Getting an Agent Having an agent is wonderful. A good agent offers moral support, handles all your professional correspondence, gives you feedback on your work, and drums up new business. For this an agent will charge ten per cent of the money you make ­ a very reasonable deal. But finding an agent who is able to satisfy your requirements is very difficult. Any good agent will have a client list packed with screenwriters, and will be reluctant to take on a new writer ­ especially if existing clients are selling well. It makes sense that the best time to get an agent is when you have someone interested in your screenplay. By using your power file and writing the eight-line letter, you can get serious interest in your screen- play. Then contact an agent and see if they will represent you and close the deal. For this you will pay them ten per cent. It is a popular misconception that agents will continue to market your work. Marketing yourself and your screenplay is your responsibility. It is a certainty that an agent will sell your script if they see a buyer for it. But with dozens of other writers on their books, they cannot be expected to think solely of you. So keep selling yourself and your scripts. But conduct all the business to and refer all the leads to your agent. This will make you look professional to both the script buyers and the agents. But what if you haven't got a deal? How else can you get an agent?