Prose Talks To Literary Agent & Author Andrew Lownie
We have a fantastic treat for you lovely Prosers today. Prose were lucky enough to ask Literary Agent Andrew Lownie some questions about what they do at his agency; namely, how they do it, why they do it, and if there were any tips they could kindly pass on. There are, dear reader.
According to publishers marketplace, Andrew Lownie is the second top selling agent in the world with thirty-three deals in the last six months (in May 2016), which was just behind Jill Marsal, who specialises in women’s romance, who was placed at thirty-sixth. Impressive stuff, we think you’ll agree. So let’s get to the questions and answers from a man that clearly knows what he’s doing.
P: Please tell us about the Andrew Lownie Literary Agency.
A: The Andrew Lownie Literary Agency was founded in 1988. I was a director at Curtis Brown and keen to combine writing and agenting which I couldn’t do in a large agency. Over the last twenty eight years the number of authors has grown to over two hundred — most of them non-fiction — but the agency has remained small with only myself and my fiction colleague David Haviland. We feel it’s important to keep that personal touch and the flexibility that comes from working with specialist sub agents.
P: How did you become a Literary Agent?
A: By chance. I had worked as a bestseller before going to university and wanted a career which combined academia with business and a friend recommended publishing. I was on the Hodder graduate scheme after Cambridge . I then had a brief spell as an editor and freelance journalist before becoming a literary agent in 1985.
P: Can you explain what is it that you do?
A: My job is to place authors with publishers around the world, to exploit the intellectual property in their work such as film and tv, audio, large print, book extracts and to generally manage their writing careers. This article gives an insight into a typical week
http://www.andrewlownie.co.uk/2014/05/27/an-agency-week
P: Do you deal only with specific genres?
A: My colleague David Haviland handles crime and thrillers and some literary fiction whilst I tend to concentrate on history, current affairs, biography and memoir.
P: What is the process you go through when pitching a book to publishers?
A: Once the proposal is ready to show — and polishing it can take years — then I’ll pitch to selected editors by email. This article provides more detail –
http://www.andrewlownie.co.uk/2014/03/17/how-the-agency-places-its-authors
P: What is it you are looking for when a manuscript lands on your desk?
A: Something I can sell — ie I can envisage an editor who will buy it — and is commercial . I tend to be looking for authors that can be built up over a period of time, who have a fresh and distinct voice and who have international appeal rather than one-off books unless it’s a celebrity memoir.
P: Are there any specific plots or themes you’d like to see?
A: Good plots are important but more important is characterisation and good writing.
P: Is there anything that immediately turns you off a manuscript?
A: If it is too long and isn’t sent on an email, as everything is now submitted electronically.
P: What do you love and hate (as if!) about your job?
A: I love the variety and the chance to meet lots of interesting people. I am always learning about different subjects and new technology is giving fresh opportunities to market and sell books. However, Email does mean that I receive several hundred submissions a week and that can be tiring requiring long working hours. Relations between publishers and agents have also become more adversarial .
P: What advice would you give to someone submitting a manuscript to you?
A: Follow the instructions on the agent’s website and don’t submit before you’ve probably finished the book and polished it several times.
P: Are there any tips to making a manuscript stand out from the rest?
A: It should be neatly laid out, double spaced, grammatical and without boasting make the case for why it is distinctive and special. These articles have more advice:
http://www.andrewlownie.co.uk/2013/01/26/some-tips-on-approaching-an-agent
http://www.andrewlownie.co.uk/2010/10/31/more-submission-tips
P: What benefits do you feel an agent can offer an author as opposed to self-publishing?
A: It’s horses for courses. Many books are better self-published. But for those who want a trade publisher agents know the market and the editors so know who is looking for what when. We can also negotiate better contracts and provide advice and support throughout the publishing process. Here are some thoughts on the future of agenting in the face of the challenge from self publishing — http://www.andrewlownie.co.uk/2013/04/13/the-future-of-agenting
P: When you meet people at parties and tell them what you do, do you sometimes meet people that AREN’T planning on writing a book?.
A: Yes, all the time thank goodness.
P: What is your biggest triumph as a literary agent?
A: To have stayed in business over thirty years, to have been nominated three times as literary agent of the year at the British Bookseller Awards, to have been the top selling agent in the world for several years and to have a stable of talented, loyal , charming and successful authors.
P: Is there one book that you would recommend everybody should read before they die?
A: There are too many and everyone has different tastes.
P: Is there one quote, from a writer or otherwise, that sums you up?
A: Not that I know but I would like to be remembered as an enabler who helped many people achieve their dream of publication.
P: You climb out of a time machine into a dystopian future world with no books. What do you tell them?
A: Anyone here like to write a book? I’ll show you and sell it.
P: What exciting things do you have on the horizon?
A: The agency has its own publishing imprint and this is going from strength to strength. It gives us another option to place back list and trial/establish front list books.
P: Is there anything else you’d like us to know about you/your work/social media accounts?
A: The agency has probably the most active website in British publishing with daily updates, monthly newsletters and lots of useful articles. It’s www.andrewlownie.co.uk.
Well, you heard the man, go check out the website. A huge thanks to Andrew for taking time out of his ridiculously busy schedule to humour us a while and answer our questions.
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Originally published at blog.theprose.com on June 27, 2016.
