Why Do I Need a Literary Agent?

Writers often ask me if it’s “really” worth the trouble to query, research, and find an agent, especially with the ongoing changes in the publishing world. Many people seem surprised to learn that I have an agent–even though I write and negotiate publishing contracts all the time. The truth is, my agent is an invaluable business partner, and far more involved in my career than people often suspect. What many authors don’t realize is that an agent is more than a contract-obtainer-and-negotiator (though they definitely fill that crucial role). Not every author needs an agent, but every author needs to understand what agents really do,

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What to Look for in Agency Contracts (part 1)

My Wednesday #Publishing legal posts spend a lot of time on publishing contracts, but publishers aren’t the only ones who sign contracts with authors. Agents do, too. Today, we look at some common provisions authors should expect to see in an author-agent (agency) contract. 1. Exclusivity. The contract will normally make the agent the author’s exclusive representative, either for a single Work, all Works, or all novel-length works the author writes. This exclusivity applies for the length of the contract, and sometimes longer for works the agent represented or sold during the contract period. Read carefully: you need to know whether the agent

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