Indie writer seeking literary agent?

We know that Indie writers pride themselves on “going it alone” so should the lone wolf pack it in and start howling for attention with a literary agent? Should the lone wolf forfeit its independence for the protection of the pack?

Just because you are an Indie author it does not mean that you have to go it alone. We understand that the ‘militant’ indie author desires to hold on to their independence and creative control but sometimes the publishing world seems ever-changing and overwhelming and this is where a literary agent can motivate and give direction.

So what does this new relationship between indie writers and literary agents look like?

Literary agents will use their vast knowledge and many connections to ensure success and make work publishable and commercial. Instead of the indie author having to have expertise in areas that have nothing to do with writing they can now rely on agents to give them a guiding hand.

Agents can be used to negotiate the right publishing deal and assist with scary legal matters like Publishing Rights. They can even help with editing, proofreading and give advice on plot advancement. A literary agent is also on the ground talking to all the right people. They assist with getting through the minefield of dealing with filmmakers, arranging interviews with journalists, organizing readings, planning tours and festivals. Literary agents take on the time-consuming elements of publishing like translations and the foreign markets. This then allows the indie author to focus on their writing and therefore become more prolific in the work that they specialize in and enjoy. A literary agent does not just further career opportunities but also helps the author know about all of the possible opportunities that there are in the publishing world.

In a nutshell, a literary agent can develop and expand work more than an indie author would ever be able to do on their own. They can take your work to the next level and really make it shine and be the success that every author desires.

This relationship, however, does not need to take away independence. It can be seen as a partnership and even a non-exclusive partnership. A lot of Indie authors are using a ‘hybrid’ approach where the author decides what he or she wants from the relationship. They combine the Indie and traditional in order to choose the best route for their book. In this way, the indie author is able to retain a lot of independence.

Yes, a literary agent does have to get paid and the usual is a commission of 15%, however, one must keep in mind that with self-publishing you usually sell in smaller numbers than when a literary agent and publisher assist.

What examples do we have of successful Indie authors?

Hugh Howey began by self-publishing a short story which ended up becoming the successful Wool trilogy. He then developed his ideas and Simon and Schuster bought it from him for five hundred thousand dollars. The Wool trilogy was then sold to a film company. Michael J. Sullivan self-published his fantasy series through his wife’s company. His novel was so successful that he was able to sell it for six figures. H. M. Ward wrote her first book 'Damaged’ as a self-published e-book on Amazon which managed to achieve a number one best seller status. The ensuing series sold 4 million copies. Finally, there is the amazing success story of E L James who self-published the first book of her highly successful series, “Fifty Shades of Grey”.

Did any of these use literary agents? How about John Grisham? His first novel “A Time to Kill” would not have been a success without agent Jay Garon representing him. Tom Clancy was self-publishing when an editor, Deborah Grosvenor, saw potential in the novel 'The Hunt for Red October’ which as we all know became a hugely successful best seller and movie. Baum, King, Poe, Strunk, and Twain all published their own works and were largely unsuccessful until teaming up with agents or publishers.

In conclusion, the relationship between indie writer and the literary agent has changed vastly in recent years and should not be seen in its old traditional role. The landscape has become vast and ever-changing and as the lone wolf indie author, a literary agent may be the key to dominating the wilds of the publishing world.