Any ideas on how to find an agent?

United States
December 4, 2006 11:01am CST
Okay, I have to get more serious about my writing this coming year. Wasting too much time trying to make money online and should be spending this time writing. I need to start by finding an agent? Any ideas where to start looking?
3 responses
@clownfish (3272)
• United States
4 Dec 06
Hi! You don't necessarily have to find an agent. That will cost you more money before you even begin to make it. I suggest submitting your work to several publishers and see if you get picked up first. If not, then it's time to either consider getting an agent or consider if your work is good enough to be published. You could also join writing groups and find people who will critique your work and help you refine it before you submit it. Publishers are more likely to accept work they don't have to edit as much. I hope that helps! BTW, I worked as an editor and a proofreader for an online publisher for over a year, so that's the source of my info. Best to you! :-)
• United States
5 Dec 06
I have had short stores published and poetry. But what I am wanting published is my novel. It seems like most publishing houses, will not look at you until you have been published. You know the famous catch 22. That is why I thought an agent would be the way to go.
• United States
23 Feb 07
it's true. depending on what your novel is, you don't necessarily need to have an agent. if it's more genre based you can submit it to publishers and see if they're interested. since you say that you have published some work it sounds like you're halfway there. are you friendly with any writers that have successfully published work similiar to your novel? if you did or do, have one of them look at a chapter to two and see if they could connect you with an agent they know or one of their old ones. they would be a great source to get you an agent. just be careful. if you have to pay anything upfront, it's most likely a scam. good luck with the search.
@yommie (16)
• Nigeria
3 Jan 07
You don't necessarily need to have an agent to do that. But you may try. Check www.ralan.com to check out publishers that don't require an agent for you to submit.