Synopses & Reviews
"Chock-full of delicious, wise, witty, and often laugh-out-loud quotes about the writer's life, the editor's life, the agent's life.... It's absolutely the last word on literary agents." —Richard Curtis, Richard Curtis Associates
"Snappy, nuts-and-bolts guide to the world of literary agents, with lots of practical tips." —Library Journal
"Larsen's useful guide provides needed understanding of the world of literary agents."—Booklist
In this revised and expanded edition of his acclaimed guide, veteran literary agent Michael Larsen gives you an illuminating, insider's look into the world of literary agents. Here are all the facts you need to find and work with the one that can launch your writing career, including:
- How to contact an agent
- Why agents are so important in today's publishing world
- How agents transform writers into authors
- What you can do to make yourself irresistible to agents and publishers
- How agents make money for authors
- How to decipher agency agreements and book contracts
- When it's time to change agents—and how to do it
About the Author
MICHAEL LARSEN is cofounder of the Michael Larsen/Elizabeth Pomada Literary Agency, the oldest agency in northern California. A member of the Association of Authors' Representatives (AAR), he lectures and presents seminars around the country on writing, agenting, and publishing. Larsen is the author or coauthor of eleven books.
Table of Contents
Partial table of contents:
HIRING THE AGENT YOU NEED.
Making the Connection: Using the Write Stuff to Find the Right Agent for You.
A Study in Read and Green: Six Criteria for Choosing the Right Agent for You.
Life After Yes: 11 Steps to a Happy Working Marriage.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR AGENT.
Transforming a Writer into an Author - What an Agent Does Before the Sale.
Paper Cuts: A Terrible Day in the Life of an Agent.
Following the Money: What an Agent Does After the Sale.
Hooked on Books: A Terrific Day in the Life of an Agent.
Why Hire an Agent?
THE PREQUEL: HOW TO MAKE YOURSELF IRRESISTABLE TO ANY AGENT OR PUBLISHER.
The Book Business in a Nutshell.
Why Agents Prefer Pigs to Chickens: Making a 100 Percent Commitment to Your Career.
Writing High: The End of the Beginning.
Appendices.
Bibliography.