How To Look For A Literary Agent Online
Posted on April 16, 2008
When you have a book
HOW TO LOOK FOR A LITERARY AGENT ONLINE
Anyone can look for a literary agent online. Even a high school student could do that. But it takes a seasoned writer to know that simply using Google and searching for “literary agents” isn’t the most effective strategy. Why? Because more likely than not you’ll find too many literary agents and you won’t screen them to narrow down your search results. You need to know whether the agents you find are good.
The first thing to ask is whether the agent is a member of the Association of Authors’ Representatives, Inc. (AAR), a not-for-profit organization of independent literary and dramatic agents. If the answer is no, it doesn’t necessarily mean the agent is bad or unqualified, it may simply mean the agent or agency is too young to have become a member. As the AAR points out, “To qualify for membership in the AAR, an agent must meet professional standards specified in the organization’s bylaws and agree to subscribe to its Canon of Ethics.” Many agents that are not members choose to conform to those ethical guidelines anyway. But being a member of AAR is a good sign.
WHAT DOES THE LITERARY AGENT REPRESENT?
One of the most important criteria to consider when looking for a literary agent is what kinds of books does the agent represent. Does the agent specialize in a particular genre? If so, is it the kind of book that you will be writing?
Another question you need to consider is whether the agent has sold anything recently. Some agents sell a lot, and those are the agents who have a high volume of business. This is good for you because it means the agent has a lot of contacts in the publishing world and sells a lot of books and is well respected by editors and different publishing houses.
Knowing how to evaluate a literary agent is an important skill. The techniques outlined in this article will help you find an agent online and evaluate his or her credentials. By selecting a literary agent who is a good match for you and your work, you’ll have an advantage over writers who are working with agents who are not really ideal for their material.
William Cane is the author of The Art of Kissing, translated into 19 languages. He taught English at Boston College for fourteen years and today is a widely sought-after speaker at colleges and universities nationwide. His Web site contains more insider writing advice for those wishing to get published: http://www.hiwrite.com
Copyright © 2007 William Cane
Tags: book proposals, literary agents, publishing, writing
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