By Will Weaver (Guest Post)
A writer pal called recently to grumble about his agent-and, formerly, mine. He’s a National Book Award winner a few years back, and together we endured a worst-case scenario: a small but well established agency changes leadership, and goes bankrupt at first slowly and then all at once. Mismanagement, late and eventually no royalty payments, broken paper trails, shuttered office, and the agony of a lawsuit. I recovered 50 cents on the dollar; my pal is still sorting things out. He has a new agent now whom he’s not fully happy with, and I’ve been getting by, sort of, without one. That kind of authorly conversation.
However, the more we talked the more we came around to a general point: literary agents are probably now more important than ever — for several reasons.
For beginning writers it’s tempting to say, “Hey, why do I need an agent? Why pay someone 15 percent when I can self-publish, or e-publish and keep 70 percent of the royalties?” But the real question is, “Fifteen percent of what?” The days of huge advances are over unless you’re someone with a million Twitter followers, but very few self-published/e-published authors make more than chump change. Objecting to a well-connected, in-your-corner agent taking 15 percent for selling your novel to an actual publisher is a sure sign that you’re not ready for prime time.
Second, despite the “disruption” of digital publishing and e-books, the literary agent remains a key part of the ecology of books and reading. Their largest service is a kind of Venturi effect (holding back bad writing, accelerating the good), and if that niche were to disappear we’d be lost in vast Amazon-like jungle of lesser books. Wait a minute — that’s already happened!
But it doesn’t have to happen to you. An agent’s job is to keep you from getting lost-artistically, contractually, and in ways not yet invented at the reading of this document (as a good Rights contract might read). Agents are crucial when it comes to negotiating contract language between you, publishers, and especially film studios. Agents understand writers and the writing life. And agents are the most intelligent conversationalists in the literary world (after your editor) because their job is to know things and people that you don’t.
In Hollywood, it’s commonly accepted that “no one knows anything.” Films get made from seemingly random concatenations of events (I once had a novel adaption green-lighted for television because, I heard later, of a golf putt; whether it dropped I’ll never know). But in the book world there are still discernible markers, tracks to follow on the increasingly complicated pathway to publication. A reputable literary agent remains your best guide.
Will Weaver writes fiction for adults and young adults. Several of his stories have been produced by National Public Radio. “A Gravestone Made of Wheat” was the basis for the feature film Sweet Land, starring Ned Beatty and Alan Cumming. His young adult novels include Striking Out, Defect, Full Service and Saturday Night Dirt. He’s currently a judge for the 2011 National Book Awards, Youth Lit category. His website is www.willweaverbooks.com.
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MARK MALATESTA is a former literary agent turned author coach. Mark now helps authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children's books) get top literary agents, publishers, and book deals through his company 
MARK MALATESTA is a former literary agent turned author coach. Mark now helps authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children's books) get top literary agents, publishers, and book deals through his company 
If your work fits within a specific genre, say Sci-Fi or Mystery, there are reputable publishers that will take direct submissions and have a built-in audience of readers who like your genre. So if you are writing for a narrow fan base, dealing with such a publisher may be preferable to having an agent.
A thought.
Hi Brad, absolutely… unless… you want to get a bigger advance and better terms in your contract. Also… in that situation… what will you do if your publisher changes your book title to something you believe is horrible? Or you hate their proposed book cover? Or they’re slow to pay your royalties? Or they don’t pay you at all? Or your publicity contact drops the ball? Or your editor quits and your book gets orphaned? I could go on… but I’m guessing I’ve put enough ants in your head for the moment. 🙂
The bottom line…
Who’s going to be your advocate, fight for you, and make sure you and your book get what they deserve?
Think good cop, bad cop.
You want to maintain a positive relationship with everyone at your publishing house.
Your agent, if and when needed, will go to war.
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Hi Mark,
As I research this topic to self-publish verses landing an agent, I view this as a dilemma as so many agents and publishers require the authors to spend an incredible amount of time assisting with marketing. Many agents and publishers require marketing projections posted within a proposal. If marketing is required from an author by a publisher and agent, then I believe an author may consider sailing solo. Perhaps less headaches while marketing and more profit in the end.
Hi Lydia, there is no right or wrong way… all I can tell you is that there is a much-higher percentage of happy authors published with traditional publishers than those who self-published. Yes, a lot of authors published with traditional publishers gripe about their situation as well, but, on average, they’re happy(er) than the self-published people. And yes, you will get a higher percentage of the book sales income if you self-publish, but even 100% of not very much is not very much. With a traditional publisher, you get a smaller percentage… but you’re selling a lot more books and 9 times out of 10 end up making much more than you would self-publishing. All that said, again, there is no right or wrong way… as long as you know what you’re getting into and make a decision from that place.
Have a great week!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Good article!I appreciate the post!
Thank you Gil, and I enjoyed the library tour you sent me… but please post anything and everything here online. The white library in Austria, I think it was… stunning. I sent it to Ingrid. 😉
How’s your muse, by the way?
Relatively quiet, I’m guessing… since you haven’t said anything about it.
But all that’s meant to be, will be, in time.
Either way, let me know.
Thinking about you.
Oh, and let me know if you’ve seen The Bridge.
Even if you did, and hated it!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
While that’s all good and most of us already know we need an agent to succeed, its not like we can just pick one up at the market. Acquiring an agent is unbelievably arduous! Regardless of how many writers books you’ve read or courses taken, there’s no easy way to get an agent to accept you. Which is why some go it alone anyway. Each one has their own idea for quality queries and if you can master that maybe they’ll look at your manuscript.
Hi Angie,
I posted something similar to this a moment ago for someone who made a similar comment…
I tell authors that they have a simple choice (although it’s not simple to actually follow through): 1) Focus 100% on what you can do to increase your chances of getting what you want, and do it to the best of your ability, or 2) Something else. But anything else isn’t going to get you there. Yes, I know. Even if you do all you can you still might not get there. But at least you can sleep at night knowing you gave it your best shot. And, at the end of the day, if you don’t get what you want with agents and traditional publishers, self-publishing is always a better backup plan that not getting your work out there at all.
Also…
You can often get a drastically different response by tweaking or changing your pitch materials (query letter, synopsis, book proposal, manuscript, etc.). My favorite example of this is one of my coaching clients who’d pitched her favorite “dream” agent three times over the course of two years. Rejections every time. After I helped her rewrite her query letter, she approached the same agent a fourth time and he requested the full manuscript. So don’t get too discouraged. You might just be a few changes away from getting what you want. Even though it might not seem like it.
And check out my query letter site if you haven’t seen it yet here at http://query-letter.com.
Let me know if you find it helpful.
And have a good week,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
As an novice author, my question deals with leaving the story’s directions as it is or re-edit it. I know the subject and type of people who practice what my story tells but unsure how many of the following groups would be most interested: 1–Readers from teenagers into retirement years; 2–mental health providers and others in this arena; 3–people who remain aware of troubled life but haven’t yet been able to figure out who and why they are to blame only their free will, choices and decisions.
Hi Lee, I’m glad you’re seeing some of the options… and you’re open to them… but I’d have to talk to you about your book… ask you some questions… and possibly see some of the book… to figure that out. You might not need to change anything at the moment, or it might be best for you to change quite a bit. But those are big decisions that shouldn’t be taken lightly… since rewriting is time-intensive… and… because of that… the only way someone should attempt to give you such advice… is after getting more familiar with your situation.
If you want help with anything else, you can post questions for me online here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/ask/. And you can register for an introductory coaching call with me here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/coaching/intro-call/.
Either way, I’m looking forward to learning more about you and your work.
Have a great week!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
P.S. SELF-PUBLISHING IS A HORRIBLE LEARNING EXPERIENCE!!!
But it seems like (based on your previous) post… that it helped get you where you wanted to go… or… hmm… maybe you got where you wanted to go… in spite of it. LOL. Either way… things are looking up for you at the moment… so it’s all good. 😉
Have a great week!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I have to agree with everything in the article. My situation is a little “unique” as I have a business partner who has been spearheading the Hollywood angle. Additionally, I now have an agent who is interested in my work who I sent a query letter to from your list but my entertainment attorney has also contacted a college friend who is now an agent and he is looking to see if he can represent me as publisher’s usually want all the rights in one contract.
Hi Tim, congrats, and (of course) let me know when you ink your deal. 😉
A little celebration will be in order.
Have a great week!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I have rejected the idea of self publishing and I think a writers agent is the only way to an ideal relationship with a publishing house.
I have yet to attempt obtaining the services of an agent but I know that this path is right for me.
My belief is that they are professionals who are specialised in the industry and have comprehensive knowledge of it.
I have zero knowledge of distribution or marketing, important factors in the success of a book and best left to experts.
Hi John, as a last resort self-publishing is fine… but I’m always happy to see authors try to go traditional first. With your positive attitude and willingness to learn, anything is possible.
Have a great week!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I believe agents are valuable, although hard to trap, animals. the sorry state of easily self-published tripe that gluts Amazon is proof enough. I guess some just want to be called “authors” so they pay to do it the easy way. But how long does it take to even recoup the investment when your titles sell for $0.00 to $0.99? And you have to do all the sales & marketing (plus,readers have been sorely burned by too much free tripe called novels)?
Hi Joyce,
I couldn’t have said it better myself. As someone who loves/studies all things related to marketing, I read a book once about the good and bad of giving things away for fr*ee once. Fascinating. To the uninformed, it can seem like a wonderful strategy… but the end result is often not what the author intended or hoped for. Same thing goes for charging to little. You have to know your uniqueness and value, and then do a better job communicating it.
That’s the gig. 😉
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Good or bad, everyone is writing, fewer people are reading and not many publishers are willing to take a chance on your work. Agents are extremely selective and I believe you can spend your life looking for an agent, when you can get the show on the road by finding a publisher who will accept your work without an agent. Or you can self publish. If an agent eventually takes an interest in you great.
Enjoyed your comment about everyone writing and fewer people reading… truth to that. And there’s definitely more than one way to get your work out there. Everyone has to find their own way and as long as you’re happy and/or feel you’re doing it the right/best way for you… that’s all that matters.
To your success!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I agree. From the beginning of my writing career, I knew I’d never self-publish, because I felt I was not good at
marketing. So, instead of taking out time to learn new tools like blogging, twitter etc. I sent my first book back to the country of my birth and sold at 15% commission to a well-known publisher. It was the worst mistake of my life and lost very,very heavily on that book. Had to pay out of my pocket to advertise! With my current novel, I plan to get the best agent, and the best help!
Hi Neena, I’m sorry to hear that… but the fact that you’ve already worked with a well-known publisher means you have talent… so now it’s just a matter of you finding a better situation. I’m looking forward to helping you do just that.
Have a great day!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com