How Agents Work

Literary agents function as independent business partners who screen manuscripts for market viability, help clear structural obstacles before submission, select and approach specific editors, and negotiate contracts and rights under a commission system that pays them only when books sell. Writers can evaluate agents in return by examining recent, relevant sales, concrete submission plans, and rights handling that support a long-term career rather than a single deal.

Most writers first encounter agents through short bios on websites or names at the bottom of emails. Inside publishing, their role is narrower and more concrete. Agents sit between writers and publishers as independent intermediaries. They are not salaried editors, lawyers hired by a house, or publicists. They work for the author, are paid only when money flows from a publisher, and spend their time on two kinds of work: choosing which projects to represent and managing the business life of those projects across contracts, rights, and multiple books.

Agents are paid on commission. In many markets, the standard is around 15 percent of advances and royalties on domestic book deals they negotiate, and around 20–25 percent on foreign, translation, and some audio or film and television deals when co-agents are involved. Literary agents do not receive a salary from publishers. Reputable agents do not charge reading fees or retainer fees. Query reading, calls with writers, editorial work on manuscripts, proposal development, submission strategy, and contract negotiation are all unpaid until a deal closes. Most of that time will never be compensated because most projects do not sell. Under those conditions, “liking” a manuscript is not enough. Agents must decide whether it is realistic to recoup the hours required to represent it.

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