Do you need an agent? Well, it depends on what your publishing goals are. Take this little test.
I get asked this question all the time by writing friends who are getting ready to publish. It’s a good question. Literary agents are one of those publishing business mysteries. These eight questions might help you determine your needs.
1. I have a completed work of fiction.
a) Yes
b) No
2. It has been edited by more than one person (not related to me).
a) Yes
b) No
3. It is something that appeals to a broad audience, and I know its genre.
a) Yes
b) No
4. I want my work to be published by a large publisher as opposed to a smaller press. [This is a complex question. It involves knowing whether you have the time and interest in marketing your book nationally and by traveling to promote it. It also involves deciding whether you are willing to make writing a career, or whether it is a hobby. Smaller presses will often still ask a writer to travel some for promotion, but not on the scale a larger publisher would.]
a) Yes
b) No
5. I don’t have someone in my life I trust to read legal contracts.
a) True
b) False
6. I don’t mind sharing part of my earnings with another person, even if royalty checks are not large.
a) True
b) False
7. I would rather put the fate of my book into the hands of a knowledgeable, connected person than work the system myself.
a) True
b) False
8. I am confident I want to go the “traditional” publishing route rather than self-publishing or e-publishing.
a) True
b) False
These are pretty rudimentary questions, and I’m sure the decision will be more complex for some people. But, here’s the rub:
Basically, if your answers tend to be in the “a” column, you’re likely to want to find an agent. Before you do, you neeeeeeeed to have a completed, polished, edited manuscript. That’s job one. Then you start the querying process, through researching agents that fit your needs and personality and genre. Much of this information is online now, and a good resource I’ve found for querying is Chuck Sambuchino’s Guide to Literary Agents. He updates it every year. Good places to look online are AgentQuery.com and EditorsandPredators.com. Reviews are available. Not all agents are created equal.
If your answers tended toward “b,” you probably don’t need an agent. Many of my friends write for a smaller niche of readers, such as the LDS audience. There may be an LDS agent, but it’s rare if it exists. Much of that is probably because the readership is more niche, the royalty checks will be smaller to divvy up, and it’s not a profitable business for an agent. (That’s my guess.)
Also, smaller presses often don’t require a go-between for their authors. This means they likely receive more manuscripts that get slushed, and requires more reading time for them as they receive them, but for whatever reason, they’ll work directly with authors. They, however, often have smaller staffs for publicity, as well as smaller budgets. Authors who want bigger success will, of course, have to put in more marketing effort themselves with a smaller press.
One “pro” to having an agent is they are there to assure the best legal interest for the author. They should have experience reading literary contracts and can potentially negotiate different terms for their clients. However, many literary contracts are simple boilerplates and some are non-negotiable for new authors. These are things to take into consideration.
I personally fell into the “b” category. After querying agents I realized I’d be happier with a small press, where I could build relationships with the staff and other authors (which I, so happily, have) and where my writing could remain my hobby, rather than having pressure exerted to make it a career. (Job one for me is to be The Mom. Writing is for fun and kicks and variety.)
I married a lawyer so, the contract/legalese didn’t worry me. I didn’t mind gearing up and doing quite a bit of my own marketing online (although, yeah, it’s been a bit of a time-vacuum now and then), and I like that the publisher has been very supportive of my efforts.
I really feel like I lucked out with Jolly Fish Press. It’s been a happy, happy experience. However, not all small presses are created equal. Research them like you would an agent. Ask some of their authors how their experience has been. It’s okay to ask.
Finally, traditional publishing is a great way to go, especially for first books. E-publishing is becoming more and more common. However, who among us hasn’t picked up a cheap e-book by a novice author and been sorry? Being published traditionally is a way to establish credibility as a writer. It’s a signal that your work has been vetted and deemed worthy by a team of experts. Readers appreciate that. It’s worth a shot.
Happy agent (or publisher) hunting!
