Agent Interview: Sara Harowitz

Non-fiction

Everyone at Westwood Creative Artists, of course! This team is scrappy and passionate and creative and intelligent, and I'm lucky to get to learn from them and work alongside them.

Kiese Laymon, Deborah Levy, Joan Didion, Lisa Taddeo.

I prefer not to focus on what other agents are doing. But one thing I will say is that I only take on projects I truly believe in; I'm not in this business to make the most deals, I'm in it to help the best stories get told.

Do your research! Make sure you think I'm a proper fit based on what your book is about and what I'm looking for. Also, please spell my name correctly.

There's no such thing! But a good query letter needs an immediate hook, good comp titles, and a strong description paragraph. Sell yourself a little!

It doesn't have to be perfect, but it should definitely feel polished. A lot of agents (including myself) will do some editorial work on a manuscript they take on, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't already be in decent shape.

Following up with a hard copy is not necessary; save the paper and postage!

As much as you want to tell me. If it's relevant to your story or your work, tell me about it.

I do not read every submission to the end, as unfortunately there is just not enough time for that. I can tell within the first few pages (or often I'll skip around if I've been sent a full manuscript). All the more reason to have a strong hook at the beginning, and to make sure your copy is clean throughout your submission.

We'll get to work! Usually that involves a bit of editing and feedback on my end, and then once both myself and the author feel confident with the work, I'll build out a submission list and start sending it out.

A lot of reading, which is a real treat. And lots of emails (less of a treat). But when the subject is books, it's really not hard to have a good time. I'm very lucky to have this job.