Too many publishers do not accept unsolicited manuscripts, therefore it becomes necessary for writers to secure themselves an agent. There are many book chapters and magazine articles on how to find a literary agent; the search is consuming.
Below are ten tips to help you get started. It’s not easy, if it were there wouldn’t be much information on the subject. But it is possible and as long as you, the writer, keep believing in that possibility you will get there.
1. Do your research. Consult the internet, the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook and any other information regarding the agent that you can. The relevance of this research is to save time, because if you do not pitch to the correct person rejection is guaranteed.
2. Be thorough. If they have requirements/guidelines, meet them all, exactly. If they ask for a 1 page synopsis don’t send 1.5 pages. If they require the first 9 000 words don’t send 9 003 words. Make your manuscript stand out from the pile by giving the agent exactly what they require.
3. Be careful of gimmicks regarding submission letters or synopsis’ because they can work against you. There are always stories of how someone tried something unusual and got ahead. It works, but seldom.
4. Remember that you are marketing your manuscript, it’s not about you, but about the work you’ve produced. Don’t tell them more than they need to know about you. Just enough information is perfect. Make sure the personal information is relevant to your manuscript too.
5. Don’t deliver shoddy work, be sure that what you are sending in is the best you can possibly do. Run spell check, ensure you’ve run it in the correct language, don’t use American English when your story is written in UK English.
6. Believe in your work. If you don’t believe in the quality and excellence of your work, how are you going to convince someone that it is worth reading? Why would people want to read your manuscript if you, its creator, think it merely mediocre?
7. What is the pull of your manuscript and why are you equipped to deliver it best. Writing a novel about a tropical disease that you suffer from, is not enough of a hook or a good enough reason for you to write about it well, it’s a start, but there needs to be more.
8. Be bold. Ensure your synopsis is attention grabbing, perfect your hook and punch the agent with it, metaphorically of course.
9. Be patient, it’s a slow process and the chances of you finding the right agent the first time are slim. Be tenacious if you think your manuscript is worth it, don’t give up, keep resubmitting. If Robert Pirsig hadn’t submitted his manuscript for the 122nd time the world would never have seen Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and if Stephen King hadn’t resubmitted Carrie, which was rejected 30 times, there would be a large place missing in the horror section of bookshops.
10. Develop a crocodile-like skin. Rejection hurts but the only way to win is to keep going.
Susan Trollip - Sue Trollip has been writing for over 15 years. She has won many writing competitions and has a BA(CreativeWriting) degree.
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