5 Reasons You Should Get a Literary Agent

So you wrote a book - and now you're trying to decide between going the self-pub route or traditional publishing route.

If you’re going the route of self-publishing, you don’t need a literary agent.

If you’re going the route of traditional publishing, you do.

I won’t get into the pros/cons of self-publishing vs. traditional in this post, but do want to chat a minute about WHY a literary agent is so great (and so coveted).

In publishing, there are what’s called The Big 5 Publishers:

Penguin/Random House.

Hachette Book Group.

Harper Collins.

Simon and Schuster.

Macmillan.

These publishers have what are called imprints. “An imprint of a publisher is a trade name under which it publishes a work. A single publishing company may have multiple imprints, often using the different names as brands to market works to various demographic consumer segments.” (From ScribeMedia.com)

As an author, we are unable to approach these publishers on our own. We have to have a literary agent approach the editors at the publishing houses with our work on our behalf. The literary agent acts as the publisher's culling process so that they're getting the best work possible (otherwise they’d be inundated).

So here are five reasons a literary agent will make your publishing process that much better:

1. They'll help get your manuscript in the best shape possible. If you have an editorial agent, they’ll help you hone your book before they take it on submission. It’s then their job to pitch your book to editors in the hopes that one of them will want to buy it! Their editorial insight can truly help shape your book and take it to the next level!

2. They approach the publishers on your behalf. The great part is, they’re going to negotiate the best deal for you because they want what’s best for you and your career. And they get a cut, after all. A well deserved cut! They know how to negotiate contracts, all the terms and jargon, they know the editors your book would be the best fit for. This eliminates a huge headache on your part and allows you to spend your time working on your next novel instead of pouring it into endless hours of research. Once an editor makes an offer, your agent will let the other editors know. If another editor makes an offer, your book goes to auction, which means multiple publishers are bidding on it. (That’s the dream, am I right?!) The best part? Your agent walks you through all this and handles everything.

3. They'll talk you off the ledge. Flip to the acknowledgment section of any book and you'll most likely find their agent at the top of the list of people they're thanking. They're not just your agent, sometimes they act as a therapist, too. (Only sort of kidding.) When you're nervous about going on submission, are stuck in imposter syndrome, or aren't sure what to write next, your agent will be the one to talk you off the ledge. They're pros at this and

4. They provide incredible publishing resources. From creating a marketing plan and networking with other authors to social media guidance and up to date insights on the publishing industry, your agent will be a font of information for your publishing journey and career as a writer.

5. You don't pay for anything. You never have to pay a literary agent (and if they ask, run). Unlike self-publishing, which requires your own funds for marketing and ads, an agent only takes a small percentage of your book deal after it's been sold. It's a very small price to pay for all the work they do!

In my mind, a literary agent is the gateway to your success as an author. Without them, our book can’t reach the big guns!

Finding the right agent is just the first step to your success, but in my opinion, it’s one of the most important ones!

If you're in the querying trenches - I highly recomment using Query Tracker to keep track of everythig. If you're looking for agents; I recommend searching MSW.com and/or getting a subcription to Publisher's Marketplace (where you can search the agents of books that are similar to yours).

Don't forget to subscribe for more insights on traditional publishing and check out my pinned story "The Query That Got Me a Literary Agent" where I share my exact query! If you have a $1 or $2 to spare, tips and pledges are always HUGELY appreciated!