Chronicles of an aspiring author - choosing an agent
- By Emily Kieson
- Published Friday 9th 2007
Emily Kieson
Emily currently lives in Austin TX and spends most of her time writing and enjoying the weather. She loves to write stories and screenplays for all ages. When she's not writing, Emily is teaching horseback riding, working as a vet tech, or painting.
Perhaps this particular blog has been wrongly titled. I don't actually choose an agent, an agent must choose me. But, before an agent and I can actually sit and discuss any kind of agreement, he or she must first read my work and submitting to agents takes some choices.
There are lots and lots of literary agents all over the country and even more throughout the world. Although it's easy to sort through the handful that might attend a local conference, it's much harder to sort through the crowds of agents and agencies on the internet.
I've found the best resource to be the Association of Artists Representatives (AAR) which does have its own website and lists some of the contact information for its members. But all sorts of books list agents ready and willing to accept submissions. There are dozens of resource guides at the library and bookstore that
are published annually and have updated information on agencies, agents, and what the do and do not represent.
Although most agents are based in New York, a fair amount have offices in various areas of the country. From reading about their likes and dislikes in some of these books, I've found a fair number that could still be open to accepting my type of work. I usually send out a large number of queries at a time, but try and keep my manuscripts in the hands of few.
As much as I would love to share my work with everyone, it's only fair to those who are taking the time to read it that they have a fair choice in determining whether or not they wish to represent or publish it. As of now, my book is in the hands of one editor in New York.
Although I don't run to the mailbox anymore hoping to find that elusive note from someone wanting to publish my work, I occasionally get excited when the phone rings.
There are lots and lots of literary agents all over the country and even more throughout the world. Although it's easy to sort through the handful that might attend a local conference, it's much harder to sort through the crowds of agents and agencies on the internet.
I've found the best resource to be the Association of Artists Representatives (AAR) which does have its own website and lists some of the contact information for its members. But all sorts of books list agents ready and willing to accept submissions. There are dozens of resource guides at the library and bookstore that
Although most agents are based in New York, a fair amount have offices in various areas of the country. From reading about their likes and dislikes in some of these books, I've found a fair number that could still be open to accepting my type of work. I usually send out a large number of queries at a time, but try and keep my manuscripts in the hands of few.
As much as I would love to share my work with everyone, it's only fair to those who are taking the time to read it that they have a fair choice in determining whether or not they wish to represent or publish it. As of now, my book is in the hands of one editor in New York.
Although I don't run to the mailbox anymore hoping to find that elusive note from someone wanting to publish my work, I occasionally get excited when the phone rings.
