What does a literary agent do all day?

Have you ever wondered what a literary agent does all day?  I googled "day in the life of a literary agent" and these are the top sites, along with one point from each site:

Laura Williams
Every day is different, but every day is based around promoting and protecting the interests of our talented authors, which is a delight and a privilege.


Linda Pratt
I emailed a different client to let her know that the editor to whom we had submitted her picture book manuscript last week with one of our illustrators attached responded very quickly that she loved the project, and it sounded like we might have an offer this week . . . although it always remains just a potential offer until it actually comes.


Agent Nolan [in UK]
10.45am:  A client turns up, which is always a treat.  We leave the office for a meeting at a publishing house nearby.  On the way, we discuss their work in progress and attempt to unpick a knotty plotting problem.


Jonny Geller
•  Read and annotate the latest draft of a manuscript while in labour
•  Fall in love with a manuscript that was written under a pseudonym and then have no idea who to ask for when you arrange to meet them in a restaurant
•  Break best offer news to an author from a beach in the Mediterranean


Mary C Moore
•  An editor expresses interest in a submission. It’s too early to tell, but must nudge everyone else who has it!
•  The cover of a different project has been finalized. It’s super beautiful and there’s all kinds of buzz. Time to alert the subagents and pitch it to audio!


Juliet Mushens
Having shaken the trees, I then receive a Brazilian offer and a Czech offer for the same book and discuss strategy with the co-agents there. I email the author with an update (the most exciting part!) and I again email all other co-agents around the world to update them on the news, as well as the scouts. This is… a LOT of emails.


Jennifer Johnson-Blalock
6-8:30: I go to a mixer for acquiring editors and agents working in adult fiction. Publishing mixers can be tiring—a room full of introverts being forced to people!—but it’s a great way to meet many editors you haven’t yet connected with. I leave with several business cards and a new submission possibility for one of my clients.

 

Click on the links to learn more about what an agent does all day!