What do agents do?
Agents broadly speaking offer two services. Firstly they can sell your book to a publisher and then they can make sure the contract offered is as beneficial to you as possible.
Typically they work on commission and serve a specific market. They often have associations with agents in other countries to sell the rights in different markets (this is typically a reciprocal arrangement).
They charge a percentage of any money owed to you by the publisher and receive any income directly, take their cut, and pass on what’s left to you.
A good agent will get your manuscript in front of the ideal editor very quickly – and get it read straight away.
Agents sometimes charge for incidental costs e.g. overseas phone calls or stationery/printing costs but should always agree these costs up front, itemise them and take them from your advance/royalties.
Don’t forgets, agents are not editors. They do, however, typically recommend changes to the manuscript.
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