How Not to Find a Literary Agent

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kathryn_Lively]Kathryn Lively
As a writer, I can completely relate to your enthusiasm. You have finally finished your novel, and you can't wait to see it published and in your hands with a cover, your author photo on the back...the works. The publishing landscape has changed greatly in the last year, however, with digital books on the rise and sales via online outlets exploding. Many writers have taken to self-publishing their works in order to maintain control over their books, but this doesn't necessarily represent the full future of the industry. Not all author wish to go this route and continue to see representation to pitch their books to large presses. If your dream is to publish through a house like Random House or Simon and Schuster, you need an agent.
So, how do you get one? Some authors may tell you it's easier said than done. The key to finding good representation, naturally, is to have a book that an agent is passionate to sell. A literary agent earns his/her keep by placing books with sales potential with publishers willing to contract them. When you offer an agent a great book, you're halfway there. That said, it is important to adhere to an agent's submission guidelines in order to get your foot in the door. If you want to see your pool of candidates dwindle to nothing, there are ways to aggravate them and waste their and your time.
Take into consideration these tips on how not to find an agent:
1) Send a book in a genre the agent doesn't represent. Not all agents work with all genres. If you have written a science fiction novel and send it to an agent who only represents non-fiction or romance, you will likely receive a rejection. If you aren't sure which genres the agent wants, do your research! Check the agency's website, or research favorite authors in your genre - often authors thanks their agents in their book acknowledgements.
2) Send a book to an agent who isn't currently reading. Not all agents read submissions year round. Some specify through their social media and websites that they close to submissions at certain times. Don't think, however, that if you send during a black-out period that the book will keep until the agent is open again, or that the agent will make an exception for you. If you cannot follow directions, an agent is not likely to want to work with you. Research when the agents you seek are reading.
3) Contact an agent through an unappealing method. Unless the agent specifies that he/she will consider queries via Twitter and Facebook - which is extremely rare- don't do it. Do not call agents on the telephone to pitch a query, either. Find the agent's website or information and determine if they want e-mail or snail mail contact.
4) Query the correct way, but follow-up daily for an answer. Some agents may receive hundreds of queries or submissions a month. That's a lot of work to slog through, and if you start pestering an agent for news of your query you not only irritate the agent but risk getting a reputation you don't want. Submit, and be patient.
If you feel your book is agent-ready, best wishes in your journey toward publication.
Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer specializing in articles on [http://www.turnthepagepublishing.com/self-publishing]self-publishing services and [http://www.turnthepagepublishing.com/self-publishing]freelance editing services.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-Not-to-Find-a-Literary-Agent&id=6745022] How Not to Find a Literary Agent