3 Things Authors Might Not Know Agents Are Looking For

Today, Haley Radford, president of the former NaNoWriMo sponsor and agent matchmaking service LitFactor, shares three things authors might not know literary agents want:

Communication is king in 21st century publishing, and yet, there so often exists a frustrating breakdown between those who work in the business of books and those who are producing the glorious stories that sustain it. The mismatch between what literary agents really want and what writers think they want is a perfect example of this peculiar industry disconnect.

(That’s partly why I co-founded LitFactor, which is designed to help authors and agents communicate their needs more effectively with one another, making it easier for authors to secure representation if they want it, and for agents to be freed from the slush pile.)

What today’s best and brightest literary agents want to see in new authors—and wished that all authors knew—are:

Agents want authors who are commercially aware and industry savvy.

Agents often make their selections based on genuine sales potential, knowing whether or not something is marketable, and on emerging industry trends.

If you can demonstrate efficiently that you are already busy cultivating an audience who are now ready and waiting to buy your books, it’ll help them feel more confident about the commercial viability of you and your work. You become a surer, safer bet and a more attractive new client, one the agent will be more willing to go above and beyond the call of duty for. That leads me to my next point:

Agents want authors who are fairly well networked and can prove they are already building an audience.

I introduced an author to an agent last year who signed her up solely on the strength of her social media numbers: 250,000 followers was just too good to resist. It might not all translate into sales, but the author already had a captive audience, ready to be sold to.

Agents want authors who are absolutely committed to supporting all aspects of their book’s journey, from page through to publisher and finally, to the palms of readers’ hands.

One agent told me that he’s looking for authors who can be, in effect, business partners, both to him and to the publisher to whom he will endeavor to sell their work. By and large, publishers and agents think in terms of medium to long-term commitments, and actively search for talent with which they can see themselves still collaborating with ten books and ten years down the line.

So if you want an agent, try to think like one. Make sure that your submission is tailored, targeted, commercially- and industry-aware and that you demonstrate the value you have to offer, not only as a writer, but also as a long-term partner in this sometimes tough industry.

Hayley Radford is co-founder of LitFactor, the matchmaking service for authors and literary agents, and Authoright, the leading author editorial and marketing services company. She is also the organizer of the London Author Fair on February 28th, 2014.

Top photo by Flickr user Book Madam.