Submissions: Agents & Editors

After you've found a few agents, check for their likes, dislikes and response times at Agent Query and Publishers Marketplace and read as many interviews and articles as you can. Google their clients and check out their work.

Query Tracker is also another great source of information about agents and publishers and offers a way to track your queries.

Agent Query Connect A huge online community where you ask questions and get answers.

Some cautionary posts (do your homework):

New Literary Agents: 5 Questions to Ask Before Querying a Newbie

Agents Wave the Red Flags

Bad Agent

8 Ways to Know if You Have a Good Agent

Writer's Beware: Agents

Knowing When to Walk Away from a Publishing Deal

Step 5: Query Your Preferred Agents

How do you write a query? Go to our Query Letters section for a long list of resources and articles

Christa Heschke has a great article on everything from querying to accepting an offer.

Going to a conference and pitching to agents? Check out Elevator Pitches that Go to the Top Floor: Part 2/5 Eight Things Every Pitch Should Convey

How to Write a One Page Synoposis

Step 6: Submit Your Best Work

Submission Tip Checklist: Double Check These 16 Things Before Sending Your Book Out

Picture Book Submissions- Art Notes/Text

Getting out of the Slush Pile

Sending Out Submissions

How to Format a Manuscript

What I Learned in an Agent’s Inbox

All About Submissions Guest Blogger Yvonne Mes: How to Submit Without Feeling Like Throwing Up

The Acquistion Process- Peachtree Publishers

Agent Monday: Twenty Turns Offs

The Acquisition Process

Is it OK to Submit to Agents During the Summer?

Step 7: Follow Up/ Patience

5 Things to Do When You Haven't Heard Back from an Editor or Agent: The Art of Following Up

Would You Please Quit Assuming Stuff Already?

Response Times, Guest Post by Juliet Mushens

How Publishers Make Decisions About What to Publish: The Book P&L

7a: Handling Rejection

What Silence in Publishing Really Means

Likes and Dislikes. . .a Note on Rejection and What to do Next

Submit Like a Man: How Women Writers Can be More Successful

Why Don't Agents Explain their Rejections

Step 8: Take the Call

The CALL- What do you do when you get it? Find the answers at Casey McCormick's site, Literary Rambles

Beyond the Basic Questions for the Agent's Call

What to Do Before & After “THE CALL” from an Offering Literary Agent

Questions to Ask Your Prospective Agent

Three Things to Think About Before Talking to An Agent

All About the Offer Etiquette (And How to get a Fast Pass!)

5 Things Writers Should Ask Potential Agents

10 Questions to Ask When Offered Representation

Janet Reid: The Engagement Period

Real Talk: Six Figure Book Deal$

Step 9: Understand Your Contract

Congratulations! You have a contract. Now it's time to understand your contract and be aware of the important issues. Head on over to Legal Resources for Creatives for some articles to help get you started. Consider hiring a good attorney to help you with your contract review & negotiation

CONGRATS! YOU HAVE AN AGENT, NOW WHAT?

Some articles answering questions you might have about the agenting process and life with an agent:

On Being On Submission

My First Year as an Agented Writer

An EPIC POST about the Submission Process, from an Agent's POV

Top Editor Emma Dryden on Working With Editors and Acting Professionally (video)

Editorial and the Agent

Everything You Wanted to Know About Book Sales (But Were Afraid to Ask)

Sometimes things don't work out. . .

How to Approach Literary Agents After Parting Ways With Your Previous Representation

"Should I Stay or Should I Go?" Jennifer Laughran