How to Become a Literary Agent: 5 Tips for Working as a Literary Agent

A literary agent has a variety of roles within the publishing industry. They are responsible for finding new clients, often done by reading book proposals or query letters and choosing to represent them based on their sellability as authors. Once they represent a writer, an agent will submit their client’s writing work to publishing houses with the intent of securing publishing contracts or opportunities for their authors. A literary agent is able to negotiate business deals with the client’s best interests in mind.

While self-publishing is always an option for writers wanting to get their work out there, most bestselling authors have a literary agent by their side to get them through the process. If you want to become a literary agent, there are a few ways below:

• Assist a professional agent. One of the ideal ways to become a literary agent is to work closely with one. An internship or assistant position gives you first-hand experience in seeing what an agent needs and how they do their job—however, these positions are not easy to come by (and many of the highly-coveted ones are in locations like New York or the United Kingdom). An entry-level position at a small talent agency or independent publishing house can also provide valuable experience in seeing what an agent’s job entails and everything you need to know about being one.
• Become familiar with the publishing process. If your career is helping writers get published, you should know how the book publishing process works. Good agents know where to send their clients and which publishing houses will be the right fit for them and why. Writers want confidence that the agent managing their career is leading them down a path of success, and in order to establish that, the agent must know the ins and outs of their industry.
• Make connections. The best agents have networked and connected with all of the necessary players in the industry. Many of these relationships have taken years to cultivate, so the earlier you start networking, the better. Reaching out to publishing houses or talent agencies inquiring about positions or offering your services is one way to get your name out there (even if it doesn’t lead to anything—letting them know you’re a go-getter is still worthwhile). If you’re lucky enough to gain an internship or a part-time assistant gig, make sure the people you work with know who you are and what your goal is. Some publishing places may prefer to hire within, or will know another house you may be a better fit for if they do not have a full-time spot for you.
• Read everything. To be a successful literary agent, you need more than just the right instincts as to what can be a bestseller—you need to have a passion for literature. Even if you only want to represent romance or science fiction writers, read everything. An agent knows more than just their preferred genre—they know what else is out there flying off the shelves (or not). Many literary agents read all manner of creative writing like short stories, magazine columns, and plays, to see what has commercial potential. However, due to the volume of query letters agents receive, it isn’t possible to request full manuscripts from every new writer who submits to you. Familiarize yourself with the market and know what has the best potential for success.

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