Should You Pitch (and Sign With) a New Literary Agent? The Pros and Cons

At writers conferences, I frequently get the question “Is it OK to sign with a new agent?” This is an interesting question, so let me try to delve into it here.

First of all, let’s look at the CONS:

• They are likely less experienced in contract and money negotiations.
• They likely know fewer editors at this point than an agent who’s been in business a while, meaning there is a smaller chance they can help you get published.
• They are likely in a weaker position to demand a high advance.
• New literary agents come and go. This means if your agent is in business for a year or two and doesn’t find the success for which they hoped, they could bail on the biz altogether. That leaves you without a home. If you sign with an agent who’s been in business for 14 years, however, chances are they won’t quit tomorrow.

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