How To Be Your Own Literary Agent: An Insider's Guide to Getting Your Book Published (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

How to Be Your Own Literary Agent takes the mystery out of book publishing for any writer, published or not. Richard Curtis -- a top literary agent for more than thirty years -- provides a comprehensive practical overview of the publishing process, from submissions to contract negotiations to subsidiary rights to marketing, publicity, and beyond. He also gives away trade secrets and invaluable wisdom -- candid advice that can be found nowhere else. Now completely revised and expanded, How to Be Your Own Literary Agent is essential reading for all writers.

* Big publishers, small publishers, self-publishers, e-publishers: how to keep up in a rapidly changing business
* The new breed of busy literary editors: how to find them and know what they're looking for
* What the electronic revolution means to you, and how to take advantage of it
* How to know your "publishing" rights and negotiate effectively
* How to have a say in your book's design, jacket, and promotion
* How book chains and superstores have altered publishing -- and what that means for you

About the Author

The head of his own literary agency in New York, Richard Curtis is also the publisher of e-reads� and the author of more than fifty books.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books; Revised, Third Edition edition (November 17, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618380418
• ISBN-13: 978-0618380411
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #161,416 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You need this book, February 9, 2005

By	Simon Haynes "Hal Spacejock" (Perth, Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The author is an experienced agent sharing his knowledge with a gentle humour. Ok, sometimes not so gentle - the quip about the type of negotiating stance a first-time author should take with their publisher is a real gem.
I read the book cover to cover in one sitting, skimming only the sections on collaborative writing and book packagers, and not only did I learn a lot I also laughed out loud at several observations. Information is so much easier to digest when it's presented in a breezy conversational style.
The book includes a sample publishing contract and several author-friendly clauses which can be substituted for the more usual publisher-friendly versions.
Like another reviewer's copy, my book also looks like a group of preschoolers had a go at it. Corners folded, underlining everywhere, notes in the margins... but that's always the sign of an informative title.
Highly recommended if you're at this stage of the game.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All About the Business of Publishing Books for Every Writer!, August 4, 2004

By	Historical Writer (Florida) - See all my reviews

Several days ago I finished reading HOW TO BE YOUR OWN LITERARY AGENT, and my book looks as if its been in a HURRICANE! The cover is battered; the pages are dogeared; and the margins are scribbled in! This book was originally published in 1983 and has undergone two later revisions. But authors, don't read the early editions, though they have a lot of valuable info. in them. Read this latest 2003 revision that has been expanded to add observations about the way the publishing industry has changed including recent electronic advances. The book has chapters on negotiating contracts, how to make the best deals, steps books go through to publication, ongoing publicity before, during, and after the book is published, chain/independent bookstores, the role of agents, taxes, and on and on. This book is written by one of NY's top literary agents who has seen it all in the last 40 years of his career. Richard Curtis writes very well, sometimes humorously, and has covered just about everything. It is not a book about how to plot, flesh out characters, describe settings, etc. This book is about the business of writing books. The only criticism I have is that it does not include an index nor does it go into detail about Amazon.com and Bn.com, or how to track book sales. This is a must book for every writer. I am a reader of historical fiction and highly recommend any Leon Uris novel, the first novels of James Michener, slave narratives written by actual slaves, biographies of historical known and unknown historical figures and fictional young adult novels such as The Diary of a Slave Girl, Ruby Jo and The Journal of Darien Dexter Duff, an Emancipated Slave.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for New Writers Breaking In, September 18, 2007

By	Donna Sozio "Author of *Never Trust a Man in ... (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This is a wonderful book that describes the business side of literary agencies, publishing houses and the relationship between the two that makes the publishing wheel go round. He offers loads of contractual tips and explainations of your rights - which is very important.

I read his book when I was shopping my own book Never Trust A Man In Alligator Loafers. I still refer to it and brush up on contract knowledge and rights.

If you're wondering if you need a literary agent - my answer is yes!