Finding a literary agent as a first-time Black author

A few words of wisdom for Black authors starting their journeys...

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One of the most common questions I get from new and aspiring authors is, “How do I find an agent?” It's an important question that actually isn't as straight forward as it seems. Before I discuss my experience, I want to emphasize that my process may not work for everyone. This is just one way to navigate the publishing world among many. Every writer will have to decide what process works best for them. I recommend speaking with several authors and take the lessons that resonate. Anything else, just leave it behind.

I began searching for an agent in 2018 after connecting with a potential publisher. At the time, I had a substantial social media following across several social platforms and was writing as a contributor for Teen Vogue. This is important to note because, though not huge, my social media following allowed me some name recognition in the literary agent search. At the time, publishing was also in somewhat of a renaissance in terms of supporting books from Black and queer authors.

Here are the steps I followed.

First, I researched who my favorite authors were working with. Writers like Roxane Gay, Kiese Laymon, Deesha Philyaw, and George Johnson were people I initially looked at as potential examples because they were writing in genres I write and they were writing about Black life. Because I wanted to work with an agent of color, I looked at other Black and queer authors to get an idea of the agents who were working in the same areas as me (nonfiction and memoir) and were supporting radical and feminist writing. I want to be honest and say that there were very few Black women agents. Some of the main ones I found at the time were Tanya McKinnon, Quressa Robinson, Patrice Caldwell, and Monica Odom. There are many more now, which is incredibly exciting.

Second, I searched online for lists and repositories that housed contact information for potential agents. Three common sites are Manuscript Wishlist, Query Tracker, and Agent Query. These sites were helpful because they also told me whether or not agents were accepting inquiries. There are tons of seasons when agents are not accepting queries. In some instances, there were agents I really admired who simply were not taking on new clients. You may have to follow your favorite agent for a while before they are open to queries. Pay attention to their requests and query them based on their described process. Some will ask for very specific letters, attachments, etc. Attention to detail makes a huge difference here.

Third, I went to the literary agency websites of books that I enjoyed. While I sometimes couldn't find the agent people had worked with, it was always easy to find which agency had sold the book and when. There are some very well-known agencies that have published books that many of us love. But, when you arrive on their websites, you may find that no one looks like us. Consider if that is important to you.

After compiling a list of about 10 agents, I prepared my inquiry letter, proposal, and sample chapters to query each one. I tailored each letter based on the types of manuscripts each agent was looking for. I also personalized the emails based on information I saw the agents post on social media. For example, some of them would describe the types of writers and books they were looking for. It’s always good to signal that you’ve been paying attention. You can find tips about how to do that here and here.

The hardest part of the process was waiting. Honestly, I don’t have much advice for this part. Some agents got back to me really quickly. Other agents never got back to me at all. It’s important not to take any of this personally. Agents are people, too. They are overwhelmed and inundated with emails and requests. They typically have to manage workloads alone and often struggle to get time away from their work. It’s okay to offer them some grace. I didn’t spend a lot of time grieving the agents who weren’t interested or who didn’t get back. Truthfully, that’s probably an indication that they just aren’t a fit.

Once I received feedback from each agent who was interested in working with me, I set up meetings with them so that I could interview them. I asked them each about their communication and management styles. I also wanted to know how hands-on they would be during the book writing process. Being a first-time author, I wanted an agent who would be a thought partner rather than someone who would leave me alone to figure it out by myself. I asked about their client workload and how many clients they intended to take on. This is an important question because it might help you gauge how much time they can devote to you.

I also spoke with other authors when possible. Great agents will put you in contact with one of their authors just to help you make your decision. In the end, I chose the agent I thought would get me the best advance, negotiate a strong contract for me, and look out for my rights. While I eventually changed agents (because I needed more hands-on connection and communication), I am still very happy with the first agent I selected. She secured me an incredible deal on my first book and set me up well for my work in trade publishing.

In the end, you have to do what is best for you and for your work. Your books are precious. Treat every step of the process that way and you will absolutely see your dreams come to fruition.

Good luck!