![]() (Historically, the label of “niche” has often and obnoxiously been slapped on books featuring queer and BIPOC protagonists, as well as protagonists with disabilities.) You may also find that your agent pool is too small if your book is considered “niche.” This simply means a big publisher doesn’t think there’s a big enough audience for your book to justify their investment. But you could potentially find a way to pay less. ![]() Now, you’ll probably end up paying a commission to someone unless you plan to negotiate your contract alone. So then why wouldn’t you go through an agent?įor one thing, an agent charges a 15% commission on your advance and royalties. Your rep can negotiate a better contract than you could on your own.An agent is likely to know more about the publishing landscape and current trends, which means they’re better prepared to target the right publisher in the right way at the right time.Your agent will (hopefully) have pre-existing relationships and a positive reputation among publishers.Many publishers take agent submissions more seriously.Having an agent works to your advantage in many ways. ![]() That leads me to the real question: Am I Better Off With an Agent? Just be aware that many of these smaller operations come with modest advances and less marketing power. These include small presses, university presses, independent publishers, digital-only publishers, and even some imprints of the Big Five, like HarperCollins’ Avon. However, there are plenty of smaller publishers who will consider manuscripts that come directly from the author. These hotshots are unlikely to accept unagented submissions. If your dream is to be published by one of the Big Five, then you probably need an agent. Do I Need an Agent to Submit to a Publisher? If you should bail on traditional publishing and just do it all yourselfīut first, let’s talk about why you might (or might not) want to skip the “get an agent” step of the publishing process. ![]() What it takes to negotiate a contract and work with a publisher.How to be super professional in your interactions.Where to find the right publishers for your book.How to prepare your manuscript for submission.Fortunately, you can pull that off with a little insight and a lot of dedication. When you pursue publishing without an agent, you take on the responsibility of understanding the market and selling your work. Is it possible to bypass the gatekeepers by submitting a manuscript to a publisher?Ĭan an author with a great novel and a lot of moxy send their masterpiece directly to the folks who make it happen?Īnd with the rise in small presses and independent publishing, we’re seeing more and more authors do exactly that.Įven so, submitting a manuscript to a publisher isn’t as simple as attaching a document to an email, clicking send, and crossing your fingers. ![]()
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