When you are searching for a publisher for your nonfiction book, you may be wondering whether you need an agent. Nonfiction and fiction books are very different, so even if you would use an agent for a fiction book, it doesn’t necessarily follow that you also would for a nonfiction book. You will nearly always need a manuscript to apply to publishers with a fiction book, whereas just a detailed pitch may be sufficient for a nonfiction one. There are pros and cons of having an agent for a nonfiction book, so it can be a difficult decision.
In this blog post, we will be looking at some of the advantages and disadvantages of having an agent and the benefits that it brings you and your book. My next blog post will continue looking at agents, this time considering how to find one. However, we will start by quickly asking what an agent is and what role they normally play in publishing.
Essentially, an agent bridges the gap between authors and publishers. Instead of applying to publishing houses, you would apply to agents for them to take on your manuscript or pitch. If they decide to do so, they will then act as your representative and be responsible for pitching to publishers. They may also offer you some advice on how to improve your manuscript and make it more saleable, but they will not do any editing themselves. We will now look at some of the benefits of having an agent for your nonfiction book.
Advantages
Easier to Apply to Publishers
Once you have been accepted by an agent, you should find that the submissions process and finding a publisher gets easier. Of course, using an agent does mean that you will be doing two rounds of applications, as you will need to first apply to agents, then to publishers. However, you may find that this still ends up being quicker, as an agent can refine your work to make it appeal to publishers more and will know which publishers to target.
An advantage of having an agent is that you can apply to multiple publishers at once. If you are applying on your own behalf, it is expected that you will wait to hear from one publisher before you apply to the next so that you do not waste their time if another publisher accepts it while they are still considering it. However, with an agent, it is expected that they will apply to publishers simultaneously, so this speeds up the submissions process.
Increase Chances
Having an agent can also give you a better chance with publishers. It shows that someone was interested enough to represent your work and it may have already had some improvements made. In addition, if your agent has contacts throughout the industry, it is more likely that a publisher will trust your agent’s pitch and look at your book, although this does depend on your agent’s reputation being good!
There are also some publishers that will only accept work from an agent, so this would be a necessity if you want to apply to them. Even if publishers do accept unrepresented work, having an agent may still give you an edge.
Can Use Agent’s Expertise
Once you have found an agent, they should be able to guide you through the whole publications process, from the first submissions to publishers to after your book has been published. They will have expertise on the best way to approach publishers, as well as knowing which agents are most suited to your niche. They can then help you to negotiate the best deal possible and explain all of your rights as the author of the work.
Disadvantages
Potential Risks
Unfortunately, one of the main problems with using an agent is that there are some unscrupulous individuals who will try to take advantage of new authors by posing as a reputable agent. In reality, they do not have the necessary skills and may not even intend to try. As a general rule, if an agent is asking for money upfront, they are not genuine. An agent takes on your work in exchange for a percentage of royalties, trusting in their own abilities and expertise to sell the book to a publisher.
Costly
While you don’t have to pay an agent anything beforehand, they will usually take their commission on both any advance you are given and royalties. The exact percentage can vary but is usually 15%. Depending on how much you are receiving, this can add up to quite a lot. Remember that an agent will receive this percentage for as long as your book is being sold, rather than as a one-off payment or over a set period.
Not Always Suitable for Nonfiction
Furthermore, nonfiction is one of the areas where agents are often not expected and pitching directly to publishers is a lot more common. You don’t tend to benefit as much from having an agent as a fiction author would. For example, fiction publishers will expect a full manuscript, which an agent can review and suggest changes to. However, it is normal to just pitch an idea for a nonfiction book, so an agent can’t add as much value.
Wrapping Up
I hope that this helps you decide whether or not an agent is necessary for your nonfiction book. If you do decide to use one, we will be looking at how to get an agent for your nonfiction book in my next blog post.
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