We ran a poll on twitter to see what content people most wanted to see next and ‘Researching agents’ won by a landslide! Juliet is here to tell you a bit more about researching agents and how to find the best one for your book

I’m happy to report that nowadays there is a wealth of information out there about most agencies. When I joined an agency (in 2010) all submissions were physical: you went to the post office and printed them out, mailed them off with a self-addressed envelope, and waited for a response. Things are much smoother now as most agents use online systems, whether that is submissions email addresses or Query Manager. This makes it much more cost effective, and quicker, for the author! But how do you decide which agency to submit to in the first place?

1: Get hold of a copy of the Writer’s and Artist’s Yearbook

Most libraries will have one, or you can buy your own copy. This is updated every year and it lists every agency in the UK, some key authors they represent, and their submission guidelines. Every year they diligently contact everyone to check on genre, personnel changes, and contact details. I’d suggest reading through this and making a list of 10 agencies which you like the look of.

2: Visit the agency websites

Most agencies will have an agency page which lists clients, how they handle rights, successes and news, and profiles of the individual agents. This is a great way to assess not just which agency you want to submit to – but the right agent to target there. For example maybe The Bestseller Agency (which I have just invented) has four agents who represent commercial fiction, but from their biographies on the website you can see that one in particular is looking for historical fiction – and that is what you have written. Maybe you’ll remove an agency from your list if you don’t feel they’re the right fit, but hopefully you’ll then write a specific agent name down for each agency you are targeting.

3: Google them

A lot of agents have given interviews, they have twitter, or they’ve done YouTube videos or written blog posts. From this you should get a sense of their taste in books, what they have sold recently, what they are on the lookout for, and how they work as an agent. Are they editorial? Are they actively looking to sign new clients? Do they seem to have a strong sales track record?

4: Look on The Bookseller or Publisher’s Marketplace

The Bookseller is where most press releases for book deals are posted so if you put the agent name in on The Bookseller website, you should be able to get an idea of the kind of books they sign and sell. Similarly, Publisher’s Marketplace is where people post the deals they do, by genre and size. It’s quite fascinating! Publisher’s Marketplace is a paid resource, and not all UK agents post their deals there, but a few of my authors said they bought a short-term subscription to it to take a look at American agents, and UK agents as well. I’m currently ranked as the number 1 deal-maker in UK fiction which is a pleasing accolade to have!

5: Look at book acknowledgements

Have a look at who the author thanks in the acknowledgements page of your favourite book – and then repeat steps 2-4 to get a fuller picture of if they might be the perfect person to take a look at your manuscript too!

6: Send to a mix of agents

I’d advise sending to a variety of agents and agencies: big agencies, small agencies, senior agents, and junior agents. I’d always say though to do your due diligence – make sure that they have clients you recognise, sell books to publishers you recognise, and they can showcase how they handle foreign rights and film/TV rights. Some people have come to me in the past having had previous representation, and saying that they wish they had researched the agency more. I think it can feel so thankless trying to find an agent that sometimes authors end up sending to anyone and everyone – but that’s not always the best strategy. Junior agents will have less experience, but more time, and as long as they have strong agency mentors you will be in safe hands. Senior agents will have lots of experience, and an impressive track record will make editors sit up and take notice when they submit. So there are pros and cons to both! 

7. Look out for warning signs

If an agency says they charge reading fees, or a high commission rate (above 15%/20%) then you should run for the hills. Agents only make money when our clients make money, so no money should exchange hands when you’re looking for representation. Look at the clients they represent and the books they have worked on too. If it is a new agency, where do the agents come from? Have they previously worked at big agencies, or previously been publishers? How will they handle subsidiary rights? What is their experience level and success rate? 

Bonus hint: I often go to events or speak on panels – I’ve done a few Zoom events during lockdown, and I usually teach a masterclass several times a year with the Guardian. It can definitely be useful to get this insight into agents by attending conferences, or watching Zoom panels. However, you don’t need to do any of those things – they’re a nice add-on, but some do cost money, so it’s not necessary by any stretch!

And finally…. Good luck! Remember that agents need new clients and we’re always looking for authors to help turn into published successes. So far this year I have signed 7 writers, and getting to tell them their novel is going to be published is always a highlight of my week.