Do I Need a Literary Agent?

Do you need a literary agent? It's a question all new writers ask once they've finished their first manuscript. An agent can give you access to publishers otherwise off-limits, but an agent will also take 15 percent of your earnings. Is it really worth the tremendous effort of researching agencies and sending query letters to find representation? Well, the answer depends on what your goals are.

Traditional Publishing and The Big Five

Assuming your goal is to publish traditionally (we'll talk about untraditional options later), then you'll likely be aiming to publish your novel with one of the so-called 'big five' publishers. These are Penguin Random House, Hachette, Macmillan, Harper Collins, and Simon & Schuster. Placing your novel with one of these big publishing houses will give your novel the best chance of earning you an advance and making it into bookstores across the globe.

However, access to submit your manuscript to any of these publishers is strictly agent-only. The competition of getting a contract is also a whole lot stiffer. But, there is likely to be a bit more money at play and having an agent who only gets paid when you do can be an asset in contract negotiations.

Bottom line: If you think you've got a novel with commercial success and you're looking to reach a wide audience, then I'd suggest going this route. Get an agent.

Indie Presses

Independent presses and publishers also offer an excellent path to publication. While there is likely less money involved in terms of getting an advance and your print run could be smaller than with a larger publisher, you will have more wiggle room with your contract terms. Indie presses offer a more personal publication process that can feel less like a business transaction and more like a group labor of love. Also, Indie books frequently have a much shorter publication timeframe, sometimes turning manuscripts into bookshelf-ready novels in as little as six months. Indie presses don't normally require agented submissions, but will accept them.

So this is where things get a bit murky. Having an agent onboard will help negotiate a better, stronger contract for you. I've heard horror stories of authors not getting paid because they had no one to advocate for them when their publishers decided not to play fair. However, with little money on the table and a potentially small print run, do you really need an agent adding another voice to the mix and taking a cut of your pay?

Bottom line: This is a good option if your novel is not so commercial or is of niche interest. Many indie presses specialize in hidden gems that often get overlooked by the commercial publishers and can frequently be pathways to big literary awards. Getting an agent here is up to you, but if you decide to forego representation, be sure to hire an entertainment lawyer to look over any contracts before signing.

Hybrid Publishers

Hybrid publishers are the new kids on the block and offer a pathway to publication that is halfway between traditional and self publication. Many of these hybrids rely on crowdfunding as a way to drum up funds to publish, often asking the writer to have their friends and social networks pledge to buy the book before a single copy is ever printed. Once enough money has been raised, the publisher will then go through the traditional process of editing, designing, printing, and launching, etc.

You'll have more control over the process but still have the backing of a publisher to help you out. Just know that this process requires a lot of funding up front and there is no guarantee you'll meet your needs or make your investment back.

Bottom line: There is still a contract involved here, which needs to be looked over carefully, but generally speaking an agent would not be involved here. Go this route if what's most important is seeing your book for sale in a bookshop and you've got the friends and social network willing to help make that happen.

Self Publishing

If what's most important to you is simply to have your manuscript turned into a physical book and you care more about having control over the process than you do about distribution, then self publishing is the way to go. Here you have total control over everything from editing to the cover design, but you also have to do all the work and pay for it.

For some people who have huge online followings, marketing a self published novel might be a breeze, but for others it could be a publicity nightmare just trying to get word out that your book exists. Without a publishing house behind you, you'll suddenly need to learn how to be your own marketing and publicity team. It will also require your own money to cover basic costs such as printing and design.

Bottom line: You don't need an agent. Go this route if your only goal is to say you've published a novel or if you only need enough copies for your family members to read. Likewise, if you want total and complete creative control of your story and are prepared to do the legwork of marketing after it's published, then self publishing could be for you.

There are a lot of options to choose from when considering a path to publication, and not all of them require having a literary agent. A lot depends on what you, the author, want to achieve. Have you got the next great American novel, or a steamy rom-com waiting to be snapped up? Get an agent. But if you're writing an experimental novella told in three languages and comprised entirely of questions, well, maybe an agent isn't in your future. Happy publishing!