One of the most common questions I hear from unpublished writers is, “How do I find an agent?” Which makes sense, because if you’re trying to go the traditional publishing route (specifically the Big Five), an agent is an essential step to getting your book read by editors.
But wait… what about the slush pile? Tom Clancy’s novel, The Hunt for Red October, was famously plucked out of the slush pile at the Naval Institute Press! Mm, not so much. Tom Clancy contacted the press first, and they invited him to submit his novel directly (even though they had never published fiction before).
So yes, you will almost certainly need an agent. And that brings us to the much less-discussed part of the process: what to do when an agent is interested in you.
At that point, everything changes. You’re no longer emailing agent after agent in a near-endless attempt to get someone to notice you. Suddenly, you’re desirable. And now you have a different question to answer: Do you actually want this person representing your work and, ideally, your career?
The problem is that most writers have spent so long trying to get an agent that they haven’t given much thought to interviewing one. So I asked literary agent Lucinda Halpern, author of Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author, what she thinks writers should be asking when the tables finally turn.
Below are the eight questions she recommends asking a prospective agent.
– Panio Gianopoulos
“The agent interview is not a performance. It is due diligence.”
When an author has the opportunity to speak with an interested agent, many make the mistake of speaking exclusively about their book. It’s natural. But if an agent is considering representing you, this is your opportunity to vet the partnership and determine how thoughtfully they have considered your work—and how this vital relationship will proceed once the initial excitement wears off.
Here are the eight questions I suggest every writer ask a prospective agent:
What specifically do you think the project still needs?
You want evidence that the agent has read closely, researched you, and has a vision beyond “This is great—I can sell it.”How much development would you anticipate, and what would that timeline look like?
Be wary of both extremes. One week may suggest insufficient thought; several months may suggest a crowded list and a project that will not be prioritized. The person most enthusiastic about you will clear their plate to make the time.What books have you represented that offer relevant experience for mine?
They need not be identical books, but the agent should be able to thoughtfully explain the parallels if not.Who do you see as the reader, and what kinds of publishers would you approach?
Listen for specificity. An agent with relationships will have several names at the tip of the tongue.What other commercial opportunities do you see? Are there any rights you would specifically look to protect in a contract?
A sophisticated agent will be thinking beyond the initial book toward audio, foreign rights, film and television, speaking, brand partnerships—the author’s larger career.What makes a client relationship successful for you—and what tends to make one difficult?
This will tell you more about expectations, communication, and compatibility than simply asking, “What does the process look like?”Who will be my primary contact?
Will you work directly with the agent, an associate, or a larger team? None of these models is inherently wrong, but you should understand the relationship you are entering.What happens if the book doesn’t sell immediately?
Ask how long the agent typically advocates for a project, how the submission strategy might change, and perhaps ask for examples of when the agent either sold to a smaller or alternative press (and why). The agent you want is one who will hustle—and go the distance.
Lucinda Halpern is a literary agent and the CEO of Lucinda Literary, based in New York. Her classes and coaching programs have been taught to hundreds of writers worldwide, and became the inspiration for her book Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author (Hay House; February 6th, 2024). Learn more at lucindaliterary.com, follow Lucinda Halpern on LinkedIn, or take the quiz: "Are You Ready for a Book Deal?"
Really helpful advice. Thank you!