The Golden Pencil: The Freelance Writer’s Resource

Q&A: Which Comes First? An Agent or a Publisher?

by Anne Wayman on March 4th, 2007

Hey Anne,

I’m writing a memoir. Some people know that, some don’t. I blog about it from time to time. Anyway, I spent a couple of hours last night with my nose buried in 2007 Writer’s Markets. Read up on literary agents, made note of those who represent memoirs, and studied the examples for good and bad nonfiction book queries.

My problem is, I don’t really understand the chain-of-command, so to speak. How it all works. Do I query a literary agent about my memoir, or a publisher? What about an editor - where does s/he fit into all this? Luckily, the literary agents listed in 2007 Writer’s Markets give very thorough specifications about what they do and don’t want writers to send - so I understand how ready I and the memoir must be for each agent. But, is querying the agent the first thing I need to do? Will an agent take care of the publisher for me?

Thanks bunches!

Alicia
www.WritingSpark.com

Hey yourself Alicia

This is yet another of those “it depends” answers. Or maybe a better way to say it is, you get to choose. Querying an agent and a publisher is roughly the same process – cover letter, market survey, sample chapters. The effort is about the same too.

Both agents and publishers are interested in only one thing: will the book sell well?

The agent represents you and your memoir (or other book) to publishers she has in her rolodex. The 15% you pay is essentially for the agent’s contacts. And it can be well worth it, assuming the agent loves your book and can sell it, you’ll often get a higher advance and a better contract.

Or, you can represent your own book to publishers you feel are appropriate, except to those publishers who won’t deal with anyone but an agent. You can usually tell from the listings.

Interestingly, the first book I sold I sold directly to the publisher, who then put me in touch with an agent. That agent did the negotiations and I think it was probably worth the 15%, although it was long enough ago I’m not really sure.

If you decide to go direct and are not successful, then try to find an agent, the agent will want to know exactly what publishers you submitted to and when. If it’s been recent, it may turn the agent off.

Now, as far as editors go. An agent may recommend an editor to do some pre-submission polishing. The publisher who contracts for your book will have in-house editing. (Actually, the publisher may hire freelancers… but that’s another story. At a minimum you’ll have at least a copyeditor, and it’s likely you’ll have another editor who will suggest changes in your manuscript aimed at making your book easier for the publisher to sell.

Clear as mud, right? I prefer to go direct to publishers unless I’ve got a solid contact to an agent, but that’s just my preference. Like so many things in this freelance writing business, you pretty much can do it any way you want and/or any way that works.

Got a question about freelance writing? Email me and put Q&A in the subject line.

Write well and often,

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