Getting a Literary Agent DC

1. Find a reputable list of agents. The Writer's Market now contains lists of agents, both in their print editions and on their website. There are also numerous books with agent lists that include reputable agents, such as Jeff Herman's Guide To Book Publishers, Editors & Literary Agents. This is a popular book series with yearly updates for changes in guidelines and contact information.
   
   
2. Check credentials. A reputable agent should have authors who have published through them, and should not withhold that kind of information. If an agent refuses to disclose clients or book deals he has done--run.
   
   
3. Make sure there are no fees. It used to be that there were many agents content to make money by simply charging reading fees, submission fees, and sometimes just plain fees to be the writer's agent. In the last couple of years, that practice has come under fire, and agents who charge reading or submission fees are no longer considered reputable. An agent should only make money if you do, and that should be limited to the 15 percent cut of the money you made for the book.
   
   
4. Check the agent's connections. The agent you choose should have connections with publishers that are in your genre. If you are marketing a sci-fi book, don't choose an agent that has only had romance novels published. There are many agents who specialize in certain genres, but the ones who don't may not have the connections that you need.
   
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Author: L. Shepherd