Questions to Ask a Literary Agent before Signing a Contract
Hi author! You’ve got a great manuscript. You’re lucky enough to entice a literary agent to take a look at your proposal. Better yet, you’re even more fortunate to have been offered a contract (an agency agreement). An agent wants to represent you!
Does this publishing world gatekeeper have your best interests in mind? Do you know what to expect going forward?
As an author coach who helps people write book proposals (and great biographies, memoirs, history, self-help, and other nonfiction books)—and as a developmental editor and copyeditor—I have had my fair share of clients successfully pursue traditional publishing contracts.
Ask a literary agent who is interested in your book these questions if you want to understand how (and how well) they can represent you.
These questions apply for all authors—fiction or nonfiction.
Questions to ask literary agents
Tell me about your path to becoming an agent.
Tell me about some of your recent sales? Do you see any similarities with my manuscript or situation?
Tell me about some of your biggest successes over the years.
What did you like about my project? What made you interested in representing me?
If I sign with you, will I work closely with you? Or will I work with someone else in your agency? Who else might I be hearing from, and in what capacity? Do you work with clients for a long time?
What is your editorial vision for this project? What (and how much) work do I need to do before you can submit this to publishers?
What is your submission strategy? How long might it take to get a contract?
Do you have any editors or publishers in mind that you might submit my proposal to?
Where do you see this book “fitting” in the genre or category? Do you think I got the competitive titles right?
Is there an average amount of time that it takes to sell a book? What happens if you don’t sell my book?
What is your plan for foreign rights? Film rights? Other sub rights? Can you tell me more about this in general and how you negotiate them?
(How) do you / how often do you communicate with your authors?
Once I get a contract offer, what can I expect to happen?
How will we work together after my book is sold?
Do you typically represent authors for multiple books? Are you interested in my next book idea?
What if one or the other of us wants out of working with each other? How does that work?
If you ask a literary agent questions like these, you’ll be more informed and more prepared for the road ahead, and you’ll improve your likelihood of signing with the “right” agent for you.
Are you a nonfiction author in the US serious about writing, publishing, or marketing your book?
Try author coaching. Let’s book your free author coaching strategy call today!
Do you have any other questions for a literary agent that you’d like me to add to this list?
Thanks for reading,