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A: This is one of those chicken-and-egg questions. It can be difficult to sell a first book unless you're represented by an agent, and it's difficult to find an agent unless you have a publishing track record. If you're writing short stories and articles, you probably don't need representation. On the other hand, some publishers won't look at manuscripts that didn't come through an agent. So what's best for you? The answer, I'm afraid, is, "It depends." To start, evaluate your needs and expectations. For a good overview on what an author/agent relationship entails, I recommend How to Be Your Own Literary Agent, by Richard Curtis. (His conclusion, by the way, is that you really can't be your own agent, but this book will answer most of the basic beginner questions.) Next step. If you've got a completed manuscript and you're ready to approach agents, you'll need to do some homework. Some agents don't represent women's fiction or young adult novels, some specialize in fantasy and sf, others only handle mainstream, and so on. It's a good idea to focus on someone who represents clients in your particular genre. If you're a member of SFWA, you'll have access to lists concerning who represents whom. But even if you're a beginner, there are ways to get this information. Check out the acknowledgements and dedication pages on books that are somewhat similar to yours. Oftentimes writers mention their agents. The market news pages in LOCUS or Science Fiction Chronicle have helpful bits of information such as "Jane Doe sold a new vampire detective romance to Tor through agent Russ Galen." Please back up and note the emphasis on completed manuscript. Agents are salesmen; if you don't have something ready to sell, you don't need an agent. Exceptions exist, of course. If you've published a number of books, agents might be willing to work with you on the strength of your publishing history. Ditto if you're a celebrity, or an expert in some field of particular interest. But if none of the above apply, you're going to need to have a manuscript before you approach an agent, one that's completed, revised, polished, and ready to send TODAY. Otherwise, you're wasting your time and theirs.
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