As an author who published her first book without an agent, I can tell you that you can reach a publisher without an agent. I can also tell you that there are very good reasons to find yourself a reputable agent. Perhaps you’ve heard some of them before—they are worth serious consideration:

• A Sweeter Deal: It’s not always true , but generally, an agent will get you a better package (more money!). For one thing, an agent knows what language to look for in the contract.

Barbara Ganim, author of six books, including, Drawing from the Heart: A Seven Step Program to Heal Emotional Pain and Loss (Quest Books, May, 2004), recounts her first book experience. “I didn’t have an agent, and my contract provided for 10% of net, rather than gross. BIG mistake! I made no money on that book at all.”

• The Right Match: An experienced agent knows the players. They know which publishers are likely to provide effective publicity efforts, which editors have the best track records and which publishers tend to let the majority of their new books languish while they focus on one or two for the season. Remember, right now you may be thinking, “Find me a publisher, any publisher.” However, once your book is published, you don’t want to be wishing you’d held out for Prince Charming instead of a frog.

TJ Wray, author of Surviving the Death of a Sibling and two additional works published in 2005 by Jossey-Bass says this about her agent, “He knew that for my second and third book, I wanted a smaller publisher who would get to know me personally—where I could develop a relationship with both the editor and publicist. With my first book, a few months after the manuscript was sold, my seasoned editor had been replaced by a young, relatively inexperienced editor. I wanted to put myself in a situation where that was unlikely. My agent knew that and he found me a real editorial partner who had been in the business for a long time and wasn’t going anywhere.”

• A Powerful Advocate: Realistically, most publishers may not be easily persuaded by the opinions of a first time author. An agent who has referred a couple of best sellers, on the other hand, holds more sway.

A friend once recounted the story of a book cover her publisher was ready to slap on the book: the lovely pink background and white gardenia seemed unlikely to seduce the one third of her audience who were men. While she doubts her editor would have listened to her, her agent was able to fight to get the cover changed.  Good thing, too. She estimates that thirty percent of the books she has sold have been to men!

Other things an agent can advocate for? Marketing dollars, publicity—things that will help your book sell. Convinced you need an agent? Check out my article Seven Hints to Publish Your Non-Fiction Book. You’re on your way.