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Literary Agent Agreement
Free literary agent agreement template between an author and a literary agent representing their work to publishers.
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This free literary agent agreement covers 1. Representation, 2. Scope of Representation, 3. Commission, 4. Agent's Responsibilities, 5. Term with 6 clearly marked [placeholder] fields to fill in — built for founders, freelancers, and small business owners formalizing a business decision or agreement without paying a lawyer to draft it from scratch. Copy it into your own word processor, fill in the placeholders, and review it — or adapt it — before use. It's part of docstoc's free document template library, alongside business, legal, real estate, finance, and HR templates. Every template here is free to copy with no signup required, and each one carries a plain disclaimer: this is a starting point for informational purposes, not a substitute for advice from a licensed professional in your jurisdiction.
Literary Agent Agreement
Author: [Name] · Agent: [Name/Agency] · Date: [Date]
1. Representation
Author engages Agent to represent [the manuscript titled [Title] / Author's future work] for the purpose of securing publication and negotiating related agreements.
2. Scope of Representation
[ ] This specific work only. [ ] All of Author's work for the term of this Agreement.
3. Commission
Agent will receive a commission of [%, commonly 15% for domestic sales, 20% for foreign/subsidiary rights] of all monies earned by Author from agreements Agent negotiates on Author's behalf.
4. Agent's Responsibilities
Agent will submit the work to appropriate publishers, negotiate publishing contract terms on Author's behalf, and review royalty statements for accuracy.
5. Term
This Agreement runs for [Term], and either party may terminate with [Notice Period] written notice. Commission continues on any deal signed during the representation period, even if it closes after termination.
6. Expenses
[State whether Agent deducts specific expenses — e.g. manuscript copies, submission costs — and how they're billed.]
Author: ______________________ Date: ____________ Agent: ______________________ Date: ____________
*This document is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. A reputable literary agent earns money only through commission on sales they make — an agent who charges upfront "reading fees" or similar charges before any sale is a red flag in traditional publishing.*
Edit directly in the box above. Download PDF anytime — the docstoc.io footer is always included and cannot be removed.
What's included
- Edit online — click the document, fill in placeholders, download a PDF
- 6 standard sections: 1. Representation, 2. Scope of Representation, 3. Commission, 4. Agent's Responsibilities, 5. Term, 6. Expenses
- 6 clearly marked [placeholder] fields for quick personalizing
- Free to use — no account or signup required
- Fully editable — adjust any clause to match your actual situation
- Includes a signature block, ready to print or sign digitally
- Fixed docstoc.io footer on every PDF (not removable)
Who this template is for
Freelancers & solo founders
Handling routine business paperwork without commissioning custom legal drafting for every document.
Small businesses
Standardizing recurring documents — leases, agreements, notices — across a growing operation.
Anyone reviewing before signing
Using a clear starting structure to understand what a document should cover, even if a lawyer finalizes it.
Early-stage businesses
Getting the basics documented before things get more complex.
FAQ
Is this literary agent agreement template really free?
Yes, completely free — view, edit, and download this literary agent agreement as a PDF without creating an account.
What does this literary agent agreement cover?
This business template includes 1. Representation, 2. Scope of Representation, 3. Commission, 4. Agent's Responsibilities. Fill in the [bracketed] placeholders, edit any clause online, then download a PDF — the docstoc.io footer stays on every export.
Is this legal advice?
No. This is a general-purpose starting structure, not advice for your specific situation. Business agreements can hinge on details — state of formation, industry-specific regulation, how a dispute would actually play out — that a template can't account for. Have a business attorney review anything that involves real money or real risk before you rely on it.
Can I edit the wording?
Yes — edit directly on the page, adjust any section or clause, and re-fill the 6 placeholder fields to match your situation before downloading a PDF. It's a starting structure, not a rigid script.
Where can I find more free templates like this?
Browse more free business and related document templates in the docstoc library at /document-templates/.
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