One important quality is courage. In science fiction novels, agents often face extremely dangerous and unknown threats. Take the Doctor from 'Doctor Who' for example. He constantly travels through time and space, facing all kinds of alien threats without hesitation. They also have a sense of loyalty, either to their organization or to a greater cause. In 'Star Trek', the agents of Starfleet are loyal to the ideals of the Federation. And of course, they are resourceful. Agents in 'Dune' have to be resourceful in a harsh desert environment filled with political intrigue and advanced technology.
They are patient and nurturing. Middle grade authors may be less experienced in some cases. So these agents take the time to develop the author's skills and career. They also have a good sense of market trends in the middle grade fiction market. They can advise authors on topics that are currently popular or emerging, like whether a story about a magical adventure in a far - off land or a contemporary story about friendship in school would be more marketable at a given time.
A sense of curiosity drives them. Nancy Drew is always curious about the strange things happening around her. This curiosity makes her dig deeper into mysteries, not being satisfied with surface - level explanations and always striving to uncover the truth.
One important quality is a deep understanding of the science fiction genre. They need to know the tropes, the history, and the potential future directions of the genre.
They should have a good understanding of the grit fiction genre. This means they know the common themes, like urban decay or moral struggle, and can recognize what makes a grit fiction novel stand out. They also need to be well - connected in the publishing industry to get your novel in front of the right editors.
They often possess great physicality. For example, in action - packed sci - fi movies, actresses need to be able to perform stunts or fight scenes. Sigourney Weaver in 'Alien' had to do a lot of physically demanding work. Another quality is the ability to portray strong - willed characters. Since sci - fi often involves complex and dangerous situations, like in 'The Hunger Games' where Jennifer Lawrence played Katniss, the character has to be strong - minded to survive.
Good literary agents for international fiction should have a wide network. This network should include publishers from different countries, as well as other industry professionals like editors and translators. They also need to be well - read in international fiction. This helps them to quickly identify the potential of a new work. In addition, they should be persistent. The international market can be tough, with a lot of competition. So they need to keep pushing for their clients' works to get noticed and published.
They should have a good understanding of environmental issues. This helps them better evaluate the authenticity and significance of the climate - related themes in the manuscript. For instance, they can spot if the scientific aspects of climate change are presented accurately.
They should be open - minded. Given the nature of erotic fiction, they need to be able to handle the content without being judgmental. Also, they should have good communication skills to effectively deal with publishers and promote the writer's work.
They should have a good eye for great writing. This means being able to spot a well - crafted story, strong characters, and engaging prose in quality fiction.
They should have an understanding of both philosophy and fiction. This means they can recognize the depth of philosophical ideas in a story and also how to market it as a work of fiction. They need to be well - read in both fields.