The Writing Life: Knocking on the Door of the Big House:

Feb 21, 2008 - 09:28 AM PST

Finding an Agent

Hell hath no fury like a hustler with a literary agent ~ Frank Sinatra

Agents are the Catch-22 of the movie business: everybody starting out desperately needs one and nobody starting out can possibly get one
~ William Goldman

As a rule, the big publishing houses will no longer consider “unagented” work. And short of stalking movie stars in bathroom stalls, getting a screenplay to a credible actor or producer without an agent takes nothing short of a miracle. So how can you find an agent?

Step 1: Finish the book. Or whatever project you want to sell. Agents won’t look at something that’s “almost” finished unless you’re Stephen King, or have enough success under your belt to convince a prospective buyer that you’ll produce something worthwhile after you’ve spent your advance. For non-fiction, you need a well-thought-out proposal and a background that gives you credibility on that topic.

Step 2: Polish your “pitch.” You really do have to be able to describe in 25 words (or less) what your story is about and why it’s compelling. For a screenplay, you have to say what movies yours is “like” (while at the same time being completely original). Ask a friend to read your work and describe it for you. Read some blurbs on Amazon.com or IMDB.com. Brevity is key.

Step 3: Work your connections. The meek might inherit the earth, but they are not likely to get signed by William Morris. Charles Fraser, author of Cold Mountain, got his agent when his wife asked a friend of hers to take a look at it. The friend was writer Kaye Gibbons, who passed it on to her own agent. Ask everyone you know if they know someone who can help you.

Step 4: Educate Yourself. You lose time and credibility if you send your stuff to someone who “just doesn’t handle that type of thing.” Try joining mediabistro.com. Unlike sources that print a laundry list of what an agent will consider, this site has an archive of interviews with agents where they really spell out what they’re looking for.

Step 5: Consider a Conference. At most writers’ conferences, you’ll have a chance to pitch your product to an agent. I’ve heard many agents say that they are more likely to give someone a chance to follow-up from a conference interview than from a cold query.

Step 6: Don’t Give Up. As Richard Bach said, “A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit.”

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