How To Be A Literary Agent: An Introductory Guide To Literary Representation

by Richard Mariotti, Bruce Fife

This book takes you step-by-step through the fascinating business of literary representation, covering everything from setting up your business, finding and working with writers, locating the best publishers, working with editors, making the sale, to negotiating contracts. A valuable resource for people considering careers as literary agents as well as writers who want to be their own agents. Writers don't need agents if they know how to approach publishers, properly prepare and send submissions, and deal with editors--all of which are covered in this book. You will learn how to present yourself as a professional and get the same respect given to successful authors and agents.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1995

Reviews

[Stephanie Katz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only reason I withhold a 5 star review is that some of the info is 30 years out of date. Doesn’t account for digital age of audiobooks, ebooks, and inflation of advances and royalty figures, etc BUT still offers a good breakdown of understanding verbiage of legal contracts and the many facets of negotiating things like territories, subsidiary rights, and psychology of publishers and agents when approaching negotiations. A lot packed into a short book.

[M.J.Swan]

Good information but desperately needs an updated version. No one used typewriters anymore and there is a lot to wonder about current technology and being an agent that this book couldn’t even imagine.

[Megan Close Zavala · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of great information but pretty dry in parts.

[Jimmy Blakemore · Rating 5 out of 5]

"How to Be a Literary Agent: An Introductory Guide to Literary Representation" by Richard Mariotti is an impressive book on literary representation. As someone who is interested in pursuing a career in literary representation, I found this book to be an invaluable resource.

One of the things that I appreciated most about "How to Be a Literary Agent" was the author's clear and concise writing style. Mariotti does an excellent job of explaining complex concepts in a way that is easy to understand, even for those who are new to the field. Additionally, the book is organized in a logical and coherent manner, making it easy to follow along and find the information that you need.

Another standout aspect of this book is the wealth of practical information it provides. Mariotti covers a wide range of topics, including how to build a client list, negotiate contracts, and market your clients' work. He also includes helpful tips and insights from his own experience as a literary agent, which gives the book a personal touch.

Overall, I highly recommend "How to Be a Literary Agent" to anyone who is interested in pursuing a career in literary representation or simply wants to learn more about the industry. It is a comprehensive and informative guide that is sure to be a valuable resource for anyone looking to enter the world of literary representation.

[Titus Hjelm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting that this book has been resurrected as POD. It's quite dated in some respects, but the basic approach hasn't changed that much, I gather. There are more comprehensive and up to date books out there, however.