literary agent
Author's business ally
A literary agent represents writers in dealings with publishers.
The agent submits manuscripts, negotiates contracts, and advocates for the author's interests in exchange for a percentage of earnings—typically fifteen percent.
Most major publishers accept submissions only through agents, making them essential gatekeepers: She spent two years querying literary agents before finding representation.
Inborn aptitude
- slush pileUnreviewed manuscript accumulation
- discoveryAct of finding something
- authorsCreators of written works
- genresCategories of creative work
book fairs · market trends · acquisitions · pitch · reading · taste · potential · submissions
Enforceable written agreement
- dealAgreement or distribution
- royaltiesOngoing payments to creators
- advanceMove or progress forward
- termsConditions of an agreement
agreement · rights · offer · counteroffer · clauses · bargaining · leverage · concession
Original text before publication
- submissionYielding to another's will
- queryRequest for information
- synopsisCondensed version of content
- proposalFormal plan for consideration
publisher · editor · imprint · genre · fiction · nonfiction · bestseller · catalog
Agent linking two parties
- liaisonConnector between groups
- brokerTransaction intermediary for hire
- advocatePublic cause supporter
- spokespersonAuthorized representative communicator
go-between · mediator · proxy · champion · delegate · facilitator · envoy · ambassador
talent
Inborn aptitude
- slush pileUnreviewed manuscript accumulation
- discoveryAct of finding something
- authorsCreators of written works
genres · book fairs · market trends · acquisitions · pitch · reading · taste · potential · submissions · voice
contract
Enforceable written agreement
terms · agreement · rights · offer · counteroffer · clauses · bargaining · leverage · concession · commission
manuscript
Original text before publication
- submissionYielding to another's will
- queryRequest for information
- synopsisCondensed version of content
proposal · publisher · editor · imprint · genre · fiction · nonfiction · bestseller · catalog · backlist
intermediary
Agent linking two parties
- liaisonConnector between groups
- brokerTransaction intermediary for hire
- advocatePublic cause supporter
spokesperson · go-between · mediator · proxy · champion · delegate · facilitator · envoy · ambassador · surrogate
- writingwriting, drafting, authors, author, books
- publishingpublishers, editors, editor, publishing house, books
- book culturereading, reader, book lover, bookworm, bibliophile
- representativesrepresentative, delegate, lawyer, deputy, rep
- book professionalsbook dealer, bookseller, rare book dealer, librarian, book binder
- publishing jobseditor, publisher, writer, author, editor-in-chief
literary agentpublisher
Company releasing books
publishing house · imprint · commissioning editor · editor · book buyer
literary agentauthor
Creator of written works
writer · self-published author · novelist · ghostwriter · creator
agent, agency, literature, literary, literate, literacy, illiterate, illiteracy, literary agents