Secret agents

Literary agents are central to authors’ success — so why are we still considered a fringe benefit?

Recently I filmed an online course on "How to Get a Literary Agent" for our in-house creative writing school, Curtis Brown Creative. It was an enjoyable pause in my frenetic activities as a literary agent and c.e.o. of Curtis Brown Group to stop and reflect on the changing role of the literary agent during my 30 years at CB. Unsurprisingly, I concluded we agents are an essential part of the publishing process. Yet, why are literary agents considered so outside the system?

I say this because the first question I always ask to every new intern and assistant at CBG who has come off a MA in Publishing course is: “what did you learn about the role of the literary agent?”

The answer is always the same: “Oh, there was no mention of agents in the course but sometimes we get a session from a visiting agent."

To read the full article on thebookseller.com, click here