10 Reasons Why You Need a Literary Agent

So you’ve a written a thing. It should really be a book, a real one, with covers and everything. You’d love to have it published, see it in the shops, show it to your mum. You’re pretty sure that to make all that happen, you need a publisher. But do you really need a literary agent too?

The short answer is yes.

And I would say that, wouldn’t I, because I’m represented by Jacinta di Mase, the best literary agent in Australia.

But here’s 10 reasons why I’m not wrong.

1. Agents open doors. Publishers actually read the manuscripts that are sent to them by agents.  In fact some only accept work via an agent, or other trusted intermediaries.  Agents and publishers have ongoing professional relationships; they know each other.  So a good agent knows which publishers are most likely to be receptive to a particular manuscript and a good publisher knows that the agent won’t risk wasting their time by sending something unsuitable.  Having an agent therefore enables a writer to skip the publishers’ slush piles.  Although good agents subsequently have slush piles of their own…
2. Agents know the market. Agents sell manuscripts for a living.  Therefore they have a much better idea of what a manuscript is worth to a publisher than an emerging writer does and can negotiate accordingly.  For a really good manuscript, one with interest from multiple publishers, it’s the agent who gets the publishers into an auction process.
3. Agents understand the contracts. Publishing contracts can be pretty complex: international rights, digital rights, film and television rights.  Who knows what any of this means?  Oh, that’s right.  The agent does.
4. Agents negotiate the $$. Some people hate talking about money and, in my experience, even so-called professionals can get very weird about it.  Having an agent means never having to negotiate terms with a publisher.
5. Agents sort out the pitch. Manuscripts are usually submitted to publishers with an accompanying pitch document. It includes summary of the work, your bio, similar recently published works, marketing hooks, and more – the pitch is an important document. I prefer to write my own pitches (which my agent then reviews and revises) but often the agent will draft it herself. Where I make guesses, the agent can draw on her experience to write a proposal that tells publishers everything they need to hear and know.
6. Agents have the hard conversations. Once you have a contract with a publisher (congratulations!) your agent can step in if things aren’t going quite right. Again, they can have the hard conversations while leaving you free to get on with what you need to do in order to get the book out into the world.
7. My agent supports and builds my writing career. After my first book, Elizabeth Macarthur, was out in the world, I had a chat to her about ‘Where to from here?’  She subsequently lined up an opportunity that resulted in me working with Aaron Fa’Aoso to write his memoir, So Far, So Good. She then worked behind the scenes to offer Aaron and I another opportunity – this time the result was Spirit of the Crocodile. At the same time, she pitched my idea about Louisa Lawson to Text Publishing. Result? I now have a contract with them too. I have some ideas about what I want to write after that, and I’m confident my agent will help me make them a publishing reality.
8. My agent talks me up. She promotes my books and author talks online and on social media. She speaks to publishers about my work and recommends me to booksellers. She introduces me and my works to the other writers she represents. Essentially, she’s got my back – and that feels great.
9. Agents provide value for money. My agent receives 15% of any income I receive from the works she’s involved with, with that figure being absolutely standard for most agent-author agreements. Does it sound like a lot?  I don’t think so.  It’s a much riskier business model for her than it is for me.  If she doesn’t sell the manuscript, she’ll have invested her time and effort for zero return.  In my case, having an agent on board has meant I’ve earned much more than I would have originally accepted. She also handles all the admin that ensures money flows through to me from royalties and the Australian Copyright Agency. Frankly, my agent is worth every penny.
10. Have your people talk to my people. Finally, having an agent provides the ability to say things to your (long suffering) friends like “Sorry, no, I can’t speak to you about that cup of tea – you’ll have to call my agent.”  That jokes never gets old, does it friends.  Friends? Friends?  Hello…?

Do you have an agent? Or are you happy without one? I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments.