How to start looking for an agent?

[NTG]

I have a WIP. I know who the readers would be for this book. I have a specific publisher in mind that is my first choice to submit to when it's done, but the publisher only accepts submissions from agents. What's the most efficient way to find a list of good agents who have a connection with this publisher? Write to the publisher and ask? What?

Nathanael

[Imelda]

You need to find an agent that deals with your type of work. Agents don't have 'links' with publishers--they don't feed authors to them, they get and author and then find the best publisher for them. It might be nice for you to be published by your first choice publisher, but an agent knows better than you, so get an agent, and worry about the publisher after that.

[NTG]

So, OK, what's the best way to identify several agents who are familiar with the genre territory I'm exploring, the sort that that particular publisher would publish? (This is a subset of the more general question "How do I find an agent without wading blind through ten thousand Google hits?")

[Provrb1810meggy]

AgentQuery ( http://www.agentquery.com) has a very helpful list. You can browse by genre. Then, when you have a specific agent in mind, hit google!

[blackbird]

Read the acknowledgment pages of several books you like, or (better yet) books that are similar to your own. The author will usually give an acknowledgement to his or her agent and will list the agent by name. If not, there are still ways to find out who an author's agent is (if nothing else, type the author's name into Google and then agent and see what you come up with).

Get a good list of at least five top agents who deal with the same type of books you write, or who have repped authors you like. Then try to get the most up-to-date contact info on those agents that is available (P&E is often a good place to start, but there are several online resources available). I would say start there, query those agents first, then work your way down, starting with:

1.Well-known agents who have repped works you like or are similar to yours

2. Well-known agents who have repped other works (not necessarily your top five, but that you still admire).

3. Well-known agents who are noted for repping the kind of books you write (regardless of who their individual clients might be).

4. Well-known agents who've posted a blog you've read and whom you feel, either because of past sales, reputation, or personality, might be a good match for you.

5. Newer, lesser-known agents who are actively seeking clients, and are linked with a reputable agency.

This is usually a good way to start and helps keep the process from becoming overwhelming.

[jkorzenko]

NTG --

I'd just like to add a spattering of realism here...it's not an easy road to finding an agent just as it's not an easy road to publication. Take your time. Do your research. DON'T be a nitwit. Check out Miss Snark's blog so you can get an inside glimpse into the agent world. This isn't going to happen overnight.

J.