Writer's Fallout Shelter

Ok, here's a question for all you clever people. Is it better to go for an agent or a publishing company first? I know that you get paid more with an agent, but when the only fancy thing you can put on a letter is "finished my manuscript", it's just doesn't sell. For a first novel, would getting a publisher first and then finding an agent work better? At least then you can say "I have a contract" or "I am a published author". Just a conundrum for me....

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Writing is putting words on the paper until the voices in your head shut up.
--Frank Fradella