Are Your Expectations for a Literary Agent Too High? Part 2

In the previous post, I discussed how you can prepare for a literary agent by approaching the relationship with the right expectations. If you have not had a chance to read that post, be sure to do so by clicking here.

As mentioned previously, agent preferences will vary from author to author. There is nothing wrong with having preferences when it comes to searching for an agent; however, a problem can arise if these preferences transform into high standards that are impossible for any agent to meet.

So how can you know if you are expecting standards that are too high for a potential agent to fulfill? Well, let’s take a look at the tasks that a literary agent is not required to fulfill.

Agents are not required to…

• Guarantee a publishing deal. While agents should work hard in an effort to land a contract for their clients, the end result is ultimately out of their hands.
• Edit your manuscript. Although this is not a requirement, there are some agents who are more hands-on and editorial than others.
• Serve as a mentor for their clients’ writing career. This, too, will vary from agent to agent. (I personally like to view myself as a mentor for my clients by offering encouragement, advice, and support for their careers.)
• Communicate with clients unless there is a specific reason for doing so (for example, if the agent has sent your book off on submission or received a response from an editor). However, this should never be an excuse for an agent to ignore his/her clients.
• Accommodate to clients’ commands, specifically in regards to where their books should be sent—and when. (Writers should never treat their agent like a slave, nor should they act as though they know more about publishing than their agent. If a client does not trust that their agent is skilled in this area, that is a sign that the agent is simply not a right fit for the writer.) There is, however, nothing wrong with requesting that your agent send your project to specific publishing houses.
• Serve as a brainstorming partner. Again, there are some agents who are more hands-on and are happy to offer their ideas and suggestions concerning your works in progress—but this is not a requirement.
• Serve as a brainstorming partner in other areas, such as branding and marketing.

If you can approach the submission process by first having a clear understanding as to the requirements of an agent, you will then hopefully have a solid foundation of which you can begin to build your agent preferences. Thus, you will have the direction and vision you need when it comes to choosing the agent that will be best for you. And with a healthy author/agent relationship, you will be well on your way to achieving your publishing dreams.

I would love to hear your thoughts! What are your top preferences when it comes to choosing a literary agent? Let me know in the comments!

Tessa Emily Hall writes inspirational yet authentic YA fiction to show teens they’re not alone. Her passion for shedding light on clean entertainment and media for teens led her to a career as an Associate Agent at Hartline Literary Agency, YA Acquisitions Editor for Illuminate YA (LPC Imprint), and Founder/Editor of PursueMagazine.net. Tessa’s first teen devotional, COFFEE SHOP DEVOS, will release with Bethany House in 2018. She’s guilty of making way too many lattes and never finishing her to-read list. When her fingers aren’t flying 116 WPM across the keyboard, she can be found speaking to teens, decorating her insulin pump, and acting in Christian films. Her favorite way to procrastinate is by connecting with readers on her blog, mailing list, social media (@tessaemilyhall), and website: tessaemilyhall.com.