If you're an author looking to get published, one of the first research items is to find a literary agent. An agent is a person who connects you with the right publishing houses and promotes your work.
If you've found an agency and an agent you want to work with, you'll need to enter into an Author-Agent Agreement to define your working relationship.
If you're an author, having a literary agent may be your ticket to the big time. Also, the importance of having an Author-Agent Agreement cannot be overstated. That is also true if you are an agent who has discovered an author with whom you want to work.
The Author-Agent Agreement ensures that the agent will work to get you a publishing deal. Having a literary agent will give the author all the time they need to dedicate to their work.
Depending on your state, an Author-Agent Agreement may also be known as:
Without a doubt, the Author-Agent Agreement is necessary and beneficial to both the author and the agent. It exists to define the rights of both parties and protect them against fraud or misuse. The terms and provisions in the agreement are negotiated.
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You don't have to consult an attorney to draft an Author-Agent Agreement unless you choose to. A reliable template may be all you need to whip one up.
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To be legally enforceable, both the author and agent have to sign the agreement. Notarization is not required, though you can get it notarized to vouchsafe the signatures.
It is customary for the author and literary agent to both receive a physical copy of the document. A copy of the agreement can also be filed with the agency's internal documentation, if applicable.
Literary agents only work with books and their authors. On the other hand, dramatic agents only work with stage plays, television material, musicals, and screenplays. A writer of screenplays or television series pilots might use the services of a dramatic agent. That is especially the case if the writer has had prior success and is now looking for representation.
Finding the right agent to represent you as an author can be challenging. Asking questions regarding the agent’s experience in business is always a good idea. Also, find out how much they know about foreign rights if you may want to translate your work and sell it in other countries. Finally, you may want to inquire about the agent’s direct involvement with your work. Will the agent handle all the details personally or outsource?
This will depend on the provisions in the agreement. If there is a breach of contract, you might have to go to arbitration or another resolution method before you can legally exit the agreement.
You may ask for a short-term agreement at first. You can also specify in the contract that both parties can terminate the contract if certain conditions are fulfilled.
The standard agent commission fee might vary drastically depending on the agency. However, the industry standard is 15% of all earnings represented. This fee can climb up to 20% or 25% if the agent has a co-agent in other areas, such as movie rights.
The short answer to this question is no. You don’t need a literary agent to publish your work, especially if you want to self-publish digitally. However, if you want to be published by a publishing house in the traditional sense, you will have to hire an agent to represent your work.
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