by Ruth Belena

Created on: April 21, 2010

The main purpose in seeking a good literary agent is to get your writing published. You have a better chance of acceptance from a publisher when your manuscript is forwarded by a literary agent who understands the market and has contacts within the publishing industry. Before you set out to find a literary agent you need to make a few decisions and determine what type of literary agency will provide you with the best service.

If you require a professional appraisal or full critique of your writing, be prepared to pay for this service. You can also pay for professional editorial services before starting to find a publisher. Some literary agents charge an initial reading fee, but this will not required by most reputable agencies. A genuine literary agent will represent you, and submit your manuscript to appropriate publishers, for a small percentage of your writing income after publication. 

1 - Consult a directory of literary agents

A quick search on the Internet will reveal many online guides, directories and lists of literary agencies. Before using a directory you will need to know exactly what to look for in a literary agent.

• You might need to find an agent in your own locality or country of residence, or have you reason to use an overseas agent.

• You could require a specialist literary agency to handle your manuscript, if you write for a specific niche readership or when your fiction is of a particular genre.

Literary agents can add their own details to free online databases, and inclusion in a directory is no guarantee of a reliable service.

2 - Do some background checks on literary agents

For real help and advice in finding a reliable agent, ask questions in discussion forums on author websites or join online writing communities to find genuine recommendations .

Many literary agents, and some of their clients, have Twitter accounts or profiles on LinkedIn. These are two of the best social networks for connecting with agents, and to get feedback from their clients.

A reputable American agency will be listed as a member of the Association of Authors Representatives. A good British agency will be a member of the Association of Authors Agents.

3 - Get a literary agent to accept you as a client 

A sample of your writing, along with a query letter, should provide enough information for a good literary agent to decide whether or not to accept you as a client. Send an extract from your book or other sample material, printed on one side of A4 paper, unbound and with numbered pages. Always double space your lines and take care to proofread carefully. Check spelling and grammar in your query letter, as well as in the sample.
 
Use a query letter to explain briefly what your book is about and give your writing credentials. Identify the market for your book, and specify how it is different from other titles in that genre and what will make it stand out for that readership.

You should have no difficulty finding someone to represent you if you are prepared to do a little background checking and use reliable sources of information to find a literary agent 

Learn more about this author, Ruth Belena.
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