Mini-Report: DO YOU NEED AN AGENT?

It's not a question easily answered, but one which must be addressed as your writing career progresses.

Before we begin, one important point: if your work is not salable, no agent-even the world's best agent-can sell it. The time to start thinking about agents is when you feel you've invested enough time and effort in your work to truly call it professional.

First let's look at what the three main activities of an agent:

• Guiding the client through the publishing maze.
• Putting manuscripts on the desks of key editors.
• Negotiating the best possible deal for his or her client.

Agents are not paid directly by the client, rather, they earn a commission (usually 15%) from any money received from a sale. The client is responsible, however, for any expenses-postage, photocopying, long distance phone calls-generated on his or her behalf. Agents bill their clients periodically or subtract the expenses from an author's advance and royalty payments. A good agent is combination sales person and business manager, with a knowledge of the children's publishing market and of particular editors' preferences. Unless you're using a critique service, an agent is the first reader of your manuscript.

Only after an agent agrees to represent you will he or she help correct flaws and improve your work. The next step: your manuscript is sent to appropriate editors until it sells, or you decide to terminate the submission process. If a sale is made, the agent negotiates the contract (including amount of advance and royalties), offering certain rights to the publisher and sometimes reserving other rights for future sales (such as book club or paperback rights).

Your agent will also represent you in any dealings with the publisher when problems arise. Besides being able to decipher royalty statements, for example, an agent can challenge inaccurate payments without damaging your relationship with your publisher. Agents handle all the little things that occur during the publishing process that you don't understand or don't have patience for.

Once the book is published, an agent tracks royalty payments, makes additional sales on any rights the author has retained, and sometimes assists the publisher in marketing the book. Agents are also useful in opening up new avenues for the writer's second book. Many agents actually generate projects for their clients, by perceiving that an editor is looking for a particular type of book, and matching that editor up with his or her client.

MYTH: An agent can make you a better writer or illustrator.

REALITY: If your story has been turned down by 25 publishing houses, representation will not make the story more salable, or appear to be better than it is. Only your own hard work will improve your skills-and your chances of success.

MYTH: You will make more money-and faster-using an agent.

REALITY: Strike one against that myth is the fact that an agent will take 15% off the top of anything you earn. Strike two is that editors really don't have a prejudice against unrepresented authors. They're just looking for the best stories they can find. (Some larger publishing houses have instituted a policy of reviewing only those submissions sent by agents, so check in advance if you're representing yourself.) Strike three is the simple truth that it takes a long time and a lot of hard work for anyone-represented or not-to make substantial money as a children's book author.

MYTH: Hiring an agent means a guaranteed sale.

REALITY: A surprisingly common misconception is that once an agent decides to represent a client, the work is as good as sold. Would that this were true! Agents take on clients they think they can sell, but publishing is subjective to the tastes of editors and shifts in the market, so nothing is ever guaranteed.

Myths aside, here's what a good agent can provide:

• Knowledge of the marketplace.
• Knowledge of the publishing contract.
• The time and energy to send your manuscript to editors.
• The ability to have your work read faster than if you submitted it yourself.
• Career advice that-if it's good-can help you for years to come.

So now, back to the question: Should you hire an agent? We are, of course, going to weasel our way out of answering that directly, and with good reason-the choice must really be your own.

We will, however, sum up by saying this: If you are a talented writer it is possible to get your first book published without an agent. It takes perseverance, an understanding of the market (visit book stores and see what publishers are up to), and confidence that you can handle the business end of your career.

An agent can simplify the submission process, find opportunities you may not be aware of, save you time and effort, give good advice and, hopefully, provide some encouragement. If this is worth a 15% commission to you, follow the steps above and find the right agent. If not, be comforted by the fact that many non-represented authors find success on their own.