Read on Twitter
Evergreen tweet: anyone can call themselves an agent. Especially with the #PitchWars agent round coming up, please please do your research. (Some context: I'm the PW committee's agent liaison.)
So...a thread!
So...a thread!
For #PitchWars, we made the decision not to gate-keep agents unless they'd publicly exhibited bad behavior. It wasn't our job to declare that a certain # of sales (or specifically big 5 sales) made someone legitimate.
(Participating PW agents are here: https://showcase.pitchwars.org/agents/ )
(Participating PW agents are here: https://showcase.pitchwars.org/agents/ )
That said, I always recommend being wary of new agents at new agencies. Sometimes their experience amounts to loving books, having a degree in English, working as a freelance editor, or reading slush for another agent.
Reading slush and offering editorial feedback are NOT all an agent does. While agents don't need to be in NYC (mine isn't), they need to have connections with houses and editors. They need to understand contract language and the negotiation process. Your agent is your advocate.
Most get this experience working closely with a seasoned agent -- which is why new agents at new agents scare me a bit. They often don't have that seasoned agent backing them up, training them, mentoring them.
So how do you know if an agency is legitimate?
So how do you know if an agency is legitimate?
If you have an offer, I think the $20 monthly Publishers Marketplace subscription is worth it, especially if you can go in with a friend or two. (You can cancel anytime.) 
Most deals on PM include the imprint name only. Here's a handy big 5 cheat sheet: https://almossawi.com/big-five-publishers/
Most deals on PM include the imprint name only. Here's a handy big 5 cheat sheet: https://almossawi.com/big-five-publishers/
Some large publishers not big 5 but obviously just as legit: Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Disney, HMH.
For even more info, here's a 2018 Publishers Weekly report on the world's top publishers: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/78036-pearson-is-still-the-world-s-largest-publisher.html
For even more info, here's a 2018 Publishers Weekly report on the world's top publishers: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/78036-pearson-is-still-the-world-s-largest-publisher.html
This is how I advise my mentees: an *agency* (not necessarily each individual agent) should probably have sales to all of the big 5 houses. 
I can't think of an established agency that doesn't. It's not a high bar if they've been in this business for a while.
I can't think of an established agency that doesn't. It's not a high bar if they've been in this business for a while.
Some agencies have only small press or digital-only sales. If that's what you want, that's 100% a valid choice.
But if you want to be published by a big house, you want an agent who has experience selling to a big house -- or is working with someone who can help them.
But if you want to be published by a big house, you want an agent who has experience selling to a big house -- or is working with someone who can help them.
(I would also keep in mind that many small pubs accept unagented submissions.)
If you have an offer from a newer agent, ask about the agent's training and mentorship at that agency. Ask about their sales, about the agency's sales.
If you have an offer from a newer agent, ask about the agent's training and mentorship at that agency. Ask about their sales, about the agency's sales.
If an agent doesn't have many sales on PM but tells you they "have a lot of deals that haven't been announced yet"...
Yes, sometimes this is true! But sometimes it isn't, so just be wary. Talk to as many people as you can.
Yes, sometimes this is true! But sometimes it isn't, so just be wary. Talk to as many people as you can.
Thousands of twitter followers or lengthy agency bios about how much someone loves books and working 1-1 with authors ≠ legitimate agent.
Look for SOLID, specific experience and sales records.
Look for SOLID, specific experience and sales records.
I try to look for the good in everyone. Most schmagents aren't making a conscious effort to swindle writers. They mean well.
But unfortunately some just don't have the experience (or aren't at the right agency) to be your best advocate yet.
But unfortunately some just don't have the experience (or aren't at the right agency) to be your best advocate yet.
If you're having doubts about your agent's experience or ability to sell your book, you *can* leave, and you can do it amicably.
If your book hasn't been seen by many editors (and tbh schmagents probably aren't getting your book read), you can likely even query it again.
If your book hasn't been seen by many editors (and tbh schmagents probably aren't getting your book read), you can likely even query it again.
As a side note, I am on agent #2 after an amicable split with my first agent (who is no longer agenting), who *did* put my debut (and a couple other books before it) on submission.
I left, queried it, and the agent I signed with sold it. A subbed book is not always dead.
I left, queried it, and the agent I signed with sold it. A subbed book is not always dead.
definitely -- it depends on the agent (some are more willing to put a subbed book back out on submission) and how many editors it's been seen by, but I know writers who've signed with new agents on a book seen by ~15 editors.
