Securing a Literary Agent

By James S. Payne

Many aspiring authors give up because they can’t secure a literary agent. Some fail because they give up after receiving a few rejections. Others fail because of a lack of understanding on how to write and submit an effective query. An effective query contains a cover letter and a proposal emphasizing a promotion plan.

Begin the one page cover letter with a hook, followed by one or two sentences explaining the proposed book, genre, and number of pages. Conclude by mentioning an enclosed proposal that includes a promotion plan followed by an offer to send more information upon request.

Produce a proposal that is clean, clear and follows a professional format with numbered pages, each with a header. The proposal should contain a title page and a table of contents, followed by specific sections such as Introduction, Overview, Promotion, About the Author, Outline and List of Chapters. An effective introduction of the proposal starts with a hook but the emphasis of the proposal must center on the promotion plan. The promotion plan should be detailed and its importance cannot be over emphasized.

When it comes to securing a literary agent, there are no guarantees but the probabilities for success increase when the hook is baited with a tasty promotional plan. Remember, there are a lot of fish in the pond; you have to keep casting. Unfortunately, most authors would rather write than fish.