Frequently asked questions

What can an agent do for me?  
Understand the market
An important aspect of an agent’s work is to know what a publishing house, or a particular editor, is looking for. Perhaps there’s a shortfall of fiction for their spring list, maybe they’re starting a series on film or a new sports imprint; it might be that a publisher wants a kitsch humour title for the Christmas season or simply that an editor loves quirky travel books and is therefore likely to be very sympathetic when presented with one.

Help to shape your work
We have a great deal of publishing experience and are happy to put time into shaping a manuscript or a proposal that has potential.

Contract Negotiation
Agents deal with the small print in a contract - the royalties, discounts, subsidiary rights splits and termination clauses, which can be every bit as important as the advance - and will chase and check royalty payments on your behalf. This leaves you free to have a relationship with your editor that is founded solely on your book.

Monitoring the publishing process
Producing a marketable script, placing it and negotiating a contract is only the beginning of the agent’s job. He or she will monitor the publishing process to ensure the book is properly produced, sold and marketed and will take on responsibility for nurturing your writing career between books. An agent, though ultimately responsible to the author, can also act as a buffer between the author and editor and mediate in any dispute. Good editors like responsible agents because they act as a filtering process and can take some of the pressure off them.

Get your work read by publishers
Publishers are inundated with unsolicited submissions (and the fact they refer to these as the ‘slush pile’ says it all). Many simply don’t consider un-agented approaches. This is how one of the UK’s largest publishers puts it:-
“Although Random House is a big publisher, each imprint only publishes a small number of books each year. Our lists for the next few years are already very full. Any book we take on from a previously unpublished author has to be truly exceptional and so we strongly prefer to consider manuscripts that are sent to us by literary agents and would suggest that you try to get taken on by an agent first. They are in the best position to assess your work, send it to the most appropriate publishers, and negotiate on your behalf should your work be accepted for publication. Literary agencies are listed in The Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook, which is published annually in paperback by A & C Black and can be found in all good bookshops and libraries.”

Is an Agent worth the commission?
A good agent should be able to raise the advance by more than their commission. They know the going rate for particular books and how to create a bit of competition to push up the price. Editors will understandably try and buy a book on the most advantageous terms and their interests are not always those of the author.

What are the usual terms of a literary agency?
These vary, but should be 10-15% commission on sales in this country, 15-20% for film and television rights and sales through subagents in America and the translation market. A look at the current Writers and Artist Year Book shows that most agents now charge 15% commission.

Remember that the agent does not earn until you do and that it is in the interests of the agency to ensure the best possible terms. Agents may charge for photocopying but there should be no fees for reading scripts or administrative expenses.

Do we accept unpublished authors?
Yes. New writers are our lifeblood. Read how to submit your manuscript.

Any advice for an author?
• Be professional
• Be aware of the market – the competing and comparable literature
• Learn the craft and read widely
• Accept advice and adapt
• Don’t give up
• And, of course, get yourself a good literary agent.

Is there a list of useful publications?
John Baker, Literary Agents: A Writer’s Introduction, Macmillan, 1999
Carole Blake, From Pitch to Publication, Macmillan, 1999
Alison Baverstock, Is There A Book in You? A & C Black, 2006

Useful information

Frequently asked questions