All writers, but especially writers of color and those from marginalized backgrounds, have questions about how to find an agent who will truly understand and advocate for them. Here are some of the ways that you as a writer can find the right people to support you:
Cultivate community where you are (in physical space, in stage of life, online, in affinity groups, etcetera). For instance, you can support and become involved with your local library, bookstore, literary nonprofit, or literary journal. So much of publishing is about connecting to the causes you’re passionate about and edifying people in those literary spaces; you’ll find other like-minded literary folks along the way. You can also connect with other regional authors nearby—one way to start is to buy, read, and post about their books—or find authors who are working in a similar cultural or aesthetic space to you and support each other through your respective journeys. Reach out through their author websites; follow and engage with them on social media; and if they have an event near you, come to the event and introduce yourself afterwards.
Look at the organizations and spaces where the agents you’re interested in querying are active, as this can tell you a lot about them and their values. You can also vet agents by looking at the authors they represent—are they truly allies who are down for the cause or are they just “culture vultures”? Some questions, for example, you can consider when looking at their profile: Have they represented authors of color throughout their career, or only when it became more profitable to them? Do they say they want “diverse voices” on their Manuscript Wish List profile, but their current client list shows a lack of that diversity? Does the agent represent other clients who have values that seem to conflict with what the agent states they stand for? Do they mentor, advocate for, or uplift people of color through their work in other spaces or organizations? If working with an agent of color is important to you, the Equity Directory could be a good starting place but there are plenty of resources and communities out there.
Examine your biases. Do not discount more junior agents of color in favor of more senior, established (often white) agents when querying. The fact that an agent is in New York City does not necessarily mean they are superior to another agent based outside of the city; the fact that an agent represents best-selling authors X, Y, and Z does not necessarily mean they will be able to do the same for you. Younger, more junior agents are hungry and will have more time for author care and editorial support than the agent of those best-selling authors. (And, I’ll say the quiet part out loud: There is a reason that most established, successful agents out there are white, and it’s not that they’re simply better at what they do. Systemic forces, in addition to historical and ongoing institutional decisions within and outside the industry, have made an impact on who can survive and thrive in publishing along the lines of race, gender, class, and privilege.) Think about what is important to you, and use those values as your guiding principles when looking for an agent.
—Amanda Orozco, agent, Transatlantic Agency
Photo credit: Kailena Mai