Words to the Wise:
An Interview with Elizabeth Wales
by
Nancy Cluts
As
a new author, you know you need to find a literary agent
to shop your manuscript, but there are so many. How do you
decide which literary agent is right for you? During the
ten-day January residency of the Whidbey Writer’s
Workshop MFA program, focused on nonfiction, several literary
agents spoke to the students. Three, with special interest
in working with editors of nonfiction work, shared their
insights into the life of a literary agent, what they do,
and how to find the literary agent who is right for you.
Elizabeth
Wales, of the Wales Literary Agency in Seattle, WA, is part
of the thriving west coast literary community. She represents
fiction and nonfiction writers from all over the United States
as well as overseas. She is passionate about her work and
encourages her writers throughout the process. She enjoys
helping a talented writer with a voice and a unique style
to get inside the story, find a different slant and tell
that important story she wants the reader to hear. “If
you can find a form to tell the story, an author can marry
her skills and insights into a compelling read.”
As
many authors know, we might write very well but may sometimes
need someone who believes in what we are doing. Elizabeth
believes that, as a literary agent, part of her role is to
validate and believe in her authors. She enjoys working closely
with them and sees herself as more than just a business partner.
So,
what does a literary agent look for in a manuscript? Elizabeth
looks for a story that engages her and makes her want to turn
the pages and keep reading. She compares a pleasing narrative
voice to something akin to music. She only puts down a manuscript
if she becomes bored by it or distracted from it. A good story
needs to draw the reader in. She judges novels based on expectations
given the genre. For example, there are different expectations
for a mystery than there are for a historical romance. If a
story is written within the context of those expectations,
and engages the reader, it is more likely to be successful
in the market.
Once
you’ve written that engaging story
which fits within the expectations of your genre, how does
an author find the best literary agent for her? Literary agents
are people just like you and me. They have specific tastes
and preferences. It is important to do your research ahead
of time to find an agent who is passionate in your area. Many
new authors make the mistake of blanketing a large number of
literary agents without bothering to do the homework. Literary
agents see right through this. If you send your historical
romance novel to a literary agent specializing in non-fiction
and children’s
literature, for example, you have demonstrated that you aren’t
willing to spend the time to refine your search to appropriate
agents. Obviously, you will not be taken on as
a client.
One
invaluable resource to determine whether or not a literary
agent is right for you is to check the web site. The Wales
Literary Agency can be found on the web at www.waleslit.com.
A quick check of the site will immediately tell you that they
accept fiction and non-fiction. Drill down further into the
web site and you will find a list of titles and authors. If
your work fits in with the other titles listed, and if you
consider yourself in the same area as the authors listed, there
is a good possibility that you might fit in well with the agency.
So,
you are just the author the agent is looking for and your
manuscript fits in perfectly with the types of work the agency
has already contracted. What next? Check the submissions
and FAQ. This information tells you exactly what the agency
expects when they receive a manuscript. Elizabeth’s
agency makes it so easy for you – just follow the guidelines
on the web site and you will be considered as a client. Although
following the rules does not guarantee the agency will pick
you up as a client, it raises your odds significantly. No
agent wants to work with an author who doesn’t care
enough to put her best face forward. It’s just like
a job interview—you want to be clean (clean manuscript
and query letter), you want to be concise (don’t waste
the agent’s time with superfluous information or details),
and you want to let the agent know why you are the perfect
author for your story and how it fits right in with her area
of expertise
