Do your research! Are these literary agents even alive?

I'm helping a published writer with researching literary agents. I found a contender and was about to add her to the spreadsheet.

But I did some more digging.

She's dead.

The biggest challenge to finding the best agent for you and your manuscript or book proposal is that there is no one place, no database, repository, or website that is reliably updated with necessary information.

I just found another listing on Manuscript Wishlist for an agent who quit being an agent about six years ago.

Also: Not all agents update their information on even the best directories or websites.

Always, always, always cross-check your information.

Yes, it WILL take time. As one of my mentors likes to say:

Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.

Anyone can whip up a list or a spreadsheet of agents for you to contact, but that list is useless if you don't do your homework.

Make sure the person you're querying has a pulse, and make sure that person's heart still beats for you and the work you want to put out into the world.

And if your heart can't take the drudgery of researching literary agents, preferably those who are still with us, then reach out and let me know you need help.