Can your book be published without an agent?

The answer is yes!

Not that I’m recommending that this is the way forward for everyone, but it is possible to get your book into the hands of a publisher  without an agent taking that initial step for you.
Everyone wants an agent. It is that first hurdle to climb over, bringing you one step closer to your goal of being a published author. Their knowledge, understanding and expertise of the publishing industry allows them to represent their authors successfully to the right publisher. Unfortunately, agents are only human and there are only so many authors they can realistically represent; with the rise of the  unpublished and the fall in book sales, the traditional route is become narrower. So if your book has been turned down, but you have received good feedback, it doesn't mean your book won't ever get published; you just might not have find the right route for you.

 Many publishers are rethinking their strategies concerning submissions and opening the door to the famous ‘slush pile’ again. Macmillan Tor Books recently announced it was now accepting submissions directly from authors in definitely. The reason behind making  the shift was because of the growing number of writers who were taking  the self-publishing route; allowing everyone the chance to have their work read.  

Macmillan Tor Books are not the first publisher to take this position but they are one of the bigger higher profile ones to embark on this route again. They follow on from smaller publishers such as Templar Publishing,  Hot Key Books, Choc Lit and Black and White Publishing who have always accepted submissions. When discussing the unagented submissions with  Hot Key Books, Cait Davies, told me the reason why they kept that route open.  ‘Although we haven't published anything from there as yet, there have been manuscripts that have excited us, and we have seen a number of writers with wonderful voices that are just waiting for the right story.’

Other publishers are allowing  unagented submissions to be delivered but on a smaller scale. Angry Robot and their newly established YA imprint Strange Chemistry recently opened their doors for one month to allow direct submissions from unagented authors.

Successful YA author, Alex Gutteridge, whose book, Last Chance Angel will be published by Templar later this year, was picked up via the unagented submissions route. I asked Alex why she chose to send her book directly to a publisher. Alex replied “Sometimes I think that I would like an agent and sometimes I think that I am better off on my own. I like to know where my work has been sent to. I like to know how long it has been there. I like the freedom to write what I want to write and not feel the pressure that I have to be producing something for an agent. On the other hand if I had an agent who was getting me commissions that would be lovely too.”

Alex Gutteridge isn’t one of a kind; on delving further into the world of Templar Publishing, I came across another author who presently didn’t have an agent and had been picked up via this route. Branford Boase award winning author, Katherine Roberts who recently published Book 3 in her Pendragon Legacy series, also managed it without an agent.

Katherine told me, ‘ I sold my first novel without an agent by sending sample chapters straight to publishers (“Song Quest” was picked up by Barry Cunningham, then an editor at Element Books and later managing director of Chicken House). I also negotiated my latest four-book deal with Helen Boyle at Templar during an agentless period. I think it helps if you know someone who knows the editor, but if you have a strong enough book then the “slush pile” route should work - it just takes longer (sometimes a lot longer!)’

Alex Gutteridge and Katherine Roberts have been successful through Templar Publishing. Others authors have found success through smaller, independent publishers.  Only last week  Sharon Gosling featured on The Big Break feature on the blog, her debut novel The Diamond Thief was published this month by Curious Fox without an agent.

 As you can see it is possible to reach the dream of publication.  It’s good to know that there are other options available; there are other routes you can take that will allow you to get your book into the hands of a publisher.

  However, don’t for one second imagine that it is easy. Although these authors have got their book published without the aid of an agent, it does have  a downside. Katherine Roberts said, “It’s almost impossible to get your work looked at by the bigger publishers. It’s also very energy draining and time consuming to negotiate your own publishing contract, even with the Society of Authors’ help. And later, you have to deal with all the stuff your agent usually deals with, such as chasing and checking payments and looking after the admin side of the contract. Agents also seem better placed to negotiate foreign rights and film/TV deals than publishers, but that might depend on the agent.”

So is this the way forward for you? Should you go straight to the publishers that have an open submissions policy or follow the traditional route and find yourself an agent first? Only you can decide.

 Alex Gutteridge says “To go on your own you have to have passion, persistence and patience in spades. It’s tough but then writing is tough for people with agents at the moment. I’ve had 5 books taken from the slush pile and a further 4 commissioned as a result of that. My latest book for Templar, Last Chance Angel was sent in as an unsolicited manuscript and I was absolutely thrilled when they took it. So to all of you out there wondering what to do - it has to be what’s right for you but if I can get work taken as an unagented author, with the right attitude, you can too. From my experience, having an agent is no guarantee of getting a good publishing deal - or indeed any deal. ‘

 Industry experts and published authors would advise that you try and find an agent first. Go through your Writer’s and Artist’s Yearbooks and check out the agents listed; try to find one that represents work by author’s in a similar genre to you and send them a sample of your work alongside a covering letter and synopsis. If after exhausting this option, you still haven’t found an agent, then  don’t despair, contact the publishers who accept open submissions and see where that will take you. However be prepared, as it won’t necessarily be an easy route to follow. You will need patience and lots of it, as it can take editors a long time to get through the pile. So don’t expect a reply straight away as it could take months. It also won’t guarantee that you will be published, but it will allow you direct access to the some innovative publishers and you never know, you might just be the author they were looking for.