What Does a Literary Agent Take in Commission?
Updated: Oct 9
Literary agents are commonly paid a commission from deals they make, rather than an upfront reading fee. The exact percentage and treatment of foreign or screen rights depend on the agency agreement and any co-agents. Do not rely on a social-media graphic for your own terms.
Read which income is covered
An agreement may apply to the novel, later books, subsidiary rights, renewals, and income received after the relationship ends from deals the agent negotiated. Ask whether the agent represents a single work or your broader career. The difference matters if you write across genres or media.
Expenses are separate
Some agreements allow deductions for specific costs, such as copying or international co-agent fees. Ask what is charged, when approval is needed, and how the agency accounts for payments from publishers. An apparently small expense clause can be vague unless it is defined.
An example
If a publisher pays an advance in installments, the agent's commission is typically applied to the money received under the agreement rather than to an imagined total on signing day. The author may also have taxes and professional costs. Work from the actual contract and payment schedule when calculating take-home income.
Look for warning signs
Be careful with demands for reading fees, promises of guaranteed publisher deals, pressure to sign immediately, or unclear accounting. A legitimate business partner can explain how they are paid and provide the agreement for review.
Continue exploring this topic
A practical check
Which rights and works are covered? What is the rate for each type of deal? What expenses can be charged? How and when do payments reach me?
Viola Musaraj is a writer, novelist, micro and vertical drama producer, and interactive narrative designer with more than 140 million reads worldwide.
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