First, if you’re writing a novel, you have to finish it before you look for an agent. The only time this is not true is if you’re already a published author or someone famous. Then you might attract the attention of an agent with a mere idea or an outline.

So many new authors get fixated on finding an agent that they spend a way too much time and energy NOT working on their writing. One of the greatest gifts I ever received was when I wrote my first novel. I knew nothing about the business of writing…and I was able to write in a blissful vacuum of ignorance.

Okay, so you have a finished novel. And it’s great. Now what?

You’ll have to make contact with an agent.

Let me pause to remind you to always be professional and polite in demeanor and presentation. Go over all correspondence for typos and grammatical errors. Never appear desperate. Never display psycho or stalker tendencies (even in jest).

Next realize that while editors have come to rely on agents to sort through less desirable submissions for them; agents now have huge “slush piles” of their own to wade through. So waiting weeks or months to hear from any agent is normal.

There are three basic ways to make contact

Meet them. Many conventions and workshops often have agents on panels or in “meet and greet” sessions. I’m lukewarm on this method. Unless you’re good with people you might make the wrong impression. A great pitch of your novel (you have practiced your one-sentence novel pitch, right?) can, however, overcome minor social fumbles. I know several authors who have met their agents this way.

Write them. Get a copy of this years Guide to Literary Agents and make a list of the agents who represent the type of novel you’ve written. Follow their submission guidelines EXACTLY. This is how I found my first agent. It is not ideal way as your submissions are mixed in the with the rest of the “slush,” and you are treated accordingly. It can be a heartbreaking process as you get one form rejection after another. (I actually got one of my SASEs back, empty, save for a red rubber stamped “NO” on the back! Ouch. )

Get a recommendation. Two ways to do this. First, develop a network of contacts—for example, get a job in the entertainment industry (video games, movies, publishing, comics) and soon you’ll get to know people who know people and can introduce you to an agent. Or alternatively, find a mentor who can eventually pass you along to their agent with a glowing recommendation. These are BEST ways in my opinion.

How do you find a mentor? There are many classes and workshops where you can get help with your writing, and meet authors and other publishing professionals. They usually cost a fair chunk of change and time, so do your homework on a particular workshop’s reputation and what kind of fit it will be for your writing. Some of the more famous ones for science fiction and fantasy are: Clarion West, Clarion East, Odyssey.

One last thing: none of this works unless you have something to attract the agent’s attention i.e. a great novel. I urge you to spend 95% of your energies on that.

Good luck!