How can I find an agent to submit my manuscript to a publishing company?

Question

I have a beautiful (novel) Love story manuscript and they said I need a agent to submit it to be publishing Company. Please me. . . Kimberly D. don't answer this please

Answer 1

I found this excerpt from "Finding an Agent" by Judith Bowen on absolutewrite.com.

Check out books in the library that list literary agents. See if they are members of reputable professional organizations. Go to writers' conferences. Talk to other published authors. Gradually put together your own short list and send out query letters describing your manuscript--the fact that yours is completed is a plus-- starting with the first agent on your list and working your way down. Chances are, none of them will take you on.

Don't give up. Get out there and sell your manuscript to a publisher. Contrary to what you might have imagined - that it's the agent's job to sell your book - the truth is, your book is going to have to sell itself, whether you send it out or an agent does. Then, when you're offered that contract, contact your short list of agents again, starting at the top, and mention you've got a contract to negotiate and you'll be pretty pleased to find that the response will be quite different. Maybe your first choice or your second still won't be interested, but your third or fourth will. If you've done your research, he or she will still be a fine agent with a good reputation.
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Here are "Seven Essential Points on Literary Agents":
http://www.book-editing.com/nagle1.htm

Another good idea for looking for an agent is to read books similar to the ones you want to publish. See if there's any way you can find out who their agent was. It's best to know who else the agent has represented, especially when querying. It lets them know you've done your research.

Once you've done that research, check out if the agent is listed here:
Here is a link to a list of literary agents, but it's alphabetical, not by genre - but this is from a reputable group that looks out for a writer's best interest:
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/peala.htm

Answer 2

Here are two websites that might help you out. The first is just to tell you how to write a good cover letter so that agents will want to read your work and the second is to a site called WritersNet which has a directory of literary agents.

Remember to research the agent that you are trying for, to make sure they accept your genre. Their webpage’s should also have submission guidelines, which you should follow completely.

Also sometimes literary agents don't like reading work that hasn't been edited. If you send it to a good editor, there is a chance they will pass it onto a literary agent for you. I'll add a link to a good online editor as well.

Good luck and I hope you get published!

Answer 3

Go to your public library and ask to see the Literary Market Place. It includes a list of literary agents. Good luck.