Why Authors Need Agents

Yesterday I highlighted a blog talking about why an author needs and editor, and today I happened across this delightful post/paeon to an agent by a fairly new talent Seanan McGuire, author of the upcoming urban fantasy Rosemary and Rue.
Almost two years ago, a friend of mine sent me a letter introducing me to another friend of hers, one who happened to be a literary agent. The Agent and I started chatting via email, taking it slowly, navigating the wilds of acquaintance and understanding long before we reached the point where representation would become an option. It was a courtship, rather than a barroom hookup, and I am incredibly grateful for that, because anybody who's met me knows that my full attention can be an exhausting thing. She gets my full attention a lot.

A year ago today, we stopped courting.

The past year has been an amazing ride of wonderful, dizzying, confusing things, and The Agent has been there every step along the way to explain, encourage, and assist. I call her my personal superhero for a reason -- that's exactly what she is. Books on writing will tell you that the best thing a working writer can have is a good agent, and they're right, but what they won't tell you is that it's even better to have a good agent who understand you, understands the way you work, and is willing to see what you can do together.
And if you haven't read it yet, be sure and check out Lisa and Laura's agent-finding story too, which happened just days ago.

Comments

Sara Raasch said…
*sigh*

Can't wait to have a success story like that...
Aww... what a great story. Awesome links too.
lisa and laura said…
Thanks for the shout out Tara! I hope that we'll be lucky enough to have a story like Sean's to share someday...
Danyelle L. said…
Thanks for sharing. :) I agree, agents (once found) can be worth their weight in gold.
Janet said…
Great post and links, Tara. And for everyone who tells me I don't need an agent ('just start sending it out to editors'), I'm going to send them directly here :)

Janet
I hope to find a great agent one day. I have barely begun the path. Thanks for this story!
I'm still looking for an agent...someday...