{"id":8666,"date":"2013-05-21T10:47:10","date_gmt":"2013-05-21T17:47:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/?p=8666"},"modified":"2013-05-21T10:47:10","modified_gmt":"2013-05-21T17:47:10","slug":"finding-a-literary-agent-by-tiffany-turpin-johnson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/2013\/05\/21\/finding-a-literary-agent-by-tiffany-turpin-johnson\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding a Literary Agent by Tiffany Turpin Johnson"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Complete<\/a>Today Tiffany Turpin Johnson shares about the big quest of finding a literary agent. \u00a0Enjoy!<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve written your novel, edited it ruthlessly, employed beta readers and critique partners, and edited it yet again. Then you let it sit until you could wait no longer, and edited it one more time. And finally, it\u2019s time to query! But where to start?<\/p>\n

Who you query matters just as much as the quality of your book.<\/strong> If you have the best mainstream mystery in the world but only query agents who represent picture books, you will likely never see your book in a traditional bookstore. It may be tempting to just jump out there and query every agent you find, but the more research you do up front, the faster you can secure an agent once you start querying.<\/p>\n

There are a few basics you\u2019ll need to keep in mind as you search. Your perfect agent should be:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Reputable.<\/b> Check sites like the Association of Authors\u2019 Representatives<\/a> and the Absolute Write Water Cooler<\/a> for warnings. Go to Writer Beware<\/a> to get tips on how to determine if an agent is legitimate.<\/li>\n
  2. Taking new clients.<\/b> Many agents close to queries during certain parts of the year, or never review queries that aren\u2019t solicited or referred by trusted colleagues or clients. Some agents are so established that they aren\u2019t taking new clients on at all.<\/li>\n
  3. Looking for books like yours.<\/b> Check the agent\u2019s website or blog. Most will post plot or character wishlists, preferred genres, and\/or tropes they\u2019d never take on.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    With the basics in mind, you\u2019re ready to start the hunt. But where do you look? There are several different options.<\/p>\n