which editors or imprints you’d target during the book’s submission to publishers?īefore we go out on submission, will you share your submission list/pitch letter with me? How would we work together after the book is sold? Michelle Brower, Aevitas Creative Management How do you see my book being published? What other books fit with it in the market? (helps show that you have a shared vision) Sarah Bowlin, Aevitas Creative Management How quickly do you return emails? What’s your preferred method of communication? ![]() Amy Elizabeth Bishop, Dystel, Goderich & BourretĪuthors should definitely ask about communication styles as communicating with your agent about all aspects of your work is key. It’s a great way to get a sense for the agent’s style of working with authors and get a “reference” of sorts.Īre you open to me writing books in other genres/trying different things? (i.e.: If I’m writing YA now, could I write an adult book in the future? If I do more romance, could I try my hand at a thriller?) If an author has an offer of representation on the table, I recommend respectfully requesting the names of a few of their existing clients to speak to. But once an agent expresses interest, how do you know if it’s a great match? Here are 23 questions to ask an agent who’d like to represent your work, recommended by top literary agents.ĭo we have the same vision for what I want to accomplish in the publication process? It’s a key step in the path toward publication. The dream for most emerging writers is to connect with a literary agent.
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