Description
Represent and promote authors and other literary creators in the publishing and media industries. Secure and negotiate publishing and subsidiary-rights deals, manage client relationships, and guide long-term career development.
- • Collect advances, royalties, and commissions per agency and contract terms.
- • Advise authors on career strategy, project selection, and submissions.
- • Cultivate relationships with editors, publishers, scouts, and media to place clients' work.
- • Coordinate submission timelines, pitch meetings, and rights meetings.
- • Negotiate publishing, audio, film/TV, translation, and other subsidiary-rights contracts.
- • Track market trends, deal terms, and editor and imprint interests.
- • Oversee business affairs, review royalty statements, and liaise with accountants and attorneys.
- • Evaluate queries, proposals, and manuscripts to identify promising clients.
- • Arrange calls and meetings among authors, editors, publicists, and co-agents.
- • Prepare and reconcile client accounting statements and royalty reports.
- • Advise clients on contract terms and career implications; refer legal or tax issues to specialists.
- • Monitor delivery schedules, marketing commitments, and production plans for contractual compliance.
- • Recommend and coordinate freelance editors, sensitivity readers, illustrators, or co-writers.
- • Draft, polish, and submit query letters, proposal packages, and manuscripts to targeted editors.
Related specializations
Interview options
Interview options
Interviewee gender
Interviewee accent
Available on paid plans only
Interview time
Related Pathways
Arts, Entertainment, & Design
View
Source
Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
Learn more
Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
