DESCRIPTION

Full-service literary agency based in Colorado Springs, CO seeks to hire a Literary Agent to represent select authors, prepare book proposals, and negotiate book deals with publishers. Literary Agent will review new submissions, including manuscripts and book proposals, help authors shape their writing and proposals, pitch new projects to editors and publishers in the appropriate categories, negotiate the deal points between author and publisher, and work with both to negotiate a book contract. Agent will also work alongside the author to shape their book, title, cover design, marketing plan, and more, leading up to publication. Additional work will include overseeing a particular writer’s long-term trajectory and future goals as an author, meeting with publishers, recruiting new authors to represent, as well as reviewing royalty statements, contracts, subsidiary rights deals, ancillary products, and tracking author payments. Some training will be provided. However, a familiarity with the publishing industry is required.

Ideally, candidates will have worked as a literary agent for 2-3 years. However, 2-3 years of relevant book publishing experience as an editor, marketer, publicist, or salesperson could suffice for the right candidate.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Identify potential high-influence authors to approach about representation;
• Develop compelling book concepts and professional book proposals in partnership with represented authors that will convince publishers to consider acquisition;
• Network and build relationships with industry insiders, especially editors, at a wide variety of publishing houses;
• Craft engaging pitches that will capture the attention of publishers;
• Arrange virtual or in-person meetings with editors and publishing teams to discuss new book proposals and get to know authors;
• Negotiate with editors and publishers to secure authors the very best possible book deals points for their book deals;
• Review book contracts and work with authors to get contracts signed in a timely manner;
• Communicate with authors, publishers, and other colleagues in a timely, professional, and kind manner while representing a diverse roster of authors.

EXPERIENCE & REQUIREMENTS

• Experience: 2-3 years of experience working as a literary agent, or in the publishing industry as an editor, marketer, publicist, or sales professional; Knowledge of the publishing industry in the categories in which he or she hopes to work with authors;
• Communication: Must be an excellent communicator with the ability to establish a rapport with diverse and eclectic personalities, including authors, editors, and other publishing professionals;
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: In some ways, literary agents run a small business within a literary agency, and as a result, they must push hard to reach big goals—therefore an entrepreneurial drive is critical to success;
• Organized: This person must be detail-oriented and organized, able to seamlessly juggle multiple projects at one time as they serve many authors at once who are moving from book proposal to negotiation to book contracts and on through publication;
• Responsive: Literary Agents must be quick to respond to phone calls and e-mails so that authors feel taken care of by their representative;
• Technical Abilities: Proficient in MS Word, Excel, Power Point, and Google Mail, with a working knowledge of social media platforms and communication;
• Editing Skills. If agent can edit book proposals and sample writing to make them sharp, concise, and compelling, their projects will sell faster (not required);
• Education. Bachelor’s Degree in a related field such as English, Creative Writing, Journalism, Communication, Marketing, or other similar degree.

COMPENSATION

• Salary/Commission is negotiable depending on experience.