Finding Agents to Query

Here are some useful websites for agent listings:

http://www.agentquery.com/
http://everyonewhosanyone.com/agus1.html
http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/browse.htmlhttp://www.mediabistro.com/content/archives/pitchinganagent.asp

Remember, if you’re on a budget, the 2006 Writers Market (or Jeff Herman) can work just as well as the 2007 version. There might be a few new agents each year, but:

a) you can generally find them online,
b) unless you get Writer’s Market right when it’s published, those new agents (with a special symbol alongside their entry, announcing that they’re new) are going to be deluged with query letters,
c) most of the (good, well-established, well-connected) agents are the same from year-to-year,
d) you’re supporting used bookstores (which are almost always independent),
e) and besides, if you’re sending out 100 queries, chances are you’re going to get some bites anyway, even if you miss a couple of newbies. (Save your money for stamps!)

I do recommend buying a book, and not just relying on online entries. A book is a good, quick way to get your list started.
Most websites have very simple listings of agents – just name and address. Books often have more information about the individual agencies, and they save you some time trying to track down additional information about submissions guidelines and preferred genres. (Writers Market and Jeff Herman both include how to query specific agents and what sorts of books those agents represent.)