Just a word of caution about agent submissions - remember that there is no real regulation of literary agents. This is particularly relevant if you are in the US or submitting to agents there. There seems to be a trend there for authors to decide to set up as agents, with no real experience or industry connections. This isn't such an issue in the UK, but there are still a small number of 'rogue agents' and, while authors have become a lot more proactive about sharing information regarding these agents, writers in the early stages of their careers generally won't be in the loop. I would advise doing as much research as possible, before submitting.
Some things to consider:
Are they a member of the AAA? This isn't a guarantee of quality - a quick scan of their directory shows at least one agent that authors should avoid like the plague - but it is a good starting point. If someone isn't a member, it may mean nothing at all - Anthony Harwood, for example, does not appear to be a member, and is a legitimate and experienced agent - but it probably warrants further research.
Are they part of a legitimate agency? Again, this isn't an absolute guarantee, but it's a decent indicator. There are hoops to jump through to become an agent with an established agency. Sole agents need a bit more research. I should be clear that there are some great sole agents out there - Julie Crisp, for example, works alone and is a fantastic, experienced agent who reps a friend of mine - but there are also some absolute bandits, operating with no oversight. Be cautious of anyone who seems to be trying to disguise the fact that they work alone, by saying 'we' rather than 'I' on their website. Again, Julie Crisp is clear that the agency is just her, with all her website text written as 'I'.
Who are their clients? If you don't recognise any names on their client list, do some more digging. If they have a list of clients, but with no info about any actual published books, do a lot more digging. While all agents obviously have clients who are not yet published, they should have at least some with books to their name* If all their clients are described in impressive sounding terms, but with no actual book titles or links, you may be looking at one of the agents who collects clients but ultimately does nothing for them.
- You will obviously get the odd very junior agent who is only just building a list, but this should be obvious, and they are likely to be part of a larger agency, and working with more experienced agents.
What books have their clients had published? If there are references to books, have a look at the info for those books on Amazon. Pay particular attention to the publisher's name. If it's a publisher you've heard of, that's a good sign. If it's someone you've never heard of, particularly if it seems to be a very small set-up, again, do some more digging. It could easily turn out to be the case that the book in question has actually been self-published after the agent failed to sell it, or even that the agent themselves dabbles in some sort of assisted self-publishing, or has some sort of relationship with a vanity publisher.
Are their clients actually their clients? Have a look at their social media or websites to see if they actually mention being represented by the agent in question. It's not unheard of for agents to leave clients on the website after they've moved on.
What deals have they done recently? Agents don't get paid unless they sell books, and their main target market is the bigger publishers who pay advances, so they get a cut of that, rather than waiting for their percentage of the author's royalties to trickle in. There are some agents out there who seem to be hobbyists. They have clients, call themselves agents, sometimes waft about festivals or other events, but they don't actually make money selling books. They might have all sorts of fancy references on their websites to famous authors they've worked with, but the connection will be tenuous or very old, with no evidence of any ongoing professional relationship. When you're at the point of submitting seriously, it's a good idea to pay for a one month subscription to The Bookseller, which will let you search the agent's name to see what deals come up. If there are none whatsoever, do a lot more digging. Not every deal is listed in the Bookseller, obviously, but if an agent is only selling books to very small publishers who don't pay advances, that raises some questions in itself. You should be able to find most decent agents mentioned somewhere.
I don't want to sound alarmist, but there is nothing more soul-destroying for a writer than to get The Email offering representation, only to realise that the agent isn't actually active within the industry. It's even worse if this realisation only comes years down the line. Doing some early research can prevent you ever sending your work to someone who is just going to waste your time.
Proper literary agents sell books to proper publishers. They have a clear history of doing deals for named clients, and they are connected to actual published books. They have clients who are actively writing and publishing books. They have clients who are publicly linked to them, on social media or on their website, or in the acknowledgements of recent books. They might appear at festivals or sit on panels. If they're on social media, they're likely to interact with other agents, with editors and with authors. They have a traceable history within the industry. They are visibly, actively agenting. If you have any doubts about an agent, don't submit to them. Good luck!