author-agent relationships

Today we continue our Publishing 101 series with a look at finding the perfect agent. “Finding the perfect literary agent” starts – like everything else in publishing – with understanding the author-agent relationship. The author-agent relationship includes much more than merely selling books and negotiating contracts. In fact, a functional author-agent pair looks a lot like a business partnership, with each person fulfilling important related tasks. In addition to identifying the proper publishers (and editors within the house) and making the publishing deal, the agent often functions as the author’s sounding board and advisor. Agents provide their author clients with