In my last blog post, we looked at whether you need an agent as a nonfiction author. In this blog post, we will be considering how to find an agent if you do decide to have one, as well as how to choose the right agent to increase your chances of being accepted. However, we will start by quickly reviewing what the benefits and limitations are of having an agent for your nonfiction book.
Why Have an Agent?
Having an agent can help you to find a traditional publisher for your book. They will have contacts in the publishing world that they pitch to directly and can also apply to multiple publishers at the same time. This can help to speed up your search. If you pitch to publishers yourself, it is bad etiquette to have multiple applications out at once, as they could waste their time reading it when you are already negotiating with a different publisher. However, it is accepted that agents will have multiple applications out at once.
On the other hand, having an agent means that you will have to go through the submissions process twice – once to agents, then again to publishers. This can slow you down in trying to get published. An agent also takes a cut of any royalties you are paid by the publisher, but you might get a better deal with an agent on your side. Finally, there is the fact that having an agent just isn’t always necessary for nonfiction. It is more common to pitch directly to publishers in nonfiction areas.
As you can see, there are both pros and cons to having an agent, so it is up to you to decide what is best for you and your book. We will now look at where to start when you are trying to find an agent.
Finding an Agent
The first thing to consider is what type of agent you need. While there are agents that specialise in nonfiction, you don’t necessarily need to apply to one of these to get accepted. You might do better off applying to an agent that covers multiple areas of writing, fiction and nonfiction, as this gives you more choice and a higher chance of being accepted.
Secondly, consider what type of work agents are looking for. In general, you could expect anything that is endorsed by a celebrity to find an agent, as it ought to be saleable. Some narrative travel and history books may also sell well, so you could try pitching these. Similarly, popular areas of science and some unique and engaging memoirs may also find an agent. Self-help books are less likely to get an agent but may succeed, especially if they are about something that is currently popular.
Beyond this, nonfiction books are expected to be marketed straight to publishers, so you probably won’t find an agent to take it on. If your book falls into a particular niche, you might do better to approach publishers in this niche directly, as they are the ones most likely to be interested in your pitch. Be prepared for the fact that they will probably pay less than a major publisher, which is part of the reason agents don’t handle this sort of work – the resulting commission would not be worth their time.
Check Agents are Genuine
Before you get too far in the application process, you should try to research any agents you are thinking of applying to. This is especially true if you are finding them from web searches, rather than a directory or word of mouth. Unfortunately, there are a lot of untrustworthy agents out there, looking to prey on new and inexperienced authors who don’t yet know the normal procedure for the submissions process and their own rights.
Before you agree to work with an agent, take the time to thoroughly research them. Do they work for an agency? What sort of reputation do they and the agency have? Try to look for reviews or testimonials of the agent. What problems are other people having? How much help do they offer? Make sure you know exactly what the agreement is before you start working with an agent.
If at any point an agent asks you for money, immediately move on to the next one. Agents work for the commission they will receive on your royalties if you are accepted by a publisher. They do not require a fee for their services. If they are asking for money, assume they are not genuine.
Presenting Your Pitch
Once you have found some agents to apply to and checked them, it is time to think about preparing your pitch. Agents do not generally need to see a full manuscript to judge a nonfiction book; instead, they look at a proposal between 10 and 100 pages which should focus on selling the idea behind your book and how your book will help its readers understand this. Include the title, suggested word count and chapter structure.
You should also include an evaluation of the market for your book and why you think it would sell. If you have already built up an author platform, i.e. you are well-known in your niche and have a reasonable following of people who will buy your book, this will significantly strengthen your proposal.
Finally…
Most importantly, keep trying! You will be rejected many times, but the next agent might accept your proposal. If you get personalised rejection letters, take any advice in them and keep improving your work. If you have been rejected over ten or fifteen times with no interest, it might be time to go over your proposal again and try to make some changes.
I hope this helps you to start your search for an agent. In my next blog post, we will be looking at whether you should have illustrations in your nonfiction book, so come back in two weeks for that!
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