{"id":13863,"date":"2016-03-23T09:15:06","date_gmt":"2016-03-23T14:15:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lisatener.local\/?p=13863"},"modified":"2024-09-30T08:58:40","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T12:58:40","slug":"publishing-tips-literary-agents-gems-harvard-medical-schools-publishing-course","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/2016\/03\/publishing-tips-literary-agents-gems-harvard-medical-schools-publishing-course\/","title":{"rendered":"Publishing Tips from Literary Agents: Gems from Harvard Medical School’s Publishing Course"},"content":{"rendered":"

Publishing Tips from a Literary Agents Panel<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Photo courtesy of Diane Radford, MD<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Short of real life experience in publishing, few resources can give you the depth of education in publishing provided at Harvard Medical School’s CME publishing course, especially if you are working on a health-related or self-help book. In addition to presentations, panels and workshops rich with information, there’s also time to meet agents, publishers, book coaches and other experts, run your ideas by them for feedback and fine tuning. You can even get feedback on your writing in the evening workshops we teach.<\/p>\n

That said, this week I plan to bring you some highlights, including today’s post sharing information and publishing tips from the panel of literary agents who shared how one works with a literary agent and what agents are looking for.<\/p>\n

On the Role of Literary Agents<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Don Fehr<\/a><\/strong>:  “A literary agent is a dealmaker, but we do much more than that. We manage authors’ careers.”<\/p>\n

[bctt tweet=”\u201cA literary agent is a dealmaker, but we do much more than that. We manage authors\u2019 careers.” – @Don_Fehr”]<\/p>\n

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Literary Agent Linda Konner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Linda Konner<\/a><\/strong>: Agents get paid typically  through payments from publishers. We work on commission when you get royalties or subsidiary sales.<\/p>\n

On the Author\/Agent Relationship<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Regina Brooks<\/a><\/strong>: “I’m looking for someone with a series of books\u2014authors who can be franchised. I\u2019m much more interested in working with one author who has ten books than ten authors with one book each.<\/p>\n

Sally Ekus<\/a>:<\/strong> “I’m looking for long term relationships [with my authors]. Be mindful of the kind of relationship you’re looking for.<\/p>\n

On Finding a Literary Agent<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Jeanne Fredericks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jeanne Fredericks<\/strong>: “Look at what an agent brings to the table, their specialties. Some of us have editorial background. Others have been publishers. Others have legal background and know the ins and outs of contracts.”<\/p>\n

\"albert<\/a>
Literary Agent Albert LaFarge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Albert LaFarge<\/strong><\/a>:  “Most of us acquire authors through referrals. We rely  particularly on people who know us and understand our strengths and interests. If you know someone in publishing, or someone who’s written a book, talk to them. Look at the acknowledgements pages of similar books. Subscribe to Publishers Marketplace<\/a>.”<\/p>\n

On Publishing Trends and Expectations<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Literary Agent Regina Brooks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Regina Brooks<\/a><\/strong>: “You can’t just get in with no social media at all.” In fact, a large publisher recently said that their minimum is a 30,000 person following on social media.<\/p>\n

People often wonder whether it’s worth having an agent (vs. going straight to a publisher).  Julie Silver, MD, the course director and founder, pointed out that agents have all this industry-specific intelligence that the general public doesn’t have.<\/p>\n

As Dr. Silver said, “Agents like to do lunch.” At lunch with acquisitions editors at publishing houses they find out exactly what specific publishing houses and editors are looking for today. They have built relationships over time. Publishers will take the time to read what agents send them, because, busy as they are, they know it will be time well spent.<\/p>\n

I would add a few additional pluses that literary agents bring to the table, points we didn’t have time to get into during the panel:<\/p>\n