Wanted: Literary Agent

So you’ve heard tell of their existence—individuals whose official job description includes reviewing one’s manuscripts and selling them to potential publishers. It doesn’t sound like a very lucrative employment prospect but the Philippine literary landscape is continuously evolving and making more room for careers that cater to a literary audience. Here are some basics that could come in handy when deciding whether to employ the services of a literary agent, or if contemplating starting a career as one.

 

Who are they and what do they do?

As an editor, academician or publisher, you may have played the role of a literary agent before—only it was a friend or a colleague that you helped get his or her work published, and you got paid either with dinner, a Christmas basket or a bottle of wine. Literary agents are usually individuals who have past experience in publishing, filmmaking, teaching, writing and other related fields. They are most valued for their connections not only in the publishing industry, but in many of the creative industries—they do the pitching and marketing of manuscripts for writers so that they could be turned into books, or movie deals, or even a whole new line of merchandise.

Literary agents are not like a Queen Latifah to a writer’s block-inflicted Emma Thompson, a la Stranger than Fiction. They are busy people who deal strictly with business, but not that they are grim-looking executives who only wear suits, shades and a frown on their faces all the time. It’s just that they expect that the manuscripts to be submitted to them for review are finished works and not works in progress. Nor are they editors who proofread and provide constructive criticism—they may do that, of course, but their primary role is to evaluate whether one’s manuscript is worth forwarding to a publisher. Publishers hardly read direct submissions from writers, but are more likely to give it a shot if a manuscript comes in with a recommendation from a literary agent.

So in a sense, a writer does not really “hire” a literary agent when he or she employs the services of one. Because literary agents themselves are building portfolios of successfully published clients, they screen the clients first before reading their manuscripts or agreeing to sign a contract with them. (FYI: Reputable literary agents do not ask their clients for a reading fee.) They usually prefer writers who have previously published works in magazines, journals and books, and those who have received literary awards. These would be especially helpful if one needs a literary agent to have his or her work published internationally as a translated edition.

 

How do I find them?

Most successful literary agents with their own firms are based in countries where the publishing industry really thrives and employs a sizable percentage of the labor force. Literary agents in the United States, for example, do not only service novel writers, but more often children’s books writers and illustrators, screenplay writers with dreams of breaking into Hollywood, and professionals who want to see their faces in the Self-Help shelves of their local bookstores.

There are a number of online resources for writers in need of literary agents. PublishersMarketplace.Com has everything from a database of agents to announcements of workshops and conferences for writers, as well as job listings for writers and individuals with publishing experience. Writers.Net meanwhile, provides a listing of literary agents by country, including those who are Philippine-based. FilipinoWriter.Com also provides resources for the local literary market and owner and publisher Dino Manrique is more than happy to welcome inquiries from the web sites’ readers.

Web sites are a pretty reliable means to correspond with literary agents, especially if they are based abroad. One only needs to send an e-mail containing a query letter addressed to the agent or a literary agency, as well as an excerpt from the work. If one is looking for an agent who works locally, it might be best to set up a personal meeting after a few correspondences. Most literary agents in the Philippines do not claim the label for themselves yet and merely act as middlemen for writers and publishers, or they may be performing other responsibilities—for example, as administrators for other publications. In case a writer has his eyes on someone who hasn’t really been advertising his services as an agent, it might be helpful if one just asks the person right away and sees where things might go. Also, because it’s a connections game, it’s probably a good idea to just start expanding one’s network—really, who knows where that might lead?

 

What should be in the contract?

Congratulations, so a literary agent has made a commitment to get your book published! The stipulations of a contract with literary agents and firms vary from case to case. Usually, agents ask for 15% of the total earnings from the publisher, but some may just ask for a fee from the writer. Things get more complicated when books are reprinted or published as new editions, and also depending on whether or not the services of the same literary agent are retained.

There are instances when a writer and an agent may arrange for other services. For example, literary agents can be responsible for organizing a local or international book tour for the author. They can also become representatives for the authors not only publication-wise, but also for other literary engagements like workshops, lectures and conferences. Whatever these services may be, one must be sure to examine carefully all the provisions of the legal documents that agents will provide, so that amendments may be negotiated early on and so that things do not end up messy.

 

How can I become a literary agent?

 

It takes a lot of experience and again, connections, for one to thrive as a literary agent in any of the creative industries, so unfortunately, there is no proven prescription for those who want a career as one. It may be good to freelance and do the job on the side, especially if one has a lot of time on his hands. One must not expect too much however, for even writers, especially in the Philippines, do not rely much on the profit that their books bring.

Do not lose hope, though. Beginning writers seeking to establish their credentials, but aren’t brave enough to go looking for agents, have a couple of tools at their disposal, which they could maneuver by themselves, too. Webook.Com allows writers to upload excerpts of their short stories or novels, while other users could read and rate them, deciding later on if they want to read more of it enough to want to recommend it to a literary agent. Top submissions with the highest ratings get reviewed by people in the publishing field.

Literary agents have helped countless numbers of writers get their works out to the world over the years. Indeed, what a great sign of a country’s literary appreciation it would be if literary agencies actually made good business in it. Let’s just hope that the future holds the same for the Philippines.

 

First published in Bookwatch Magazine, July-December 2010.

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