Literary agents are publishers’ gatekeepers

Literary agents are publishers’ gatekeepers. They screen and represent the vast majority of the books publishers release. Publishing houses tend to give proposals submitted by agents more attention because their editors have a high level of confidence in their submissions. Don’t approach agents or publishers.
WHEN WRITERS TRY TO SELL THEIR BOOKS, they often feel like they’re swimming against the tide in a tsunami. For most writers, the process of trying to sell a book differs from anything that they have ever attempted. For many, it’s as if they’re entering a strange new world, and they can quickly get lost or beaten down.When they are not fully prepared, they may suddenly discover that they have to do much more than they expected and do it in a manner that may not be their strength.