If you’re thinking about working with an agent, there’s a good chance you’ve been writing for a while and have written a book or at least part of one. You may have even worked with an agent before, or another publishing professional, or researched the process at length. But just in case, here are some things to keep in mind:

1. It won’t be quick.

2. It will probably be frustrating.

3. It might not work out.

That said, if you do work with an agent, it will almost certainly be worth it. An agent is your advocate and champion, who will help you sell your book (and perhaps future books) to a publisher for the best possible terms. Agents take on projects they believe in, because they want to see them succeed as much as you do–perhaps even more so, since their reputations are on the line as well. So if you’ve found someone who loves your work and wants to sell it to publishers for you, that’s great! Here are some tips for working together happily ever after:

4. Be clear about what kind of agent you want and what sort of book you’re writing–and don’t be afraid to shop around until you find the right fit.

Today’s publishing industry is changing rapidly. The Internet has become a worldwide marketplace, making it easier than ever to target buyers and sell your books directly to them. As an author, you can now connect directly with readers over blogs, Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites. Readers have more information at their fingertips than ever before, which means they’re making better-informed buying decisions.

The advent of self-publishing and print-on-demand has also changed the way authors work with publishers. More authors are taking control of their careers by working directly with booksellers to publish, market and distribute their books globally.

Authors who want to take a more active role in their publishing careers are working with agents who complement their skills, understand how today’s marketplace works and offer a higher level of service than ever before. These agents help authors sell their books themselves on their own terms.

If you’re interested in finding an agent who can help you reach your goals as an author, here are 10 tips for how to evaluate them:

I’ve been an agent for more than twenty years. I’ve represented huge New York Times Bestselling authors and first-time novelists. I’ve seen the publishing business from all angles, including over a decade of editing at a major publishing house. Here are my top ten tips for working with an agent.

Find the right agent

The first thing you need to do is find an agent who’s a good fit for your book and your writing career. Just because Agent X represents one of your favorite authors doesn’t mean he or she is the right person to represent you. Most agents have areas of expertise and other areas they avoid like the plague. Make sure you research each prospective agent carefully before submitting your work.

Research is key

Read books about agents and writing and publishing, read interviews with agents (including mine!), check out the agency websites, ask questions on writers’ boards, talk to other writers, join RWA so you can get access to their excellent reference materials, including the Literary Market Place (LMP). There are many resource books available that provide lists of agencies and clients, but you must always be aware that these books go out of date quickly in this industry.

Have patience

It’s rare that an author gets signed within weeks of submitting a

If you have been thinking about finding a literary agent to work with on your book, there’s no better time than the present. A literary agent can help you sell your book, plays, and screenplays more quickly and for more money.

The first step in finding an agent is to learn how a literary agent works. Here are ten questions that new authors often ask when they’re working with a literary agent:

How much can an agent help me? A good literary agent will make sure your work is submitted quickly to appropriate publishers or producers. You will get more responses and you’ll get them sooner. Your work will be read by people who have the authority to buy it; you won’t be wasting your time submitting it to people who can’t buy it.

Should I hire an agency or an individual agent? The answer depends on the agency. Some agencies have many agents; some have only a few agents. If the agency has many agents, check to see if any of them are interested in your type of writing. If you find one who is, call and ask if she accepts new clients directly or only through referrals from other agents in the agency. Ask what percentage of her sales come from her own submissions as opposed to referrals from other agents in the agency.

I’ve written a lot of books, but had never considered using an agent until my publisher suggested I do so. I didn’t see why I needed one; after all, I was getting published, and I had the time to write book proposals and negotiate contracts myself.

However, once I decided to seriously pursue the idea of working with an agent, two things happened: First, my publisher loved the idea. Second, I found out just how much work is involved in having a book published. Who knew?

I asked around and got referrals for several agents. After interviews with each of them, I chose one who seemed to have the best fit for me. Here are some things I learned from this experience:

1) Agents don’t get paid unless you sell a book. That’s good news for you because it means they will work hard to help you make your project as attractive as possible before sending it out to publishers.

2) Agents have relationships with editors at different publishing houses and can quickly find the right editor for your book idea. This saves you time because you don’t have to submit proposals to every publisher in town; instead, your agent will target just those who specialize in your kind of book (or those who worked with you on a previous book

1. We don’t want your money.

2. Don’t be a pest.

3. Be polite, even in rejection.

4. Shorter is better, but not too short.

5. We do like attachments — but make it easy for us to open them.

6. Personalize your query letter; form letters are obvious and unprofessional.

7. Don’t tell us what you think we want to hear; be honest and show us who you are as a writer and a person (it’s important).

8. Read The Writer’s Market and know what an agent does before you submit material or query us (as an editor I’m amazed at the number of people who have no idea what agents do).

9. When we send a rejection letter, believe us — it really is a rejection!

10. If you don’t hear from us within ten days, assume we didn’t get your query or submission and resend it.

As a literary agent, I’ve often been asked to describe my job. I usually say that I represent book authors and journalists. But that doesn’t really answer the question.

I also tell people that it’s not as glamorous as it sounds. They don’t believe me.

I should mention that I didn’t plan to be a literary agent. Like many of my clients, I am a writer first and foremost. In fact, for several years after graduating from college, I made a living as a freelance writer and editor. But then, in the mid 90s, when books were just beginning to appear on the Internet, I had an idea: perhaps writers could use the new technology to expand their audience and reach new markets.

In 1994, I started an editorial service called Book-in-a-Box that helped writers get published without having to find an agent or publisher. It was a very early example of self-publishing, and it taught me more than I ever expected to know about how book publishing works (or doesn’t). It was also the starting point for a career that has since taken me into some of the most interesting territory in American publishing today — writing about work and business.