How to Tell If a Children's Fiction Literary Agent is a Fraud

Literary agents are a near requirement for writers of adult books, but not so much for those who specialize in children's fiction. If you long to have your manuscript accepted by a publishing house that won't read unsolicited manuscripts, however, an agent is the only way to get your foot through the door. The following steps will help any children's fiction writer avoid choosing an agent who is not up to the task or, worse, more interested in defrauding clients than getting their work published.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Locate and visit the website of any prospective agent before a contract is signed. Review the website carefully to confirm that the agent has a respectable number of clients who write children's fiction. In addition, there should be clear and well-written overviews of his or her submission guidelines, contract terms, and services provided. Typographical and grammatical errors are both a huge turnoff and a huge warning sign.

2. Verify that the website also states the agent's qualifications in detail. A reputable agent should have a relevant background in the publishing industry, if not specifically as a literary agent for children's fiction. Newly established agents should have especially strong and recent publishing experience to counterbalance their lack of clients and extensive connections.

3. Obtain a copy of a prominent industry guide, such as the "Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market" or "Literary Market Place," if the agent doesn't have a website or if the existing website lacks sufficient information. An inadequate Web presence might be a warning sign that something is wrong, but not always.

4. Locate the agent in the guidebook to verify that they have enough clout to get listed or enough experience to know that they should be.

5. Search the database of agents at the Association of Authors' Representatives to determine if the agent is a member. If so, he or she is bound by the organization's detailed canon of ethics.

6. Visit the websites Writer Beware and Predators and Editors to conduct a search for the agent's name and learn if any other published or aspiring authors have had bad experiences with the person or his or her business in the past. This step is particularly useful when the agent in question is listed in a trustworthy source book or online database, but you still have reservations about their capabilities or intentions.

7. Decline to form a relationship with the agent if none of the previous steps erase your concerns or inspire confidence.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that no matter how difficult it is to find an agent, the relationship between authors and the people who present their work to publishers has to be one of mutual trust and competence. The competition for publication is fierce, and distractions will only decrease the likelihood of success.

[jull14]

on 6/26/2009 As always a great article with so much information. Excellent steps and very easy to follow, thank you so much for helping us learn everyday more.