Vanessa Fox O'Loughlin, AKA bestselling author Sam Blake, shares her insider tips for how aspiring writers can land an agent and bag the best book deal...
Maeve Binchy said that your relationship with your agent is like a marriage – but it's a business relationship too, and finding someone who fits that combination can be quite a challenge.
Many writers manage happily without an agent (it’s ESSENTIAL though, that you get contract advice from industry experts like the Irish Writers Union or the Society of Authors before you sign anything). It’s NOT a reflection of your worth if you don’t have an agent – there are many market variables at play, none of which are about you personally.
However, agents are worth their weight – and invaluable for many authors. It’s their job to help build your career and make money for you, and in doing so, earn their commission (typically 15% in home markets and 20% elsewhere). This doesn’t just mean making the best deals – it includes helping you to produce your best work, and guiding you through the rocky patches.
If you are looking for an agent, these are a few essentials that you need to consider:
1. Is your book ready to go out? The vast majority of new writers send a book out too early, before they’ve redrafted many times. Ensure your story starts right before the action begins, that the characters are well developed, that it’s an 'original and fresh’ take on the premise.
2. Agents aren’t there to give an opinion. If you’re not sure if a character is working, or the timeline’s a bit wobbly, your book isn’t ready – don’t send it.
3. Are you approaching the right person? Not every agent represents every genre – you need to do some matchmaking to ensure that harmonious marriage.
4. Have you read the agent’s guidelines and followed them to the letter? Agents have perfected their personal submission procedure to suit their workflow. Remember this is a business relationship, would you want to work with someone who can’t follow the instructions? If your submission letter starts, "I know you don’t…but…" don’t send it – if they don’t represent horror, or poetry, take submissions in April or on Mondays, then they don’t. They’ll delete your submission.
5. Have you written a great pitch (summarising the book in a few lines that make the agent want to read it) and cover letter – is it succinct?! Agents could be getting 100 submissions a day – make yours stand out in its professionalism.
6. Send your work to several agents – you will get rejected by some, but expect this and keep going. You only need one to say yes!
7. Don’t necessarily jump on the first agent who does say yes – make sure that you connect with them, that their vision for your book is the same as yours, that they ‘get’ you. Make sure you meet them – in person ideally, or on Zoom at the very least – and that you feel you can work with them.
8. Finding an agent IS like finding a partner, as Maeve Binchy said, so be discerning, and start by applying to International Literature Festival Dublin for that first date! Submissions for Date With An Agent (taking place as part of International Literature Festival Dublin in May) are now open here, offering ten emerging writers the opportunity to meet one-to-one with top literary and screen agents from across all genres of publishing.
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
