Writing Excuses Transcripts

Writing Excuses Season Four Episode Four: Agents -- do you need one?

From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2010/01/31/writing-excuses-4-4-agents-do-you-need-one/

Key Points: Why get an agent? Expertise in negotiations, contracts, foreign rights, etc. that you don't have. Wider view and experience. Career builder and consultant? A key question: do they have skin in the game? (I.e., are they invested in you or not?) Beware: there is no quality control for agents. Bottom line: everybody doesn't need an agent, but you might.
( Secret agent? )
[Howard] Write yourself a story about a famous recluse author and his or her agent. The author dies. The agent is now scrambling to keep that career alive without telling anybody.
[Brandon] That's awesome.
[Dan] Very nice.
[Howard] That's skin in the game.
[Brandon] This has been Writing Excuses. You are out of excuses, now go write.