Last year, I wrote a feature article for Writer’s Digest magazine that explored the intersection of literary agents and self-publishing. I researched how literary agents are helping their established clients who self-publish, as well as when or how they offer services to new authors whose work doesn’t find a traditional publisher. I also addressed how authors benefit (or not) by having an agent help them.
Before self-publishing with an agent’s assistance, ask the following questions:
- Who covers the costs associated with self-publishing? In most cases, the author covers the cost, but sometimes the agent will cover expenses and deduct them from the author’s earnings.
- Who controls rights to the self-published work? (It should be the author.)
- How long must you commit to giving the agent 15 percent of sales on the work? (It shouldn’t be indefinitely.)
- How/when can the agreement be terminated?
To learn more about assisted self-publishing with agents, as well as a list of agencies that offer such services, read my full article, now available for free at Writer’s Digest.]
Also related: Agent-Assisted Self-Publishing and the Amazon White Glove Program
Join the conversation
3 Comments on "The Value of Agent-Assisted Self-Publishing"
[…] Read my feature article for Writer's Digest magazine that explores the intersection of literary agents and self-publishing […]
[…] discusses the idea of a publisher’s technical debt. If you want some help, Jane Friedman examines the value of agent-assisted self-publishing, and Therese Walsh talks to BookBub, a resource for getting your book into the hands of your […]
[…] figure out whether an agent is worth their commission when it comes to self-publishing, be sure to ask some key questions. Usually, the author will be expected to cover self-publishing costs, but sometimes agents will be […]