niedziela, 16 października 2011

Find The Right Literary Agent

By Carole Ashley


You are finally holding the book you have dreamt to write for years, and you are painfully aware of just how much work and passion has gone into the process. However, if you think writing the book was hard, you are in for a not-so-good surprise. The really difficult part is to actually get your baby into a printed form, so that it will not forever reside in a drawer in your bedside table. For this, you would need the services of a book agent. Not just any book agent, but also someone who is good at his work. There is a huge selection of literary agents for you to choose from, so you will need to choose one that is right for your needs.

First of all, you must inquire about the type of books different agents represent. This is important since some agents work with fiction, some specialize in poetry whereas other love technical titles. Once you identify a list of agents who deal in your area of work, you would need to zero down on someone who can ensure that your interests are protected. This can actually be a tricky step. It's almost like searching for a needle in a haystack. Don't be surprised if you keep bumping into scammers disguised as book agents. Though people like these are available in plenty, they are in it only for themselves and can be really terrible at their job.

Most good agents have learned their skills by working with other agents before. Those previous jobs probably taught them valuable skills necessary to talk to publishers and clients. He would have the gone ahead and set up his own business. These agents work hard and don't ask for any money aside than the standard commission. They will also do things like editing your books free of cost.

If you sign up with a scammer, you are likely to see a bill even before your book releases. A real agent will not do that. When your book starts selling, your agent retains a small percentage of your royalties. This is usually how you can easily detect a scammer. And, a scammer will likely suggest a third party for editing, when he or she should instead do the editing for free. If they represent books, they should be able to edit one.

In short, make sure you do extensive research on literary agents. You should feel comfortable with them right through. And if something doesn't strike you right, feel free to switch to a new one as soon as possible. And it is okay for you to switch more than once, since you must always feel comfortable with the people you are working with. Your agent can make or break your literary dreams.




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