MELANIE QUIN
​LITERARY AGENT

​​WITH US, IT'S SMOOTH SAILING ALL THE WAY! 

​WHAT DO LITERARY AGENTS DO?
​
Literary agents represent writers by pitching their work to publishing house editors and media producers. They negotiate book deals and liaise between authors and publishers. Literary agents focus mainly on the business side of publishing. Literary agents are employed to identify and represent literary talent.

Literary agents proofread, edit and apply rigid quality control practices to ensure manuscripts are print-ready. They discuss their findings with their authors and suggest changes to make their work more powerful, engaging and  commercially viable.

Agents have eliminated the publisher's dreaded Slush Pile. Very few publishers accept unsolicited manuscripts sent in by authors. Publishers rely on agents to read, assess and recommend work that has commercial merit. In most cases publishers will not work with an author unless they are represented by an agent.

WHAT DO AGENTS CHARGE?
Generally speaking, literary agents take 15% of the total income from the first sale of a book before taxes. For example, if you receive a $10,000 advance on the first sale of the book to a major publisher, your literary agent will take a commission of $1,500.

BUYER BEWARE!
Literary agents do NOT charge an upfront fee for their service.
If you are approached by an agent who wants you to pay an upfront fee. 
Don’t do it.​

​    Q: Why is it so hard to find a good literary agent?
     A:  Competition is very, very high.

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A case of Supply and Demand.   So many authors. So few agents.
​
Right now, the publishing market is flooded with writers trying to get their books published. While some are attracted to indie/self-publishing from the outset, most authors begin by approaching editors and agents first.

IT'S NOT ESSENTIAL FOR THE AGENT TO LIKE THE STORY.
The agent doesn't have to like the author's story, However, it must be well written, have a solid plot and the agent must be able to identify it's commercial potential.

​AN AGENT MUST NOT ... rewrite the story to turn into one they like. 
Of course, they should make sound suggestions that may make the plot more interesting, identify any inconsistencies a reader would pick up on, and correct grammar, punctuation and spelling. It's not the agent's job to take over or bully the author.

IT'S OKAY TO DECLINE AND INVITATION TO REPRESENT AN AUTHOR.

After carefully evaluating a work submitted to them, it's fine for the agent to respectfully decline to represent an author.

This often happens when the writing does not meet industry quality standards. Or when the agent makes valid suggestions, but the author is unwilling to follow the agent's professional advice.  It's best for both parties to go their separate ways sooner, rather than later.