We’re so excited to feature literary agent Alexandra Levick on the Ready Chapter 1 blog today to discuss querying/publishing tips to help you get your book out into the world! Thank you so much for joining us, Allie!
Hi! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m Allie Levick, a senior literary agent at Writers House. I’m a lifelong dancer (mainly ballet and contemporary), I love to cook and bake, and really enjoy doing DIY projects around my house. When I’m not doing any of those things, I’m spending time with my wonderful dog, Fig.
How did you get started in your career as a literary agent?
I got my MS in Publishing from NYU, and while I was there, I was introduced to the agenting side of the publishing business. As soon as I learned about agenting, something clicked in my brain. After that moment, I started with an internship with Sterling Lord Literistic, then I moved on to Writers House, and part-way through that internship, I got my first job at the agency as an assistant. I haven’t looked back since!
What do you see as the hardest part for writers when it comes to breaking into the industry?
In many ways, querying seems to be tougher now than ever before. There is so much competition, the need to stand out from the crowd feels more necessary than ever. Because of that, I know it’s tempting to do something out of the box in your query to stand out (changing the query format, etc.) but the best thing you can do to set yourself up for success is follow those basic guidelines so an agent has all the information they need to help assess your work.
What do you initially look for in an author’s query?
First, I’m looking for a clear indication of age range and genre, so I can set my expectations accordingly. Next, I’m looking to understand who the main character is, what they want, what’s in their way of achieving that, and what actions they’ll take in order to make their goal a reality (aka the rough ingredients that make up the plot!). Once I’ve got those items settled, I’m looking to see if the voice is one I’m compelled by—if it’s someone I want to follow for the next several hundred pages.
What kind of advice do you have for upcoming authors currently trying to get an agent for their novel?
Don’t be afraid to set a project aside for a while if you’re not finding traction with it. I don’t think people realize just how many writers set projects aside, only for that “shelved” project to have a new life later on down the line—whether that is because the market has shifted more favorably or because you’ve done further editing. It hurts to set something aside, I won’t deny that! But that doesn’t mean it’s gone forever.
Can you provide links to any websites or social channels you’d like readers to follow?
Twitter and Instagram @AllieLevick
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