Do I need a Literary Agent to get published?

I see lots of posts by writers and authors asking ‘Do I need a literary agent to get published?’ Based on my experience with my own agent, Hayley Steed, and discussions with fellow authors, let me have a go at answering.

Firstly…

What does a literary agent actually do?

This list is not exhaustive, but a literary agent will:

• Prepare your manuscript for submission by working through an editing process with you;
• Identify publishers who will be a good fit for your story and put out initial feelers to gauge interest;
• Organise a number of submissions;
• Manage any bidding process and negotiate a contract;
• Gather royalties and disperse them to you;
• Possibly keep rights for audio and film and try and sell these if the chosen publisher doesn’t want them or isn’t strong in that area;
• Sell foreign rights;
• Step in and sort out any problems you might have with the publisher;
• Guide your career;
• Provide moral and emotional support in what is a very solitary occupation.

That’s a lot of different aspects to the job! Your agent is your coach, your confidante and your sounding board. There has to be a strong bond of trust, as they are essentially in charge of your author career. And you have to have a personal chemistry, like any other relationship.

A key thing to remember is… not all literary agents are the same! Agencies vary from one person outfits to larger operations with a number of agents. Some are able to sell foreign rights, some aren’t as strong in that arena. Others have agents dedicated to TV and Film, others don’t.

So now you know what a literary agent does, you need to ask yourself a series of questions.

What are your career ambitions?

Is writing a hobby, or do you want a career as an author? Has writing one book been your goal and now you’re done with it, or has it lit a fire in your belly and you want to write more? Or have you got a drawer full of manuscripts that you’d like to see out in the world?

Agencies and publishers are both looking to build author brands, which takes time and money. Very few authors make it big with their first book – it requires a patient building of a fan base. Also, the vast majority of debut deals are for two books, so can you write a second one, or does that feel too daunting?

You also need to think about time commitments. Publishing works to deadlines, so if you have a busy life already, you need to consider how you could carve out time for working through the editing process and writing a second book.

The other consideration is to do with personal goals – do you want to see your book on the shelves of bookshops and supermarkets? In which case you need a traditional publisher and an agent. Or are you happy to write books that are geared towards e-readers? In which case, you have more options!

What type of publisher is most likely to be interested in your book?

I think the publishing industry is a mysterious beast to those not working in it, so let me give you my understanding of how it’s organised.

• There are 5 massive publishers, who each have a large number of imprints. Each imprint caters for a different segment of the market and focuses on publishing titles which will appeal to its audience.
• All of the large publishers have digital imprints, which focus on commercial ebook sales. For example, my publisher, Bookouture, is a part of Hachette.
• Each imprint has its own editorial team and submissions requirements.
• Alongside the big 5, there is a large number of smaller indie publishers, which each have their own personality in terms of the range of genres they publish and the look of their books.

You need an agent to access the big 5 publishers, but a number of the indies will take direct submissions. Most of the digital imprints will also take direct submissions.

The type of publisher most suited to your book depends on the type of story you have written.

Which leads me on to my next question…

What genre do you write?

If you’re not sure, you can find a comprehensive list on The Book Genre Dictionary.

I’m going to split these into commercial and literary fiction.

Commercial fiction is generally more plot driven, and read for entertainment rather than its art. It is written in an accessible style, is faster paced and subjects are relatable. Literary fiction has more of a focus on the writing than the plot.

Literary fiction

If you write any genre of literary fiction, then you can only access traditional publishers via an agent.

Commercial fiction

If you write commercial fiction, then digital imprints are an excellent option.

Royalties are higher than traditional publishing and it is much speedier – 6 months to get a book to print rather than 18 months to 2 years with a traditional publisher. But… the focus is ebooks and although paperbacks are available as print on demand, they don’t tend to make it into book shops. So if your aim is to get your book into a major store, this is not the route for you.

Technically, you don’t need an agent, as most digital publishers take direct submissions and will do everything an agent will do for you except: negotiate the deal, make sure the contract is okay and mediate if there are problems.

Having an agent can also push your submission in front of an editor quicker than if you go through the general submissions process and your agent will pitch it for you.

As with agents, not all digital publishers are the same! I’m with Bookouture, who pride themselves on author care. At the moment, 60% of their authors are un-agented. Being part of Hachette means they have access to a wide range of options for their authors, including paperback deals, US print runs, foreign and film rights. This means they can do everything for an author that an agent would do and as every author is offered the same deal, there’s no negotiating to be done.

What’s your personality and skills set?

This is an important consideration when trying to decide… do I need an agent?

If your day job has trained you in contracts and negotiation and you feel confident you know what you’re doing then you can probably do without. The Society of Authors will cast an eye over contracts for members, so there is independent support out there.

So… do I need an agent?

The answer is… it depends on your ambitions, your personality and skills and the genre of book you are writing.

If you want a traditional publisher and books in shops then yes, you need an agent.

If you write commercial fiction, want a career as an author and are happy to write two books a year, then digital could be the way to go. In which case, you don’t need an agent to submit.

If you have ambitions to write more than one genre, then an agent would be useful.

A better question in the digital arena would be do you want an agent? So this is where it comes down to personal preference!

My personal view is that having an agent in your corner is beneficial, especially when you are starting off and haven’t a clue how the industry works. You can read my own journey to publication here.

Publishing tends to work on two-book contracts, so as a career choice, it doesn’t feel terribly secure. Your agent is there to help you decide what is best for you and to make the most of opportunities. They will help you sort through story ideas before presenting them for a new contract and they can advise on whether the publisher is doing a good job for you. If the view is that they’re not, they will help you find a new publisher.

Industry knowledge is invaluable when making career decisions and agents have an overview of what is happening. They know the market trends and can guide you in the best direction.

The best bit about having an agent though, is knowing that your biggest fan has always got your back!

If you’re still not sure, you might like this article, which has a more detailed examination of the pros and cons of having a literary agent.

I would love to hear you comments, so please do let me know if this post has been helpful!

My next post will be an interview with my agent, so let me have your questions in the comments and I’ll put them to her.