Last month in a Q and A session at a book signing, someone asked about agents and  I promised to write a post about the subject. It’ll be short. 

Agents are not interested in your personal essays, short stories or poems.

If you don’t have a book, you don’t need an agent. And even if you have a book, you may not need an agent – lots of small publishers will deal directly with writers. It’s a chicken and the egg situation; it can be as hard to find an agent as it is to find a publisher.  Of course the best time of all to get an agent, is when you have a publisher interested in your book.

Reputable agents don’t ask for money until they sell your book, and then they’re worth every single penny of their commission.

There are books listing agents or you can Google "literary agency" . Also check out the acknowledgement sections of books you love. Authors usually thank their agents. Then look up that agent on the Internet – most have websites now – and study their submission policy. They’re all very specific about what they’re looking for and how to submit it.

Good luck and if any of you have a story about finding an agent for you work, please tell us under Comments below.