Do You Need a Literary Agent to Get Published? Here's What You Actually Need
- kaz07899
- Jul 29
- 4 min read
If you think you need a literary agent to be a "proper" published author, you're not alone, and you're also not right. It's one of the biggest myths in the writing world, and it keeps a lot of brilliant authors stuck before they've even started.
Let's unpick where this belief comes from, and why it simply doesn't hold up anymore.
Where the Literary Agent Myth Comes From
For most of the 20th century, a literary agent genuinely was the gatekeeper to publishing. You couldn't get anywhere near a traditional publisher without one. That's not ancient history; it's within living memory, and it's why so many people still assume it's the only legitimate route in.
But the publishing world has changed dramatically. If you're still operating on the assumption that an agent is your only way to be published, that assumption might be exactly what's keeping you stuck.
What the Traditional Publishing Route Actually Looks Like
Here's how it goes: you write your book, you write a query letter, you send it to agents, and then you wait. And wait. And wait some more. If you're lucky, one signs you. Then they submit your book to publishers. Then, hopefully, a publisher offers you a deal. Then your book comes out roughly two years later.
The acceptance rate for query letters sits somewhere around 1–3%. Agents receive hundreds, sometimes thousands, of submissions a month. And even if you land an agent, there's no guarantee your book sells to a publisher either; it can sit on submission for months or years. Some books never sell at all.
That's not a judgement on your writing. It's just the reality of a fiercely competitive, and frankly subjective, industry. What one agent loves, another will pass on; the same way readers, editors and reviewers will never all agree on the same book.
Traditional publishing absolutely has its place, and for some authors it's the right path. But it is not the only path; and for most authors I work with, it isn't even the best one.
How Self-Publishing and Hybrid Publishing Changed the Game
Self-publishing, doing it entirely yourself, typically through Amazon KDP — means you can publish professionally, reach readers worldwide, and keep 100% of your royalties. Yes, there are costs involved, like printing (and if you are going to do it properly, then you'll need to factor in editing, formatting and cover design costs as a minimum). But there's no agent, no publisher, and no two-year wait.
Hybrid publishing sits in the middle. It's basically assisted self-publishing, and it is exactly what we do at Mabel and Stanley. You get professional support with editing, cover design, formatting and marketing strategy, but you keep your rights, your royalties and full control of your book.
These routes aren't consolation prizes for authors who "couldn't get an agent." They're strategic choices made by savvy authors who want ownership, speed and creative control. I've worked with Paralympian athletes and heads of major corporations who built entire speaking and consulting businesses off the back of a book they self- or hybrid-published ... no agent required.
What You Actually Need Instead of an Agent
If it's not an agent, what does a published book actually need?
A good editor — someone who tells you the truth about your manuscript, not just what you want to hear.
A professional cover designer — because people absolutely do judge a book by its cover, even if that's not what ultimately sells it.
Someone who understands formatting, metadata, categories and keywords — the technical detail that makes your book findable on Amazon.
A publishing strategy — your categories, your pricing, your launch plan, and how the book connects to your wider author platform.
That's what gets a book published well. Not a literary agent; the technicalities, done properly. You can learn to do all of this yourself, but if you don't have the technical know-how, there's no shame in paying for that expertise. Experts hire experts.
Does Traditional Publishing Still Carry More Prestige?
Honestly... in certain contexts, yes. Academic publishing, literary fiction submitted for major prizes, and a handful of niche areas still lean heavily on traditional routes.
But for the vast majority of authors I work with: business authors, coaches, consultants, and fiction writers who want to reach readers quickly, the prestige of traditional publishing is far outweighed by the control and the income of doing it yourself. It's not an easy journey either way. But it worked for me, and I was traditionally published twice before buying my rights back.
The Bottom Line
The next time someone tells you that you need an agent to be a "real" author, smile politely and ignore them completely. It's your book. It should be your rules, and consequently, your royalties.
If you're ready to stop waiting on a query pile and actually get your book published, professionally, on your terms, with support at every stage from manuscript to launch, that's exactly what First Draft to Published is for.
Find out more about FDTP here or drop me an email directly at karen@mabelandstanleypublishing.com.
Karen (and Mabel 🐾)
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