How can I find a literary agent?

Tutorial

How you’ll go about finding a literary agent depends largely on the current status of your work. If you have a novel, short stories or other works completed and are looking for a market, you’re search for an agent might be a little easier. While the big names in writing can tell their agent that they have a great idea for a new novel and the agents will listen attentively, most unknowns aren’t likely to get much attention unless there’s a finished product to sell.

One of the first places to start looking for an agent is in the popular trade journals associated with writers. You’ll find these at your local library or your favorite bookstore. After that, it’s probably going to turn into a searching expedition. You may spend hours researching potential literary agents in an effort to find one that seems to be a good match. When you pitch your idea, remember that this isn’t an opportunity to keep someone in suspense – you should share a very brief but comprehensive look at your manuscript with the agent. If there’s a great twist that makes your story unique, share that as well. You can keep readers in suspense later but failure to share the entire idea with an agent could lead to rejection.

Remember to follow letter-etiquette when contacting the literary agent and to follow up after a reasonable amount of time – usually a few weeks.

If you know someone who knows someone, this might be just the connection you need. Sometimes, dropping a name will help you but you should never drop a name if you can’t back up the association.