Q&A With Alia Hanna Habib

I’m honored to be doing this Q&A with literary agent and author Alia Hanna Habib. Alia is the author of the nonfiction book, Take It From Me An Agents Guide to Building a Nonfiction Writing Career from Scratch. 

Q: Welcome to Book Notions Alia! I’m very excited about interviewing you! Would you please give a brief description of Take It From Me? What made you decide to write a nonfiction book for nonfiction authors on how to pitch their work?

A: TAKE IT FROM ME was written to fill a hole I saw in the market by providing soup-to-nuts advice for nonfiction writers of all stripes while also lifting some of the barriers to entry for emerging nonfiction writers. 

Among other topics, it opens with a chapter on the strategy for and value of pitching original pieces and developing early relationships with magazine editors as a crucial first career step, covers the question of graduate education, and includes a detailed chapter on book proposals with plenty of sample material. While it’s written in my voice (and I would say the book is pretty voice-y, for lack of a better word), I conducted over 70 interviews with other writers and publishing professionals, and their expertise shapes the book as much as mine does. I tried to demystify the publishing process as much as possible, providing detailed, step-by-step guidance while also showing writers there are many ways to achieve success, not to mention many definitions of it. 

I know a lot of emerging writers feel publishing is gatekept and overwhelmingly opaque. I wanted to help them feel more informed, less anxious, and like they have a friend in publishing.

Q: Alia you are a woman of many talents! You are an agent as well as an author! How were you able to juggle being an agent for authors as well as writing your own book? 

A: It has been really hard, particularly the time I spent writing the book. I don’t want to underplay that. What got me through was knowing that “book writing season” was a discrete time in my life, and during that period, I gave myself the gift of letting other things slide. I had ice cream for dinner more than once. I generally try to read in the evenings, but I unwound night after night by watching reruns of “Survivor.” (Luckily, there are 49 seasons, and for that, I am grateful.) Sometimes work-life balance means you have a period where you work really, really hard to achieve something you want, knowing that it isn’t forever. And then you take a good, long break.

Q: How long did it take you to write Take It From Me? What important lessons do you hope readers and authors pitching their work learn from the book?

A: It took me roughly two years from conception to deliver. That, I suppose, is the first lesson.  Good work can’t be rushed. I have so many tips about pitching, and one of them—and the importance of reading Q&As like these—is to do your research and get as much of a sense as possible of the individual person or outlet on the receiving end. There is so much information about agents, editors, and publications online so take the time to get that information to make your pitch as tailored and personalized as possible. 

Dating apps are actually a great analogue for pitching. Would you be more inclined to respond to a DM that said, “Hey girl” or to, “Your Irish wolfhound is so cute! I love big dogs. What’s their name?” (I say this as an Irish wolfhound owner so by reading this you know I am a dog lover and will respond to all dog-related books.) The recipient of your pitches will be all the more inclined to respond if you put time and care into figuring out who they are and what they are looking for. 

Q: I love asking agents and anyone who juggles different things whether its writing, journalism etc. After graduating high school, did you apply for an internship to become an agent, or did you go to college first? 

A: Oh, I had no idea what an agent was after I graduated high school! I went straight to college and while I interned at a literary magazine while in college, it took me a really long time to figure out precisely what kind of publishing job suited me best. I went through a lot of trial and error, which is another reason I wanted to write this book. I had to figure out so much about publishing on my own, and I’d like it to be a little easier for others. I didn’t become an agent until I was in my thirties, so please know it’s totally okay–and sometimes a good thing!—to take your time.

Q: For anyone wanting to become an agent, what are important skills and traits that someone must have if they want to become an agent? What is your favorite part about being an agent? 

A: It’s a very entrepreneurial job. You are finding clients and building their careers together, often from the early stages. You need to be comfortable with being very self-directed and with a fairly high level of risk. I would also say it’s a good job for someone who has strong opinions and isn’t afraid to express them. Are you the friend who always has a hot take? The kind of person who says, “You must read this book!” Or “XYZ is totally overrated!” If so, you might be a secret agent.

Q: I love asking this next question! Would you please list some authors who you represent as their agent? 

A: Of course! Hanif Abdurraqib, Clint Smith, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Nathan Thrall, Merve Emre, and Lauren Oyler, among many others. 

Q: Are you currently working on your next nonfiction book? If you were to write fiction in the future, what would your fiction book be about?

A: I have retired from book writing at the moment, and I wish I had the gift of fiction writing. I really love literary horror novels, and I have had this idea for a novel from the perspective of the mother of a vampire set in rural Maine that I have been kicking around forever. Will someone please write it for me?