Until some months ago, I had only a very hazy idea of who literary agents were and of their role in the publishing business. I always thought of them as being representatives of publishers who scout for writing talent. Now that I have written my first- as yet unpublished- novel titled ” It Can’t Be You” all of a sudden, I am in the process of discovering just how important literary agents are. I understand that very, very few authors get their work published directly by large publishing houses without being represented by a literary agent.

I found some very useful information at Guide to Literary Agents, which covers a wide variety of topics relating to literary agents and how to get them to represent you. The Editor’s Blog by Chuck Sambuchino has interviews with leading literary agents and an impressive list of links.

There’s a wealth of knowledge and information in here. Thanks, Chuck.

Very basic – but a few important points that I have learnt:

  • The query is so, so important. Without it, you have no chance, unless you have terrific referrals.
  • Follow submission guidelines strictly- go by what the agent asks for- not what you want to present.
  • Develop a strong synopsis- you will need this later.
  • Make your query very professional- yet personal and appealing.