Product Description

Now, more than ever, in a market glutted with aspiring writers and a shrinking number of publishing houses, writers need someone familiar with the publishing scene to shepherd their manuscript to the right person. Completely updated annually, Guide to Literary Agents provides names and specialties for more than 800 individual agents around the United States and the world. The 2009 edition includes more than 85 pages of original articles on everything writers need to know including how to submit to agents, how to avoid scams and what an agent can do for their clients.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9737 in Books
• Published on: 2008-07-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

About the Author
In addition to editing Guide to Literary Agents, Chuck Sambuchino is assistant editor of Writer’s Market. He’s also a former staffer on Writer's Digest magazine, a magazine freelancer, a produced playwright and award-winning journalist.

Customer Reviews

A vital book for any author
While I prefer the Jeff Herman book (hence 4 stars for this not 5), this is nonetheless a vital tool for anyone who wants to be an author, and I know people who have succeeded in getting a literary agent (and, even more important, published by good publishers) as a result of buying it. In fact why not get both this book and Jeff Herman's and see if you end up getting published! I owe my literary career to my agents and no decent author can get on without one. Christopher Catherwood (author of CHURCHILL'S FOLLY on Churchill's creation of Iraq in 1921- which had an agent)

looking for an agent
2009 Guide To Literary Agents I was amazed to find so many Literary Agents in this book, however a few of the agents listed are no longer in business. Check the agent on the internet before sending anything.

Helpful Hint
This is a SUPER-GREAT reference book for finding an agent. HOWEVER, do not skip the step of checking out the agent's website! One agent I looked up had changed the name of the agency, one changed the contact person, one changed the preferred method of first contact, etc. As up-to-date as the book is, it simply cannot be as current as the internet...but it does provide internet addresses!...as well as a ton of other important information.

The first part of the book helped me to get a firm idea of what the search for an agent entails--a lot of do's/don'ts, feedback from actual agents including their pet peeves that often get authors' query letters chucked right away, etc., etc. The reference part of the book and the index helps me find which agents might be interested in my book--what kinds of books they represent, how active they are in seeking new clients, how many first-time writers they represent, how they find new clients--as well as what kind of an agency they are--how big their firm is (how many agents they have, how many clients), how long they've been around, where they're located. It says how to contact them & who to contact (again, check the website to see if that's changed), gives contact information. Everything you need.

If you're a serious writer, you need this book. Trust me.