How to Become a Literary Agent
Becoming a literary agent requires you to have a broad base of experience. Most agents take a roundabout way to the position, working their way up in the publishing business, which enables them to cultivate contacts and knowledge along the way.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Challenging
Instructions
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Get educated. You need a minimum of 2 years of college, but a 4-year degree can help you more. Some sample majors include English and Journalism, although Business majors bring a great set of skills to the arena.
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Relocate. Although the Internet is helping to make this career open no matter what your location, the majority of agents still live and work in the major publishing cities. In the U.S. they are concentrated in Chicago and New York City. Secondary cities where you might have luck finding literary agent jobs include large urban centers such as Dallas and San Francisco.
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Work your way up. Most agents begin by working the bottom rungs of the publishing business. This allows them to cultivate contacts and learn the business from the inside. English majors are likely to find positions as low level editors, while business majors may have the chance to work in publishers' finance offices and learn about contract negotiation.
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Join an established agency. Use your publishing contacts to impress hiring agencies. Begin to learn the business under the tutelage of an established agent.
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Strike out on your own. Once you've become comfortable with the publishing business and have enough contacts to help your potential clients sell their manuscripts, you're ready to establish your own agency and get to your life's work.
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Comments
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I just attended a presentation about self publishing. From how I see it. There is work to be had from simply being the go between the author and the publisher! Forget the way things used to be done. People are now self publishing on their own. For someone who isn't ready to take that step but still wants to be published I think being a "literary agent." Is a way to go. It all depends on how you want your contract to be. Don't guarantee sales, etc. If you want to be a shark you can try and have an author agree to giving you a percentage of sales. Then you are more involved in the entire process.
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Thank you for saying so. I am very thankful for your concern. Most adults wouldn't care. Thanks for caring :)
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Avery, as a mother of two teen girls I find it to be very unsafe for you to have your employment location on your profile........
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I'm not sure...I'd have to discuss it with my parents. Honestly, contacting me through facebook can be seen as kind of sketchy by people such as my mother.
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not nearly as much as I would like to. Would you like to be an intern with an opportunity for a position based upon your performance/results?
