A literary agent is someone who shops your manuscript to acquisition editors at publishing houses. They are notoriously difficult to approach and to get them to champion your book, so why should you bother to have one? How does it benefit you? If you wish to go the traditional publishing route, they are necessary. Agents have connections with the Big 5 publishers and their multiple imprints and smaller publishers. Most of the Big 5 publishers will only accept agented submissions. The agency is expected to vet your work before they try to sell it. Agents have a finger on the pulse of publishing markets. They know what is hot, what is not, and what is probably coming down the pipeline. Agents negotiate on your behalf to make sure you are getting the best deal. They also negotiate foreign edition, audiobook, movie, and merchandising rights. Some of the larger agencies have film and television departments for shopping your rights. They know the legal ins and outs of intellectual property