A Literary Agent Is Interested in My Cookbook Idea. What’s Next?
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It’s the email/ call/ meeting you’ve been dreaming of. A literary agent reaches out and wants to chat about your cookbook idea. They saw you on the internet/ a media mention/ interview and need to know what your book publishing plans are. You’ve always wanted to write a cookbook, but you don’t have a finished book proposal (even though you know that’s the first step). To be honest, you’re still working out what the actual book would be. So, what the heck do you do now?
Step one: Don’t panic.
This is a fantastic position to be in, but one you also don’t need to overthink. Literary agents are just people who love books as much as you. Their job is to find authors who they believe in and want to work with for years. So, here’s what to do when a literary agent is interested in your cookbook idea.
What does a literary agent do?
You may know you need a literary agent, but you may not know what they even do. Which is fair because book publishing can feel like a mysterious process. So, what does a literary agent do? Well, they’re your book’s champion, among other things.
They’re the ones who pitch book publishers directly, negotiate your deal, and keep track of all your money and payouts. And depending on the agency, they can even help develop additional deals for television and film. They’ll even help you firm up your book concept or even suggest an idea for your next book.
If you’re not familiar with the agent, you can search for them on the Association of American Literary Agents website. There you’ll find their bios, submission requirements, and links to their agency. You can also find the AALA’s code of ethics, which can help you create expectations of any literary agent you decide to work with.
It’s not just about a single book either. Literary agents want to grow with you as your career evolves. Yes, they receive 15% of your book advance, so they make money if you make money. But they also love what they do and want to work with good souls aka not jerks. Because it doesn’t matter how talented you are. If you’re difficult to work with, agents will opt out and spread the word.
Now that you have a better idea of what a literary agent does, let’s look at how to prepare for your chat.
Before you send an agent your cookbook idea
Chances are, if an agent wants to hear what ideas you have for a cookbook, they’ll want you to send them some pages. If they don’t specify a page count, aim for at least 5-10. You can use this book proposal outline to get you started but don’t worry about making it perfect. It’s understood it’s a work in progress.
Some things to include:
What inspired you to write this book
How it’s different from other books out there (and if you can name a few books that would be in the same category, please include them!)
Why you’re the one who has to write it now
What you’re currently doing for marketing and publicity + how you’d use that to promote and sell your book (your social media strategy + following, email newsletter, collaborations, pop-up events, regular appearances on local morning television)
Your bio (aim for 3-5 sentences listing your expertise, media appearances, awards, and distinguishing organizations you’re a member of i.e. IACP, Southern Foodways Alliance etc)
This shouldn’t read like a term paper either. You can be professional, but personable. It’s also a stellar way to share your storytelling skills. Agents are buying a personality, so be bold and have a point of view. Your book is not for everyone, so show off what makes you you.
How to send an agent your cookbook idea
Most agents will tell you how they’d prefer you to send them your work. But if they don’t specify, copy and paste it in an email and also attach it as a Word document. It’s a good practice to always have your work as a Word file. If you don’t have Word, you can also download any Google doc as a Word document.
As far as formatting, it’s best to stick with standard manuscript formatting: double-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font with one-inch margins.
In the email, be gracious and let them know you’ve copied and pasted your pages + are sending an attachment. Let them know if they have any questions, they can reach out, and you’re looking forward to their feedback/ chatting soon etc. If you haven’t already said thank you for reaching out/ taking the time to hear your idea, do it. And if you already have, you can do it again.
After you send an agent your cookbook idea
You’ve sent your email and pages, so now what? Most agents will get back to you quickly if they’ve requested to see your work. But things happen, so if it’s been a week and you haven’t heard from them, follow up. Be kind. Let them know how much you appreciate their time and that you’re looking forward to hearing their thoughts.
An agent loves your idea but wants to see more
An agent is excited about your cookbook idea but needs to see more progress in the proposal before signing you. It could be a story or platform issue, but they see the potential of what you want to do. They just need more of it before they feel good about trying to sell your book.
Writers get disappointed when an agent doesn’t sign them instantly, but it’s an honor to be approached at all. Plus, you know someone already has their hand raised to see your completed proposal, which is half the battle. And you have notes to work with.
An agent read your cookbook idea and wants to sign you
An agent can’t get enough of your cookbook idea and wants to sign you. Huzzah!
The big question though is: Do you want to work with them?
As much as an agent is sussing you out, you’re doing the same thing with them. You don’t have to sign with a literary agent just because they’re interested in you. And if someone is pressuring you to sign with them, that’s a red flag.
Some questions to ask yourself before you sign:
Do they “get” your idea?
Was the feedback honest and direct?
Did they have a discerning eye for things that you’d need to work on together?
How did they respond to anything you may have disagreed with?
Were you excited about their vision for your book?
Do you see yourself working well with them?
A lot of times, the decision is led by gut feelings because you either click with someone or you don’t. And the most important thing is do you feel this is someone you trust with your career? Literary agents will guide a lot of it, so you need someone who will give it to you straight, but can also handle any objections or concerns with grace.
How to prepare now for an interested cookbook agent
Now you know what to do if an agent reaches out about your cookbook idea, but you don’t have a book proposal. But if you’ve been playing around with a cookbook idea and have inklings of people being interested in your book, you need to start that proposal. It’s the business plan for your cookbook and the thing agents need to sell your book to publishers. Most book proposals take around six months to complete, so grab your spot on my coaching waitlist now, and you’ll be the first to know when spots are available again. It’s worth it to spend more time on the front end with a solid proposal than to rush through it just to “have it done”. Sign up now, and let’s make this the easiest thing you do all year.