How To Get Noticed By Literary Agents
Millennial Writer Life is here to guide and uplift new writers. Our newsletter provides valuable insights, tips, and resources, creating a welcoming space to navigate the path to success. In other words, a newsletter to help you become the writer that you are or that you want to be.
One of the most common questions that I get at Millennial Writer Life is - how did you find a literary agent? I’ve written on this in the past and even uploaded videos on my channel about this topic since it can be one of the biggest barriers for writers who want to be traditionally published. Well, here’s an updated guide for you with some tips.
Build a strong online presence
Having a professional website and an active social media presence can help you establish yourself as a serious author and make it easier for literary agents to find you. This can include a blog or website where you write about writing and the publishing industry, or an online portfolio of your work.
Network with other writers and industry professionals
Attend writing conferences and events, join writing groups, and connect with other writers and industry professionals on social media. Not only will this help you learn more about the industry, but it can also lead to opportunities to connect with literary agents.
In 2021, I attended an artist residency in Florida, where I met another artist that was able to recommend me to her literary agent. When you’re meeting new people, aside from building community, this is one of the best outcomes!
Submit your work to publications, literary magazines and contests.
Most people say that literary magazines and contests can be a great way to get your work in front of literary agents, but I disagree somewhat. They can be inaccessible, hard to find, and can cost money for emerging writers to apply. If you do wish to apply to things that charge an application or submission fee, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask if they have a sliding scale or a fee waiver.
Even if your work is not selected for publication or as a prize winner, being a finalist or runner-up can still be an effective way to catch the attention of an agent.
In 2021, I submitted an excerpt of my book to the Hurston/Wright Foundation and won the Crossover Award, which earned my writing a lot of attention and help in the promotion of my book once I knew that it was going to be published. Since then, I’ve had a great relationship with the Hurston/Wright Foundation, leading to podcast interviews, attending workshops, and more.
Tailor your query letter.
A query letter is a one-page letter that you send to literary agents to introduce yourself and your work. Make sure your query letter is well-written, and concise, and highlights the unique aspects of your work that make it stand out. Also, it is important that you research and find the right literary agent to send the letter to, that represent the genre of your work, to increase the chances of them reading and taking interest in it.
QueryTracker helped me a lot, but one tip that I’d recommend is also taking the time to look up interviews with your prospective literary agent to get a sense of how they work with their clients.