The Book Deal Diaries #4
How I got my literary agent!
Welcome!
For those of you who are new to the Book Deal Diaries - my inside track on how I got a book deal - I wish you a very warm welcome 💕 👋
Here is what we have covered so far:
The Book Deal Diaries Introduction
#1: Choccy scoffy crumpets and the conversation that changed my life
Guest interview with best-selling author Beth Kempton
#3: The business of books and the book proposal
As I start to enter into ‘real time’ processes with my first book, my final submission deadline from the publisher approaches so my work time this month is all about editing - oh the excitement! I have not picked up Breaking Waves since October, purposely giving myself some clear space from it before my final edit. It will be interesting to see how it feels to re-read it now - I’ll let you know how I get on…
In the meantime, I will reflect back and share with you one of the most significant pieces in my ‘path to publication’ jigsaw - getting an agent. How it happened, who my agent is, how to go about getting one; and then I will follow on with what is so important about our relationship.
Ways to get a literary agent
Last week I talked about putting together a book proposal - an essential process, particularly for non-fiction writers, which not just results in a tangible asset to submit to agents and/or publishers, but also helps to hone your book idea, understand where you fit in the market, and who your audience is likely to be.
Once you have started to consider all these aspects of your book, and once the confidence in your book idea has crystallised, it may be time to think about where and how to pitch it, and who to.
Do I need an agent?
This question in itself is a moveable feast. Some publishing houses take submissions directly - usually smaller, independent ones. Some countries don’t necessarily require contact to be made via an agent, and clearly if you self-publish, you are your own agent, publisher, publicist, marketer and everything…so it depends where you are and what you are looking for. You may already even have been offered a book deal directly with a publisher, and think that there is no point in engaging an agent at that stage…? Specific comment on this further below.
There are many, many ways to skin the proverbial these days, and I will talk in a later piece about self-publishing and supported self-publishing; however if you would like someone to advocate on your behalf, to negotiate for you, to walk you through the minefield of publishing (even if you already have a deal), to act as your editor, to champion and guide you, to encourage you, to hold you accountable, and…to possibly land you a book deal, then you really can’t do much better than having a literary agent by your side. If you want to take a shot at the ‘traditional’ publishing route, this is where I suggest you begin.
Doing the homework - the fun part!!
Whilst some of the business aspects of a book such as the market analysis, writing bios and constructing PR plans may feel like chores (depending on where your interests lie), once the book proposal has taken shape, the next part is exploratory, and actually fun: researching your ‘ideal’ literary agent.
However you feel about getting an agent, read on, because I have felt all of those things at different times, and how I ended up with an agent unfolded in a way that took me completely by surprise.
How I got my agent:
It began with two clear actions for me: