Literary Agents: The What and Why

     In the creative writing world, authors want to focus on one aspect above all else: create something that will captivate an audience. But let’s be honest, just because one’s work impresses friends or family, it doesn’t mean it’s going to get the attention of a professional publisher. Unfortunately, the life of a novelist is a highly competitive field; publishers aren’t lining up to hand out contracts, and this is where an agent can be of significant assistance.           
     The idea of an agent seems pretty enticing. They can save the writer time, and there is no upfront cost. The tricky part for the writer is finding an agent who wants to represent their work. Just like publishers, agents want to see something that’s worth reading. The difference is that writers are able to figure out what sort of work certain agents are looking for, and which agents are signing new clients. The idea is to keep at it. Continue to improve your work, and continue sending it to possible agent candidates. The process can take time, but it’s about commitment, and it will be worth the wait. 
     For more in depth information on this subject, read this article by author, Simon Haynes.  

     
     The main prospect of an agent is to get the writer’s work into the hands of a good editor and, in turn, have that work published. But why is this useful? Can’t the writer forward their work to these resources on their own? Simply put, yes; however, agents have more inside knowledge about whom or where to send the work. Don’t feel helpless; this is an agent’s job, and it can save the writer months of waiting, quite possibly, for a rejection letter. Another question that may concern the writer is the matter of payment. Without publication, how can a writer pay an agent for their services? The answer is that their money comes from the publisher to whom the work is sold. In other words, the writer and the agent work as a team to receive income from the same source.