Be Your Own Literary Agent: The Ultimate Insider's Guide to Getting Published

by Martin Levin

Why sacrifice ten to fifteen percent of your book advance to a commissioned agent when you don'¬?t have to? If you'¬?re a talented writer with a head for details, you can prepare your manuscript, pitch it to publishers, secure an offer, and negotiate your contract without using an agent or spending hundreds of dollars on a publishing lawyer. In this revised and updated edition of BE YOUR OWN LITERARY AGENT, fifty-year publishing veteran Martin P. Levin walks first-time authors through the intimidating process of selling their work with a clear, intelligent, and supportive approach that works. Sample letters and proposals show you exactly how to write a query letter, compile an author bio, phrase a book summary, organize a sample chapter, and more. With a clean manuscript in your hand and BE YOUR OWN LITERARY AGENT in your pocket, publishing success is virtually assured.‚Ä¢ Includes a glossary of publishing terms, a list of publishers most likely to read and accept a first-time author'¬?s book, and a handy manuscript submission record.‚Ä¢ The new edition covers how to get published on the Internet and protect electronic rights, and includes new copyright terms for authors.‚Ä¢ Original edition sold over 20,000 copies.

Genres: Writing

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1995

About the author

I am an attorney and author with decades of experience in law and publishing. My new book, All I Know About Management I Learned From My Dog is on sale now. My next book, Letters From Angel, is on sale in October 2011.

Reviews

[Willow Redd · Rating 4 out of 5]

AT LAST! Finally, I can take this one off my "currently reading" list. After several false starts, and a too-long hiatus that meant I had to start over, I have finally devoted the time necessary to read this one from start to finish.

This was one of several books I picked up for myself during my first trip to California back in 2009. It was this and a copy of Literary Market Place that I grabbed from a small bookstore frequented by actors (I don't want to name drop, but a former SNL cast member was at the register when we walked in).

There is so much useful information here, written by a lawyer who used to work in publishing. Levin has seen both sides of the process, both as publisher and as representative of the author, so he knows a thing or two about the process of getting a book into the hands of the right editor and getting your book published. Some of the most interesting chapters for me were those that dealt with contract negotiation and exactly what to include when first contacting an editor about publishing.

Along with sample contracts, cover letters, and bios, Levin also includes several appendices that cover terminology, examples from LMP, and a few "best bet" publishing houses to consider contacting.

Definitely a handy guide that I'll be coming back to when I reach the point of trying to publish my first book.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was strange reading this book 23 years after it's original publication. Digital publishing hadn't become popular yet and audio books on CD were just starting to take off. It was also interesting to see how the publishing industry operated before audible, e-readers, and smartphones.

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

20 years ago this would be 4 or 5 stars. The publishing landscape has obviously changed since 1995 but this is still worth a foundational read.

[Lindsey Lewis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still informative eleven years later( I read the 2003 edition.)