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HOW TO GET AN AGENT

2010-02-11 · Maureen Johnson · watch on YouTube · Books & writing · advice recommendation

In her last video standing in for John, Maureen Johnson explains that after finishing a book you need a literary agent, whom you reach with a flawless one-page query letter, and passes on her agent's dos and don'ts.

What is said

00:00:00 — Wednesday greeting; tub clip from Cork, Ireland after her deadline; her last video for vlogbrothers

  • ★ Maureen shows a Sunday-night clip of herself in a claw-foot tub in Cork, Ireland, where she went for a few days after finishing her deadline; she is now back. — 00:00:00
  • ★★ Maureen says this is her last video for vlogbrothers. — 00:00:00 · Vlogbrothers

00:00:34 — How a book gets published: what a literary agent is and does; the query letter

  • ★★★ Answering viewers who asked how a book gets published, Maureen finishes her writing series: once you have finished your work, what you need next is an agent. — 00:00:34
  • ★★★ Maureen says an agent represents you in publishing; almost every author has one because editors usually read nothing unsolicited, only what comes from agents. — 00:01:03
  • ★★ Maureen says the agent handles contracts, sends out submissions and takes care of the business side so the writer can stay home and write. — 00:01:03
  • ★★★ Maureen says you get an agent by writing a one-page query letter, which must be clean, flawless and fascinating because it is your only shot at their attention. — 00:01:03

00:01:32 — Getting an agent is hard: 3,500 queries, two clients; publishing is a business; whose online advice to trust

  • ★★★ Maureen relays that her agent received 3,500 query letters last year and took two clients from them. — 00:01:32
  • ★★ Maureen says getting an agent is hard; publishing is a business, part of why she doesn't think people should publish at 15: it takes adjusting, facts, and much longer writing practice. (hedged) — 00:01:32
  • ★★ Maureen says internet advice on query letters ranges from very good to clueless; she would take advice from agents. — 00:02:02

00:02:31 — Her agent's query-letter don'ts and dos

  • ★★ Passing on her agent's tips, Maureen says not to have your characters write the query letter, or to include praise from people the agent doesn't know. — 00:02:31
  • ★★ Relaying her agent, Maureen says not to claim your book will be a big movie or the next Twilight, Harry Potter or Wimpy Kid: it is presumptuous and seems arrogant; agents want a clear letter about the story. — 00:02:31 · Harry Potter
  • ★★ Relaying her agent's dos, Maureen says to follow the instructions, write a clean letter, check it countless times for mistakes, and make it the best page you have ever written. — 00:03:00

00:03:31 — Done while cooking dinner; welcome back to John; goodbye and sign-off to Hank

  • ★★ Ending her stint, done quickly while cooking dinner, Maureen welcomes John back, says she will miss the viewers and asks them to visit her. — 00:03:31 · John Green

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