About Literary Agents
© by Holly Lisle
All Rights Reserved
ABOUT AGENTS IN GENERAL
Please realize that finding good representation requires a major effort
on your part, professional and courteous conduct, and a top-quality product.
About using the term "product" to describe your work: do remember that
your book is your product; not your baby. You'll probably have
to give it a nose job and whack off at least one of its arms before it
reaches publication, so start thinking of it as your product now. The
surgery hurts a lot less that way.
Don't query any agent before you've completed your manuscript---no reputable
agent is interested in an unfinished first novel. The exception to this
would be if you have a hot topical idea and impeccable access to an otherwise
inaccessible subject, and time is of the essence. Think celebrity tell-all
(non-fiction) in this category. Otherwise, finish the book. I can think
of no instance where fiction would be better served by that sort of hurry-up
high-pressure sales pitch. Even if you've published a few short stories
in professional publications, you'll be better served to have a completed
novel in hand when you start querying. That way if you generate interest,
you can immediately ship the whole thing off to the interested agent.
The majority of queries any agent receives---probably around 99%---are
rejected because they lack whatever spark that agent is looking for. This
doesn't mean they're hopeless---what is wrong for one agent might be right
for another. Remember that the agent you want will love the genre you
work in and know the publishers and editors who publish it, and will
love the work you do. Make sure the work you send out is your best, that
it is professionally formatted, free of errors, and entirely yours. (Which
means don't query about anything to which you do not own clear copyright.
Books that contain Star Trek and Star Wars and Dragonlance characters
are examples of this). Also, don't query every agent in Writer's Market
regarding your novel. Read their descriptions of what they're looking
for and believe them---an agent who doesn't like science fiction won't
like your science fiction, and won't appreciate having his time wasted
by yet another beginner who has proved by querying him that he is a beginner,
and worse yet, can't follow instructions.
When contacting any agent, have a career plan in mind. Know what the
next book you want to write is, and have an idea about the next three
or four. Know what you want to accomplish in five years, and in ten. The
odds are that your first published book isn't going to set the world on
fire, but if you have a plan to offer that shows you know how to build
on what you're doing already, (instead of coming to the table with one
book and no idea of what you'll do for an encore) you'll have a better
chance of finding representation.
SPECIFICS ABOUT MY AGENT
Lots of people have asked. Here's the information on my agent.
Robin Rue of Writers House, represents me. She will be a tough market
to hit -- she represents about 35 writers, and notes that she is in a
position to be selective. Robin is a member of the Association of Authors'
Representatives. She was an editor before becoming an agent, she represents
literary and adult fiction, and she has a special love for YA literature.
Among her clients are Linda Howard, Richard Lederer, SL Viehl, and the
estate of VC Andrews.
If you would like to query Robin regarding representation of your own
work, send a single-page query letter that includes your previous publications,
if any, along with a brief description of your completed book, including
its genre, word count, and subject matter. You may also include a single-page,
single-spaced synopsis of the book. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Do not send the manuscript itself unless requested, and if requested,
remember to enclose a manuscript envelope or box with return postage sufficient
to cover the cost of returning your manuscript. Unsolicited manuscripts
are returned unopened. Query first.
You can mention that you saw the recommendation for Ms. Rue on my site;
please do not say that I recommended your work or that you and I are close
personal friends. She will check, and you will damage your credibility
and ruin your chances.
If your work shows merit but does not strike her fancy, she may recommend
you to one of the other agents in the agency.
You may contact her at the following address:
Robin Rue
Writers House
21 W. 26th Street
New York, NY 10010
How to Query an Agent>>
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