To Agent or Not to Agent: Part 1

Do I really need an agent?

Agents are not always needed to land a book deal. However, the “big 6” publishing houses (HarperCollins, Random House, Simon & Schuster, Scholastic, Penguin Putnam and Disney / Hyperion) say they will only consider manuscripts from published authors or agents. These houses are also difficult to break into even with an agent. It is recommended that beginning writers begin working with smaller imprints. Use this opportunity to gain personal contacts and keep up with them. Editors are always moving from house to house. They are always trying to move up as well. Establishing these relationships early will only help you move up with them.
First time authors submitting manuscripts, would use their time more wisely submitting directly to a publisher by means of a query letter. Editors are more likely to sign a new author before an agent is to sign up someone to represent.

For children's book illustrators the situation is a little different. More artists work with agents, known as artist’s representatives, and unpublished illustrators do become clients for agents. For artists, having a rep helps them get more jobs then they ever would have been able to find on their own.