Category: Articles, Business & Commerce, Entertainment, Journalism, Publishing, Resources for Attorneys, Resources for Experts, Working With Experts What Can a Literary Agent Do for You? Originally written for the National Non-Fiction Authors Association TASA ID: 4153 Published with permission. Backstory: As publishing companies feel increasing financial pressures and pressure from other media competing for leisure time, dollars, more and more editors are being let go. There is no corresponding diminishment of manuscripts flowing into those companies. Literary Agents serve as a filter for publishers. Today agents are considered the gatekeepers of the publishing process. Many publishers will not look at a manuscript or proposal unless it arrives with an agent. Read more