DSM Agency FAQs

Are you a member of any publishing organizations?
All agents are members of Association of Authors’ Representatives (AAR), Author’s Guild, and Women’s National Book Association.

What are my next steps after finishing my book?
For information on querying DSM agency, please see our Representation and Query Guidelines pages.

 What is the proper format for submitting my material?
Please see our Representation page for further information.

How do I submit requested material via e-mail?
Please see our Query Guidelines page.

What is a proposal?
Typically, we require proposals for nonfiction and entire manuscripts for fiction. Proposals include the Concept, Author Biography, Audience, Table of Contents, Promotion, and Competitive Analysis. Please see our Nonfiction Proposal page for further guidelines.

How long should I wait to get a reply?
If you do not hear from us within two weeks, please assume that we have decided that your project is not right for our agency.

Do you charge a reading fee?
DSM Agency abides by AAR’s Canon of Ethics and does not charge a reading fee.

What are your standard fees/charges?
For domestic sales, DSM Agency charges the standard commission rate of 15% commission.

For foreign sales, if a co-agent is used, DSM Agency charges 15% commission and 10% co-agent commission. Otherwise, DSM Agency charges 20% commission.

What is the role of a co-agent?
Our co-agents help us sell rights in their territories and negotiate contracts on the author’s behalf.