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enable literary agents, empower authors, and enlighten readers.

In traditional publishing, no one has more impact on what books get published than literary agents. Literary agents sift through thousands of manuscripts to find the best of the best and then sell those books to the right editor at the right publisher. Most publishing houses value literary agents’ taste so highly that they won’t even consider a book unless it has agent representation.

Who gets to be a gatekeeper matters.

Literary agents play an enormous role in determining which voices and stories make their way to readers, but historically, that hasn’t meant that the publishing world reflects the real world. According to the New York Times, from 1950-2018, 95% of the books published in the United States were by white authors. Even with significant focus in recent years on trying to make publishing less monolithic, as of 2023, literary agents are still predominantly cis, able-bodied, upper-middle-class white women.

Many barriers to a more diverse industry are structural.

Publishing is an industry built on apprenticeships—most agents get their start with unpaid internships, and afterwards, work entirely on commission. It takes 5-10 years before most agents make a living wage. The steep upfront cost of building a career means that this job remains largely inaccessible for people of marginalized backgrounds, especially long-term.

A healthier, more diverse publishing industry requires changing not only who has the opportunity to enter the industry, but also who has the support and resources to build a sustainable, successful career.

Literary Agents of Change works to make that possible.

Literary Agents of Change is an all-volunteer 501(c)-3 nonprofit organization on a mission to increase the number of literary agents from historically underrepresented groups working in publishing. LAOC has fellowships, mentorship programs, and provides new and potential agents with sustainable resources meant to improve access and retention in the industry.

100% of your gift will go directly to programming, and is fully tax-deductible.

Thank you for investing in LAOC and the future of publishing.

Support the Future of Publishing this Giving Tuesday