Literary Agents

The business of promoting writers is a product of the 20th century. Modern mass publishing and distribution systems, as well as the advent of the radio, television, and motion picture industries, have created a market for the writer's art that did not exist before. The emergence of the Internet and other electronic technologies over the last two decades have also created many new venues for writers. In the past, movie studios used staff writers. Today, independent writers create novels, magazine articles, screenplays, and scripts. It was perhaps only appropriate that brokers should emerge to bring together people who need each other: creators and producers. These brokers are literary agents.