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Literary Agent

Literary Agent Image

A literary agent promotes an author’s work to publishers and media producers as well as handling their business dealings, allowing the author to concentrate on their work. Often agents will specialise in a particular non-fiction subject, such as history, or in a type of fiction, such as crime.

The Work

You could be:

Pay

The income of a literary agent varies widely depending on location and also on whether you are working freelance. The figures below are only a guide.

For literary agents who are employees, starting salary is usually from around £18,000 a year upwards. With experience, this can rise to between £25,000 and £35,000 a year or more.

Commission is usually between 10% - 15% of the book sales in the UK and 20% of overseas sales and for sales of film and TV rights.

The income of freelance literary agents varies from month to month.

Conditions

Workforce Employment Status

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Useful Subjects

Getting In

Workforce Education Levels (UK)

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Job Outlook Scotland

Employment

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Job Outlook Scotland and UK

  Scotland
2024
1894
4.3 %
RISE
2029
1975
  United Kingdom
2024
33325
5 %
RISE
2029
34998

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What Does it Take?

You need to have:

You need to be able to:

Training

Getting On

Video

Courtesy of WBD TeenFest

Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.

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