How to Find an Agent for Your Tween Book

You have heard the oft-quoted Catch-22 of the book world: You've got to be published to have an agent, but agents take on only published clients. It's true that most experienced agencies usually take on writers who already have a track record and published works under their belt. Because of the necessity of agents in today's literary marketplace, who act as gatekeepers filtering out work not ready for print, dozens of new agents pop up every year, each one looking for new clients to get the ball rolling.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Paper
• Pencil
• Internet connection for research

1. Find an agent to contact. A good way to go about this is to get involved in local writer's groups. Eventually, you will know enough other writers that you will begin to get personal recommendations
2. Do your research. Not all agents are created equal. Word of mouth is one legitimate way of learning an agent’s reputation. Look for mentions of agents in writer's magazines, such as interviews that will tell you more about particular agents
3. Use a writers’ conferences in your area as a good place to meet a prospective agent. Agents often attend writer's conferences. If the conference is small, you may get a chance to talk to them. If it is large, you can still hear them talk, find out about their interests, and get a sense of them as a person
4. Ask questions. Is the agency right for you? Does the agency specifically represent the type of material you write or illustrate? Are the agency’s commission and expenses in line with what you are looking for? Has the agency been in business a long time or is it relatively new? Who are its current clients? Is the agency based in New York or in your geographic area? Does the agent require you to sign a representation agreement, binding you together for a specified period of time or are you free to break with that agent at any time?
5. Feel comfortable with an agent. It's important because your agent is your agent for all of your books. You may have several editors, but you will have only one agent. So think about what you want in an agent. Do you want someone who is all business? Do you want someone who is warm and supportive? Do you want someone who will help you polish your manuscripts. or someone who will leave that up to an editor?
6. Evaluate an agent’s expertise. Choosing an agent is a highly individual decision, and some factors will be more important to you than others. Choose carefully. The choice you make will affect you longer than even your choice of a mate. You will be tied to that agent for the life of the contract he/she negotiates for you.

Tips & Warnings

• If an agent asks to read your material, make certain your submission is professional, no gimmicks, glitter paper, gifts or cutesy letterhead. All these things scream amateur.
• No matter how desperate you feel, do not even consider agents advertising on the Internet. No agent who is successfully placing books with publishers needs to advertise. The agents who are advertising are not traditional agents. They are agents who charge fees to their clients.