Every year, literary agents receive thousands of manuscripts, yet only a small fraction make it past the slush pile. The harsh reality is that the vast majority of submissions are rejected, often within the first few pages.
This is a discouraging statistic for writers. It shows that other than having a compelling story to submit, you also need to understand the unique preferences and criteria that each agent has when considering new clients.
Finding a literary agent that’s perfect for you and your book is challenging. But knowing what they’re looking for makes the task a little simpler.
While each agent has their own requirements, there are a few things that all agents are looking for when considering new clients. Knowing what literary agents are looking for can be the key to transforming a hopeful submission into a book deal.
What Literary Agents Are Looking For in Authors
Literary agents typically look for several key qualities and attributes in an author, including:
Strong Writing Skills: This is the most important requirement. Agents expect authors to have a strong knowledge of language, grammar, and storytelling. Your writing should be engaging and clear and should stand out from the rest.
Unique Voice and Style: Agents are drawn to authors who have a distinctive voice and a unique style that sets them apart from others. This helps in making your work memorable and marketable.
Compelling Story: Whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, your story should be compelling and have a clear narrative arc. For fiction, this includes well-developed characters, a strong plot, and engaging dialogue. For nonfiction, it involves a clear thesis, solid research, and a structured argument or narrative.
Marketability: Agents look for books that they believe will sell well. This includes considering the book’s target audience, current market trends, and the author’s platform or potential to promote the book. By author platform, they mean social media, a website, a mailing list, and/or a newsletter.
Professionalism: Agents appreciate authors who are professional, reliable, and easy to work with. This includes being open to feedback, meeting deadlines, and having a good attitude towards the publishing process. Also, they want to see your professionalism shine through when you’re engaging with your audience on social media.
Originality: Original ideas and fresh perspectives are highly valued. Agents look for stories or angles that haven’t been overdone and that offer something new to readers. They want something original and unique.
Clear Genre and Audience: Knowing the genre and target audience helps agents determine how to position and sell the book. Understanding where your book fits in the market gives you an advantage.
Passion and Persistence: A passionate and persistent author who is dedicated to their craft and willing to keep improving and promoting their work is more likely to succeed in the long run. Agents need to know you are willing to revise and edit your work and are open to feedback, whether positive or negative.
Synopsis and Query Letter: A well-written query letter and a concise, engaging synopsis are crucial. These are often the first things an agent sees, and they need to grab attention and make the agent want to read more. Your query letter needs to grab the agent’s attention with a strong hook.
Author Platform: While not always necessary, having an existing platform (such as a strong social media presence, a blog, or other means of reaching a large audience) can be a significant advantage, especially for nonfiction authors. Having an active speaking calendar is helpful as well as being associated with certain organizations.
Conclusion
Understanding what literary agents are looking for can significantly improve your chances of avoiding rejection and securing representation. By focusing on strong writing skills, a unique voice, compelling stories, and marketability, you can stand out in the crowded field of submissions. Professionalism, originality, and a clear understanding of your genre and audience further enhance your appeal. Additionally, crafting a powerful query letter and building an author platform can make a notable difference. By aligning your manuscript with these key qualities, you’ll be well on your way to turning your writing dreams into reality.
