How to Become a Literary Agent
Literary Agent Career Profile, Salary & Job Outlook
What does a Literary Agent do?
Literary agents work on behalf of authors to secure publishing deals. They guide writers in helping them to establish their writing tone, story composition, and plot development. Agents review book proposals and drafts and submit work to publishing houses. If a publisher is interested, agents negotiate compensation for their clients. As the primary liaison between the writer and the publisher, agents ensure that all deadlines are met and that research is correct and properly cited.
How much does a Literary Agent make?
According to Glassdoor, Literary Agents make a national average of $68,320 or $32.85 an hour (as of April 2022). In general, entry-level agents make around $46,000 annually, with senior-level agents making $140,000 a year. This wide range also depends on skill, seniority, company, and location.
What impact does this career have towards the media industry?
Literary agents discovers and nurtures emerging talent. They help writers refine and improve their skill in preparation of an upcoming release. Agents assist writers in ideating and developing new concepts.
What is the job outlook for a Literary Agent?
As of 2021, the U.S. journalism industry’s annual revenue was $24.65. The U.S. book industry — including self-published and commercially published titles — made $25.93 billion in revenue in 2020. Analysts forecast that digital publishing revenue in the U.S. will reach $35 billion by 2025. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job opportunities in the writing field (including Literary Agents) are expected to increase at a rate of 9% during the 2020-2030 decade.
How to kick-off your career:
- Seek job as an an intern or assistant with or publisher or established agency.
- Read as much as possible to learn what qualities a book requires to become a best-seller.
- Explore the NYU American Journalism x Rolling Stone Modern Journalism and The New School x Rolling Stone Media Writing online courses.
- Download Yellowbrick’s Ultimate Media Career Guide.
Learn from:
Emily Leibert
Modern Journalism contributor, Staff Writer at Jezebel
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