| "So I just talked to my agent, and...." | | | | 2. Get yourself a platform. Agents get behind |
| Admit it - this is something you've always wanted | | | | books not so much because they personally like |
| to say. And while there's a great deal of mystery | | | | them - which they generally do if they agree to |
| surrounding the process of how to find an agent, | | | | represent them - but because they believe lots of |
| it's relatively straightforward. This doesn't mean | | | | other people will buy them. If you already have a |
| you'll be able to snap one up just like that, but the | | | | following of some sort, such as a blog with |
| following tips will greatly increase your chances of | | | | several thousand readers, or a few published |
| success: | | | | magazine articles, it's much easier to land an agent |
| 1. Think like an agent. Look at it this way - both | | | | because you already have an established track |
| you and book agents are essentially after the | | | | record. It's not impossible to find an agent if |
| same thing: a book that sells well and makes lots | | | | you're unpublished and unknown, but it's harder. |
| of money for everyone involved. If you're a good | | | | 3. Follow directions. People never want to hear |
| writer with an interesting idea, the agent wants to | | | | this, but it's hugely important. You don't set |
| make contact with you just as much as you | | | | yourself apart by using glittery ink, calling the |
| want to make contact with him or her. | | | | agent at home, or sending your query letter |
| Submitting a well-written, attention-grabbing query | | | | wrapped around the jumbo-size Whitman's |
| letter is the best way to pique an agent's interest. | | | | Sampler. You set yourself apart by the strength |
| If you can do that, you're already ahead of the | | | | of your writing and your presentation - within the |
| game, because the agent sees right away that a) | | | | framework of what the agent wants. |
| you know how to string a sentence together and | | | | I highly recommend Jeff Herman's Guide to Book |
| b) you know how to hook a reader. These are | | | | Publishers, Editors, and Literary Agents. He gives |
| two skills common to all successful authors, | | | | you the skinny on which agents are looking for |
| regardless of whether they write fiction or | | | | new clients, the types of books they're interested |
| non-fiction. | | | | in representing, the types of books they're not |
| Conversely, if you misspell the agent's name, bore | | | | interested in representing, and submission |
| him or her to tears, and announce in your letter | | | | guidelines. (Some agents prefer email queries; |
| that "My mom thinks this is a great idea for a | | | | some prefer hard copy queries. Some want you |
| book," you'll quickly brand yourself as someone | | | | to send a few sample chapters right away, while |
| who just doesn't get it - i.e., someone the agent | | | | others want only the query to start with. You get |
| will take a quick pass on. | | | | the idea. |