Top 10 Ways to Impress a
Literary Agent Before They've Read
One Word of Your Manuscript

1. Follow our submission guidelines and send only what we ask for, including all of your contact information on the cover letter.

2. Write a clear, one-page cover letter that succinctly describes your book and your writing background.

3. Tell us why you're interested in having us represent you (having done some research on our other writers and areas of interest is helpful!).

4. Your submission should be clean, well-edited, and not look like it's been chewed by your dog or gone through the washing machine.

5. Make the best use possible of all resources available to you – writers conferences, writing groups, classes. This way you know that your manuscript is as good as you can make it!

6. Understand that we're running a business, and as encouraging as we'd like to be to all writers, it's impossible for us to provide detailed feedback in most cases.

7. Read, read, read, read, read. Good writers are avid readers. It won't stifle your creativity; it will stimulate it.

8. Don't worry about managing your literary career; focus on writing. The rest will follow (we promise!).

9. Know at the beginning that it is a very long road to publication. Comfort yourself with all the stories of best-selling authors who were rejected by 35 publishers before seeing one word in print.

10. Consider carefully all the advice given to you by professionals (including us), but also know that this is your book, and you should stay true to your vision of it – after all, you're the one who has to write the darn thing!