At what point do I need an agent?

No, you don't need an agent to negotiate your first NF deal. I did it with two book, and upped my advances, not as high as I would have liked, but it worked.

In my case an agent could have probably got me a lot more money up front and gotten me (gross) instead of (net). But, no guarantees there. Net is almost becoming standard for NF books--don't know why that is.

An agent might not take you on unless there IS an advance on ANY book.

Tri

PS--good luck on your project. You've done very well already!

Tri

Agent

You don't need an agent, but if you can get a good one, you're being nuts if you don't. First book or fortieth, an agent is worth ten times her weight in gold, and any writer who does not latch onto a good agent when such becomes available is screwing himself big time.

Jamesaritchie said:

You don't need an agent, but if you can get a good one, you're being nuts if you don't. First book or fortieth, an agent is worth ten times her weight in gold, and any writer who does not latch onto a good agent when such becomes available is screwing himself big time.

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Not that you need confirmation after the above posts but double double ditto Jamesaritchie!

I agree about the importance of an agent. You can negotiate your own contract if you're knowledgeable enough about contract issues (which, I have to say, even many very experienced authors aren't--also, there are issues in nonfiction contracts that don't figure into fiction contracts) but a good agent will do much more for you than just negotiate your contract.

One caveat: if you go looking for an agent after you've gotten a contract offer, you run the risk of getting a "yes" that's mostly for the sake of a quick buck, rather than because of enthusiasm for your project. That can pose problems later on, when you want the agent to sell subrights or to market your next book.

Case in point: I've been corresponding with a nonfiction author who recently got an offer from a very solid independent press. He then went looking for an agent to neogiate the contract. A top agent quickly said yes--but it was apparent to him that the agent hadn't really read the book. A very reputable but less prestigious agent also said yes--and that agent did read the book and expressed enthusiasm for it. The author decided to go with the second agent, preferring to have a good agent who was enthusiastic about his work rather than a top agent who was probably only interested on a one-time basis.

- Victoria

If you feel queasy about negotiating your own contract, you might consider the services of a knowledgeable attorney. For a one time hourly fee, a contract/publishing attorney could--depending on your budget--review the contract you have negotiated on your own or actually negotiate the contract.

An agent will continue to take 15 percent of the proceeds for the life of the book, but once you pay a lawyer, you're done.