How do I secure a literary agent?”

This is an excellent question writers often ask me. Many publishers (including my employer, Baker Publishing Group) are explicit about not accepting submissions unless they come through an agent. So if you’re pursuing traditional publishing, getting an agent is essential.

I asked this and some other questions in an interview with publishing pro and literary agent Angela Scheff. Angela has worked in the publishing industry since 2000. For the first ten years she worked as an editor and then associate publisher at Zondervan, a Christian imprint of HarperCollins in Grand Rapids, Michigan, acquiring and editing a variety of well-known authors. For the next five years Angela became a freelancer, working with different Christian publishers, editors, and authors, in addition to focusing on her young family. In 2015 Angela joined The Christopher Ferebee Agency to represent a select number of authors to help bring their voice, passion, and expertise to their readers. You can find her at www.christopherferebee.com.

Hi Angela, thanks for being here! First question for you: What are the most significant changes you’ve seen in the industry over the course of your career?

Hi Chad, my pleasure! I remember when publishers were able to take more of a risk on new authors. Now, in addition to a fresh idea and stellar writing, authors need to have a platform as well. And it’s no longer assumed that just having a blog and website is enough. Authors need to be interacting regularly with their audience and readers. They need to understand the marketing process and work with the publisher to maximize their reach.

The biggest hurdle most writers face is building a platform. What advice do you have for writers who want to build a platform?

Start today and do something, no matter how small, every day. Make sure it’s something you enjoy so you’re motivated to keep at it. Remember to stay true to who you are as a person as well as focused on the type of audience you’re hoping to reach in your writing. For example, if you love Instagram and hate Twitter, start there. Or perhaps you’re better at podcasting than blogging. Or maybe you can seek out opportunities to be the expert in your field, whether that’s speaking, writing columns, teaching, etc. You don’t have to be in every social media sphere or do everything. Just focus on the one or two things you can be consistent with and already enjoy. Keep your audience in mind and don’t use it for self-promotion. You need to establish yourself first before you can earn the right to plug your (future) books. Keep networking, being generous with content, saying yes whenever possible, and perfecting your craft. You can’t build a platform overnight, so keep at it.

What has it been like to go from working for a publisher to being a literary agent? What are the main similarities and differences?

It’s been a fairly smooth transition since the process is the same. As an agent I am still evaluating proposals and choosing which authors to work with. While I’m not creating a presentation to a single publishing team, I am still presenting the author and proposal to a variety of editors at different houses.

I’d say the main difference is rejection. An agent hears a lot of rejection while trying to figure out which publisher is the best fit for her author.

Here’s a question from a reader: “What is an agent’s role before, during and (especially) after publication?”

I will answer based on the best-case scenario: An agent provides feedback on proposals and can help shape it. She will then pitch it to select editors and publishers, with whom she has relationships and who she thinks will best serve the author. She will help the author navigate offers and decide which publishing house is the best fit (which is not always based the highest advance offer) and negotiate the contract details. She will help manage expectations and guide the author through the publishing process, including marketing, PR, and cover discussions. Basically, an agent is the author’s advocate and will be looking out for the author’s best interest.

Pretend you’re an aspiring writer who knows her field but does not have contacts in the publishing industry. How would you pursue representation from a literary agent?

I would do a TON of research. I’d find all the books that would be my competition and I’d take a look at the copyright and acknowledgments pages and see which agent is representing these authors and find the ones who are mentioned the most. Then I’d find out which books are selling the best and see if there’s a common publishing house that is best serving this genre. I’d cross reference to see if it matches with one of the agents I’ve identified. Then I’d research that particular agent or two and find out what their submission guidelines are or see if they represent someone I already know (assuming I’m active in my field). If they attend conferences, I’d make sure I attend one and try to get a 5-minute meeting. When I have my chance to get in front of them, ideally I would have their client pass along my proposal or submit my proposal based on their guidelines. I’d begin by stating why I thought that particular agent would be a good fit. Then I’d make sure I could clearly articulate my book idea in a sentence or two and then submit the best proposal possible. I know that sounds stalker-ish, but I’d prefer to call it being prepared. Why put in the effort of querying a hundred agents who could care less about the topic I’m writing on? I would want to make the few queries I make count.

If you had only one piece of advice for a writer who is just getting started, what would it be?

Spend as much time and energy on your proposal as you would your manuscript. Make your proposal stand apart. There are helpful proposal templates out there, but your goal as a writer is to showcase your voice through the proposal. While you need to include the right information, this does not mean you must create a formal tone. If your writing style is a little geeky, a little funny, a little self-deprecating, let it show in your proposal. Don’t try to be too clever, but adding your own take, while still offering the information the agents need as clearly as possible, will go a long way for your proposal to stand out.

Question: Did I miss a question that you wish I would have asked Angela? Ask away! You can leave a comment by clicking here.