Assistant to Literary Agent Supervising Agent: Natalie Lakosil Location: San Diego, CA* Hours: 10-12 per week $14/hour
Bradford Literary Agency is immediately seeking a sharp, enthusiastic go-getter to assist literary agent Natalie Lakosil. The position is designed as a mentorship opportunity leading to a position as an agent on the Bradford team, so the ideal candidate is interested in book publishing and a career as a literary agent.
Bradford Literary Agency is a boutique agency located in sunny San Diego. Our mission at Bradford Literary Agency is to form true partnerships with our clients and build long-term relationships that extend from writing the first draft through the length of the author’s career.
The assistant will gain hands-on exposure to literary agenting, including submission and manuscript development, negotiation, publication and career management as well as bookkeeping, finance and contract management.
Duties and responsibilities include:
Administrative duties, including database organization, maintaining internal databases, calendar management, office management, cross-checking contracts and royalty statements, and others, as needed
Professional daily interaction with clients, editors, art directors, and other publishing professionals
Reading and judging merit of manuscripts in the slush pile (unsolicited submissions) and alerting agent to projects with potential
2nd reader on projects under considering for publication, including meeting with agent to discuss ways in which the project could become more marketable or successful, and providing general comments on its viability for the marketplace.
Providing reading reports on projects under contract, to be given to authors, as they are revising their manuscripts for final publication. This may include copyediting and line edits, as well as general developmental edits
Handling outgoing, rejected manuscripts: ensuring writers receive responses in a timely manner
Compiling and assisting with submission list research and pitch letters
Maintaining a database of, researching and assisting in submitting to various subsidiary rights (film, audio, merch)
Assisting in illustrator portfolio management, postcard/digital sends, and social media posting
Qualifications:
Highly motivated self-starter
Proficient in various computer applications including MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook
Top-notch organizational, verbal and written communication skills
Excellent memory and time management skills with ability to multitask
Adaptive and flexible personality with ability to adjust with a can-do attitude
Entrepreneurial mindset
Able to anticipate needs and deliver timely, relevant solutions and actions
Extremely detail-oriented
Long-term interest in a career in book publishing
If interested, please send a resume and cover letter, including the last four books read and preferred/favorite genres, to Natalie@bradfordlit.com.
*Due to COVID, position will commence remotely. Availability for later in-office work preferred.