Meg Chittenden Waves
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Getting a Literary Agent

A really good query letter sometimes works. Go to the Association of Authors Representatives at http://www.aar-online.org/mc/page.do, and click on "frequently asked questions" for all kinds of information about agents and query letters. LMP (Literary Market Place--check your library for a copy) will give you information about which agents handle what kind of writers. Check them out and see who fits your particular specialty. Then write a query letter to those who seem to be right for you. You can send to several at the same time at this point. (I would advise you not to go with any agent who charges a fee. The association of authors representatives will tell you the same thing. An agent will get (usually) 15% of whatever you make.

In the query letter give a brief description of your manuscript, whether or not you've been published and where. Ask the agent if he/she would look at a sample of your work. Do not send a sample at this time. Don't ever send a full manuscript without an invitation to do so. Make the letter literate and professional. No jokes. No comments about starving to death. No comments about your mother, father, husband kids loving your work. (People do this kind of thing all the time.)

One of the best ways to meet agents is to attend writers conferences where agents give talks and arrange 15 minute appointments. You will learn from their talks and if you can impress them with your professional approach to your work during your fifteen minute spot you might get permission to send your work to the agent's office. Don't take a manuscript with you. Agents do not want to carry boxes of mss home with them.

Your local library should know of any conferences in your region. Or you can find a list of writers conferences at http://writing.shawguides.com/