How to Solicit a Book Manuscript for a Small Literary Agency

Whether you’re starting a new literary agency or expanding one already in existence, the success of your business rests in the quality of the manuscripts you represent. Gifted writers can find it overwhelming to locate an agency which might take an interest in their work. Read on to discover how you can reach out to new talent—before someone else does.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet access

1. Define the niche of your agency. Do you specialize in memoirs? Biographies? Fiction? Poetry? A combination of genres? Are you best versed in family-oriented stories? How-to guides? Business opportunities? Having a clear idea of what you want to represent is imperative to receiving the right manuscripts from the right authors.
2. If you represent (or have represented in the past) authors whose work epitomizes your agency’s scope, see if they have friends with similar skills. Depending on your relationship with the author, this can be done with a telephone call, email or snail mail letter. Explain that you are expanding your agency and hope to find new, exciting talent.
3. Advertise, advertise, advertise. Go on message board websites like www.craigslist.com and post a “call for submissions.” Include your full name, title, agency, contact information, website, titles sold (if applicable) and submission guidelines in the body of the message. Note whether you charge a reading fee (not recommended).
4. Place a similar ad in your high school, college and/or graduate school alma mater(s) newsletters and encourage readers to share the information with writer friends.
5. Submit listing information for inclusion in the Writer’s Market handbook--an annual guide which provides information on literary agents, book publishers and freelance venues--via the "contact us" tab on www.writersmarket.com. Each literary agency entry includes contact information, number of clients represented, percentage of clients who are new or unpublished writers, areas of interest, recent sales, terms and tips for submitters.
6. Attend writing conferences in your area. Websites such as www.writersdigest.com and www.writermag.com offer information about conferences nationwide. Bring business cards and meet as many people as you can.
7. Network. Be creative in your pursuit of manuscripts. Great writers are there--find them at dinner parties, through friends of friends or on public transportation.

Tips & Warnings

• Not every writer will meet your standards and needs. Send a polite, form rejection letter (you can personalize it if you wish) to each writer who submits.
• Be wary of new authors who submit poor cover letters but well-written and researched proposals and/or sample chapters. It might be the work of someone else.