Looking for an agent?

If you're an Aussie writer looking for an agent to represent your work, you might be feeling overwhelmed by the options. There are so many agents out there, but how do you know which one is right for you? How do you find the best match for your genre, style, and goals? And how do you approach them without getting rejected or ignored?

Don't worry, I'm here to help. I've been through the process myself and I've learned a few tips and tricks along the way. In this blog post, I'll share with you some steps you need to take to find and land an agent for your book.

Step 1: Do your research

Before you query agents, you need to do some homework. You need to find out which agents are open to submissions, which ones represent your genre, and which ones have an excellent track record of selling books to publishers. You also need to check their submission guidelines and preferences, as well as their response times and feedback policies.

There are several ways to do your research. You can use online databases like QueryTracker or AgentQuery, which list agents by genre, location, and other criteria. You can also browse the websites of literary agencies and individual agents, where you can find their bios, client lists, and recent sales. Another excellent source of information is social media, where you can follow agents on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and see what they are looking for and what they are excited about.

Step 2: Make a shortlist

Once you have a list of potential agents, you need to narrow it down to the ones you want to query. Ideally, you should have at least 10 to 15 agents on your shortlist, but not over 20. You want to have enough options, but not too many that you lose track of who you've contacted and what their responses were.

To make your shortlist, you need to consider several factors. First, you need to make sure that the agent is actively looking for new clients and that they are interested in your genre and subgenre. You also need to look at their client list and see if they have any authors who write similar books to yours or who have a similar voice or style. You want to find an agent who has a vision for your book and who can pitch it effectively to publishers.

Another thing to consider is the agent's personality and communication style. You want to find someone who is professional, responsive, and respectful, but also someone who is enthusiastic, supportive, and honest. You want someone who will give you constructive feedback, but also someone who will champion your book and celebrate your successes. You want someone who will be a suitable partner for your writing career.

Step 3: Write a killer query letter

A query letter is a one-page letter that introduces yourself and your book to an agent. It's your first impression and your chance to hook them with your story. A good query letter should include four elements: a salutation, a hook, a synopsis, and a bio.

1. The salutation is where you address the agent by name and mention why you are contacting them specifically. For example, you can mention that you saw their tweet about looking for Australian writers or that you loved their client's book that was like yours.

2. The hook is where you capture the agent's attention with a catchy sentence or two that summarises the fundamental premise of your book. It should include the genre, the word count, the title, the protagonist's name and goal, the major conflict or obstacle, and the stakes or consequences.

3. The synopsis is where you expand on the hook and summarise the plot. It should include the main characters, the setting, the inciting incident, the major plot points, and the resolution. It should also show what makes your book unique from other books in your genre.

4. The bio is where you tell the agent a bit about yourself and your writing background. It should include any relevant credentials or achievements, such as previous publications, awards, degrees, or memberships. It should also include any personal details that relate to your book or show your personality.

Here's a couple of resource that you might also find helpful. Guide to Literary Agents, Writer’s Market

Step 4: Follow the submission guidelines

Once you have written your query letter, you need to follow the submission guidelines of each agent on your shortlist. These guidelines will tell you how to format your letter, what attachments or samples to include (such as a synopsis or the first few chapters), how to send it (via email or online form), and what subject line or keywords to use.

You must follow these guidelines exactly. Agents receive hundreds of queries every week and they don't have time to deal with submissions that don't follow their rules. If you don't follow their guidelines, they might delete your query without even reading it or reject it automatically.

Step 5: Be patient and persistent

After you have sent your queries, you need to be patient and persistent. It can take weeks or months for agents to respond to your queries, and some of them might not respond at all. You need to keep track of your submissions and follow up with agents who haven't replied after a reasonable period (usually 6 to 8 weeks).

You also need to be prepared for rejections. Rejections are part of the process and they don't mean that your book is bad or that you are a poor writer. They just mean that the agent wasn't the right fit for your book or that they didn't have room on their list or that they had a different vision for your book. You need to take rejections as an opportunity to learn and improve your query letter or your book.

But you also need to celebrate the requests. Requests are when agents ask for more material from you, such as a full manuscript or a partial manuscript. Requests mean the agent liked your query letter and your book enough to want to read more. They are a sign that you are getting closer to finding an agent.

Step 6: Choose the best agent for you

If you are lucky enough to get more than one offer of representation from agents, you need to choose the best agent for you. This is not a straightforward decision, and it depends on several factors. You need to consider the agent's experience, reputation, connections, sales record, contract terms, commission rate, and editorial input. You also need to consider how well you get along with the agent, how well they understand your book and your goals, and how enthusiastic they are about your book.

You should ask each agent some questions before you make your decision, such as:

1.      How do you plan to pitch my book to publishers?

2.      What publishers do you have in mind for my book?

3.      How do you communicate with your clients and how often?

4.      How do you handle revisions, submissions, contracts, royalties, and rights?

5.      How do you support your clients' careers beyond their first book?

You should also talk to some of the agent's current or former clients and ask them about their experience working with the agent. You should ask them how satisfied they are with the agent's services, how responsive and helpful the agent is, how well the agent negotiates deals and handles issues, and how supportive the agent is of their career.

Once you have gathered all the information you need, weigh the pros and cons of each agent and trust your gut feeling. You should choose the agent who offers you the best deal, but also the one who makes you feel comfortable, confident, and excited.

Finding an agent for your book is not an effortless task, but it's not impossible either. It takes a lot of research, writing, patience, persistence, and luck. But if you follow these steps and work hard on your book and your query letter, you will increase your chances of finding an agent who will help you achieve your publishing dreams.

Good luck!

Here are a couple of other resources you might find helpful.

• Writing courses – Reedsy Learning, MasterClass (writing and publishing courses)

• Professional editing tools – Grammarly, ProWritingAid