Written A Book? It’s Time To Get An Agent

Attempting to write a book is on many people’s life goal lists, and lockdown meant that more of us than ever actually sat down and put pet to paper (or fingers to keyboards). But you’ve typed ‘The End’, so now what? How do you get the book into the hands of readers?

This is where an agent can be worth their weight in gold. Sheila Crowley, of Curtis Brown, is one of the best agents in the business, known for her straightforward, personable manner and phenomenal success with authors such as Jojo Moyes, Clare Mackintosh, and Santa Montefiore. 

We caught up with Sheila at the Dubai Literary Festival, where she was giving a talk on ‘How to Approach a Literary Agent’. Here’s what we learnt… 

What does an agent do? 

Sheila describes an agent as a writer’s champion, who aims to get you a publishing deal – but also does much more. She says: “An agent knows which publishers would be suitable for the book and then we negotiate a deal. I’m a business manager, negotiator, reader, editor, marketeer, and I’d like to think I’m a godmother! In all those elements you have to have a hard side and a soft side. 

“Writing is a very solitary existence, and I think people feel vulnerable in it, so the agent is in place to always be the constant in an author’s life.”

Why do I need one? 

You can of course go it alone, but it is worth noting that publishers, particularly the larger ones, won’t take unsolicited manuscripts anymore, as simply put, they are inundated. Having an agent also means someone else taking on the responsibility for many of the areas around the book, and allowing you to get on with the actual writing. 

Sheila says: “An agent is there to really help you be creative. We do the business side and offer a lot of editorial support and give feedback. The stronger the book is, the better the deal.”

There is also the advantage of the connections the agents have built up after years in the industry, both in publishing, and wider areas such as TV production. Sheila continues: “We know the industry and have contacts right across the globe. Within Curtis Brown we have a huge translation team, we have a dedicated book-to-film agent, an assistant working on the podcast side of the business. We’re looking at every aspect, because as an author you can have your book in so many formats now. 

“It is also about the longer term. A book is not just for Christmas, it’s for life. So it isn’t just about getting that deal, it’s about what happens beyond publication. How do you keep invigorating it?”

How do I choose an agent? 

This bit is a two-way street – the agent has to like your book, but you have to also connect with them, and feel you can align your expectations. Research is key. Find out who were the agents of books in a similar genre to yours, and look at their websites and any social media presence. In terms of Curtis Brown, Sheila says: “We are very visible. When you click on any of the agents on the website, you can see our bios, where we came from, what we’re interested in. We want to inform you as much as we can.”

How do I go about approaching an agent? 

Agents will be looking for a synopsis, sample material, and a cover letter. Sheila’s top tips on these are: 

Synopsis: “Always remember your elevator pitch, but don’t give away too much. If you’ve revealed your cliffhangers before I’ve read a page, you’ve ruined it for me.” 

Sample material: “You want to be grabbed by that first page, that opening has to go ‘Wow!’”

Cover letter: “Be very careful with comparisons. It’s a big claim to compare yours to the biggest book last year. Instead say you are in that particular genre. Include anything personal you have outside of the book. Maybe you’ve become a huge success on Instagram, have an interesting personal story that supports the book, or have lots of writing experience.” 

Then before hitting send, check and recheck for errors – formatting, typos, grammar, correct spelling of the agent’s name… 

What happens next? 

Then it is a waiting game. Agents like Sheila can get more than 50 submissions a week, and even with the help of assistants, it can take time to work through them all. 

Rejection is unfortunately the more common route, so the key thing is what you take from that. Sheila says: “It is a subjective business, so it is all about finding the agent who really loves your book. Not everyone gets out of the blocks straight away, Maybe you try a second round of pitching, re-frame your book, or put it in a drawer and try a completely different idea – or you decide to self publish and prove everyone wrong!”

Alternatively an agent may love your work, and if your gut instinct says they the right person, then win-win. In commission terms, industry standard in the UK is 15%, then 20% for translation and US. 

Sheila concludes: “I take my hat off to anybody who will sit down and write a book. It’s a great discipline, it’s hard work, but it’s worth it, so good luck in your journey.” 

Any other tips for budding writers? 

* Sign up for newsletters. Lots of great authors have them, and pack them full of brilliant tips that will inspire new writers. Marion Keyes, Clare Mackintosh, and Santa Montefiore. 

* Look at a creative writing course. Curtis Brown run one that launched 12 years ago, and 50 publishing contracts have come out of that to date. 

* Join an in-person writing group, or set up your own. Getting the feedback from other people, and having that support system, can be invaluable. 

* Get involved in the online writing community on social media. #amwriting on twitter tends to have some great tips 

Sheila was talking at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in Dubai www.elfdubai.org