Writer's Fallout Shelter

 (This message was edited by jessiebelle on 07-20-05 @ 11:27 am EDT)

If you can sell your manuscript directly to the publisher, why on earth would you need or want an agent?

An agent works for you and gets a percentage of any monies earned by you from a publisher if he sells your manuscript to said publisher. An agent may also be helpful if your lack of business experience (e.g., dealing with publishing contracts) is an issue. Still, you'll have to sign a contract with the agent, and an agent is essentially a middleman. The only reason you'd make more money with an agent is if the agent is any good and negotiates a higher advance for you with the publisher. Make sure your agent is reputable and charges no more than 10-15% of royalties. ("Reasonable expenses" may also be covered, but this is things like phone calls and postage - not a "reading fee" or a "retainer." It might be good to negotiate something like a "not to exceed [$amount/percentage of royalties]" clause in your contract with the agent, but I don't know if such a thing is customary.)

[Amended to add: Some publishers prefer to work with agents, rather than to accept unsolicited manuscripts. If your chosen publisher(s) say "no unagented manuscripts," you'll probably need an agent to get your foot in the door. If they say "no unsolicited manuscripts," that simply means they want a query letter before you go sending them a whole box of paper.]