So, you want to be published? Tip #2: Find an agent
When I first asked my mentor, Dr. Earl Stevick, what he wished someone had told him before he published his first book, he didn’t hesitate: “Find an agent.” That advice changed the trajectory of my publishing life. But the point of this column isn’t the agent Earl sent me to—that story belongs to him. The point is that every author, at some stage, needs someone who knows the terrain better than they do. And in the world of publishing, that person is often an agent. Agents are not gatekeepers. They are translators, advocates, strategists, and partners. They help you navigate a system that is complex, relationship‑driven, and often opaque from the outside. If you want to publish traditionally, finding the right agent is one of the most consequential decisions you will make. Where to Look for an Agent You don’t find an agent by wandering the internet or sending cold emails into the void. You find them by going where agents actually look for authors. 1. Literary Marketplaces ...