How to Find a Literary Agent Online

Need to find a literary agent who represents what you write? With the internet, it's fast and easy. Finding an agent who loves your manuscript--that's a whole other story.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer

1. AgentQuery.com is a brillant site that is fast and easy. This website lets you search out agents based on whether you write fiction or nonfiction. For fiction it breaks down into all the different genres, such as women's, mainstream, mystery, romance, commercial, literary and more (see Resources section below for the link).
   
   You can have the site filter whether they are looking for new clients, prefer email queries or snail mail.
   
   Once you've checked off your areas of interest, the website brings up those agents that have checked off the same areas you did. In their write up they will tell you if they accept email or snail mail queries. If they want the first three chapters or a synopis or just a letter for initial contact.
   
   AgentQuery also provides links to those agents that have their own website where you should go to double check their guidelines and make sure that you are following the most current way listed to make contact.

2. Publishers Marketplace. While the best information at this site is obtained by a monthly subscription, it is highly recommended, especially for new writers. This website has a ton of information that can help you decide which agents to target for your manuscript (see Resources below).
   
   Areas such as DEALS tells you current deals being made by which agent and writer and with which publishing house. Not ever deal made is on this list but it is an impressive and constantly updated area that shouldn't be over looked.
   
   You can type in the name of books that might be similar to yours and see who represented the author. With that information you have the basis to find out more about the agent.

3. Google. This is the place to fall back to once you've used the other two. Some agents do not have websites but if you have a name from the other two sites, Google them and see what comes up. Often lectures or interviews they have given will come up and you can find out more about the agent or agency.

Tips & Warnings

• Do as much research as you can on the agent or agency.
• Don't waste your time or the agents by sending out a formed email to all agents--do the homework and only apply to those who read what you write.
• Never pay an agent to read your work.

Resources

• AgentQuery
• Publishers Marketplace

[Lighthousehour]

on 10/14/2008 Great advice!