Literary Agent on the Importance of Professionalism
In a recent podcast, literary agent Cece Lyra stressed the importance of clear communication for aspiring authors and industry professionals. Lyra cited issues like "reply-all disasters" and missing contact information as common pet peeves. She stated, "If you want to be taken seriously in this business, never make it hard for someone to reach you."
- Cece Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates and a co-host of the podcast "The Shit No One Tells You About Writing," which has over four million downloads. A former lawyer, she is passionate about championing underrepresented voices and narratives. - A common pet peeve among agents is when authors spell their name wrong or send a query to the wrong agent, indicating a lack of research. Another frequent issue is writers not adhering to an agent's specific submission guidelines. - Unprofessional communication can take many forms, including demanding an immediate response, arguing with an agent over a rejection, or contacting them through personal channels instead of their preferred submission system. - Failing to include basic information such as word count or contact details in a query can be a red flag for agents, suggesting a lack of attention to detail. - Agents often prefer email for initial contact and may not respond to phone calls unless they are seriously interested in a project. Following up on a submission should be done according to the agent's stated timeline, as frequent check-ins can be perceived as impatient. - The agent-author relationship is a long-term business partnership, and professionalism is expected from both sides. This includes clear and agreed-upon communication methods and timely updates on contact information. - In adult fiction, Lyra is particularly interested in genres such as book club fiction, thrillers, horror, mysteries, and historical fiction that explore themes of power dynamics and identity. - For nonfiction, she seeks proposals from experts in their fields that examine popular subjects from original angles, especially in psychology and social behavior, as well as memoirs that read like novels.
