5 Key Traits to Look for in a Literary Agent!

If you want the book publishing process to run as smoothly as possible, it is important that you have the right representation. This is why you should choose the right literary agent. By choosing the right literary agent, you will have someone to represent your interest in the publishing arena. But this is easier said than done because there is a myriad of literary agents out there.

But not all of them will be the right ones for you. So before you even begin the book writing process, you should know what you are looking for.

Here are 5 traits to look for in a literary agent:

1. Experience

One trait that you should look for in a literary agent is experience. This is because the more experienced a literary agent is, the more skillful he or she will represent you. So when you are scouting out for a literary agent, look at their track records.

Check how many authors the literary agent has represented. Check how long he or she has worked as a literary agent. Are there any noteworthy books in his portfolio? Has he or she represented any established authors? All in all, the more experienced a literary agent is, the better your chances of getting a book deal.

2. Well-read

Aside from experience, a good literary agent should be well-read. This is because it is the literary agent’s job to know whether a book is good enough or if it needs a little bit more work. So it is imperative that the literary agent knows the difference between a great book and just a mediocre one.

And it won’t do you any favors if your literary agent is just praising your work to get on your good side. So when you scout out for a literary agent, you should look for one who knows good literature.

3. Persistence

The book publishing business is a very competitive arena. So if you are going to have someone represent you, it is important that you choose a literary agent who is persistent. A persistent literary agent won’t let any minor setback stop him or her.

And seeing as there is a multitude of authors out there, each with their own literary agents, your literary agent should be persistent and faring enough to stand out. So when you choose a literary agent, you should take your time and have a look at their track records and their clientele. Check whether your potential literary agent is dogged enough to get the job done.

4. Connections

Connections are very important in the book publishing business because there is a lot of competition. And if your literary agent is going to represent you properly, he or she needs to have the right connections. A literary agent should already have connections with potential publishing houses and know key people who can get you the best publishing deals.

A good literary agent should also know how to get your book into established bookstores. All in all, having good connections is key for a literary agent to succeed.

5. Trustworthiness

All the traits mentioned above are important, but the most important trait that a literary agent should have is trustworthiness. This is because you will be entrusting your publishing dreams to the literary agent. He or she will also be the one who will represent you to publishing houses and the media.

And it is important that your literary agent has your best interest at heart. So before you hire a literary agent, you should really do a thorough background check on him or her. Check if he or she has committed any illegal action against a client.

By doing a thorough check-up on your potential literary agent, you will be able to choose one that you can trust.

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