When do i need an agent

One is to send out unsolicited submissions — that is, undertake the submissions process entirely yourself. The other is to pitch your book to literary agents first, with a view to eventually hiring an agent to submit to publishers on your behalf.

There are upsides and downsides to both these options. This is basic publishing industry etiquette. This precludes it being under consideration from other publishers.

However, the story is a little different when agents are involved. Multiple submissions may even ignite a bidding war , in which publishers compete for representation of a highly sought-after manuscript. In this case, an agent will use their knowledge and skills to negotiate the best possible deal for you and your book.

As we all know, the publishing world is highly competitive. For this reason, having an agent can give you an advantage you might not otherwise have over the myriad other emerging authors attempting to get noticed and published.

Whereas unsolicited manuscripts could be anything from a masterpiece rare to the scribblings of a hobbyist common , publishers can be certain that a manuscript put forward by an agent especially an agent who has a good reputation or a standing relationship with a particular publisher is well-written and worth looking at.

Like most professional industries, publishing is a complicated area of business. The ins and outs of the publishing process can be intimidating, confusing and overwhelming, especially for new writers.

Luckily, this is the very world in which literary agents feel most comfortable! Contracts , advances and royalties, author rights — these are all important components of the publishing process, but they may seem rather foreign and intimidating to new authors. Yes, you can and probably should research these things yourself to gain a basic understanding of the legal and technical side of publishing.

Connection is the name of their game: they put the right people in touch with each other, the right books in the hands of the right publishers. Agents are that foot in the door, that number in the contacts list, that favour to be called in. CESD: www. Clear Talent Group: www. By Mary Callahan of Dance Informa. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

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Agents Avoid Emotional Sales. Agents Access Large Networks. Weeding Out Unqualified Buyers. Price Negotiations Take Skill. Exposure to Legal Risks. The Bottom Line. While tempting, in most cases the risks of going it alone likely outweigh the benefits. Risks include having few potential buyers let alone qualified buyers , making emotional decisions, not knowing how to negotiate properly, and not having enough free time to dedicate to finding a buyer.

One of the biggest risks of FSBO is not having the experience or expertise to navigate all of the legal and regulatory requirements that come with selling a home. Article Sources. Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work.

These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. When an agent can be helpful to you is when your play has attained some cache from that regional production and it might be looking at subsequent runs. If you are fortunate enough to have written this kind of play then the agent will probably find you.

They will be able to help you strategize what theaters are a good fit for your play and will help you attain access to theaters whose doors were closed to you before. Agents can also help you with contract negotiations and setting up meetings with directors that you may have also wanted to work with, but never had the ability to meet before.

If you are interested in getting into the world of television and snagging yourself some meetings with television executives—look no further than your agent.

In other words, an agent can give you another level of access in exchange for ten percent of your earnings. The tricky part of this arrangement is that a playwright should never be lulled into believing that just because they have an agent—their work is done.

However, most playwrights I know do not have an agent and have had a long and steady career in this business. The reason? Those relationships that I spoke about at the beginning of the article. Agents can help you gain access, but you can acquire your own access like I did when I first started out as a playwright.