Agents

Jane,

To answer your first question, it depends on what publishers you are trying to submit to. From my own experience, most small presses allow an author to submit directly to it, unagented. However, from what has been explained to me, going this route also reduces your chances on a sizeable bonus.

Saying that, to get to most of the major publishers, you MUST have an agent. If you don't your work will go into a slush pile, and / or, be given an automatic rejection.

Question #2 - Not all agents are willing to take on new clients. Some agents are too swamped. Others look for new clients that have writing experience, mainly publication of some sort. Still others will allow brand new writers to submit to them, though chances of success are low.

Hope that helps

Jane007, hop over to the Bewares and Background Check board and use the Index at the top to look up general discussions of your question. There's a lot of information.