Are you a writer? Write it. I can't tell you how many times someone's told me to "write what I know." I didn't get into writing fantasy for the fame and fortune. I write fantasy because my dreams are just the beginning of something bigger.


When you're looking for an agent, what should you know about them? And what should you know about how the agent feels about you? In other words, are they working for you? Or is the agent working for themselves to make money?
Don't get me wrong, I love the writers I have represented. They're wonderful people. But there are some things you have to understand and make sure that you don't sign with. One, never sign with an agent that says your book is a "unique and innovative" work of genius that is destined to become a best seller, an Oprah selection, and a Nobel Prize. The fact is, if the agent hasn't sold a book anywhere, they're probably not a good agent.

Second, agents shouldn't say anything bad about publishing companies. If you are approached about publishing with a certain publisher, and you ask the agent how the publisher is, they shouldn't tell you anything except, "They handle it just fine." You want to know about the people.