There’s no way around it. Even if you queried a few years ago, chances are things have reshuffled: agents moved or quit, agencies shut down, changed names, or merged, and Twitter… well, yeah. No matter what, it takes time to figure out how a query should look and even more time to map out agents and agencies.

Let me say it again: it’s not you. It’s the fact that there’s no official certification system for agents. It’s the fact that it takes time and experience to develop a sense of who’s legit and who’s the right fit for you. And that’s before we even get to writing the query itself. (But don’t worry. We will.)

Funny story: I almost didn’t query my agent. I wrote her name down early, but when I first checked the CAA website, to my newbie eyes it looked very suspicious. (Yes, you can laugh now.) It wasn’t until I was a few months and several batches into querying that I’d learned enough to understand what I should be looking for and what it all meant.

I wish I could tell you exactly how I figured it out or give you a definitive checklist, but the truth is, querying is a bit like starting a new job: it takes time to figure out the layout, the workflows, and who keeps setting the AC to subzero, and there’s no way around it. And that’s okay.

But since we are in the tip-handing business:

• Google your favorite authors. Start with authors you love. Then authors you like. Then authors in your genre who’ve made a splash recently. Most authors list their agents on their websites. Repeat this process enough times, and you’ll start to get a sense of the agencies and agents who are active in your genre.

  This is actually how I first heard of my agent—by researching authors I admired and checking who represented them. In my case, it was Kate Elizabeth Russell, author of My Dark Vanessa. (If you haven’t read it, it’s absolutely gorgeous and you should. You’re welcome.)

• Publishers Marketplace. The downside: it costs money. And while $25 per month is not (usually) the end of the world, it adds up fast. And most writers (myself included) aren’t exactly known for having tons of money to burn.

  But. But this is truly the best tool I know for vetting agents. You can see how many deals they’ve made, when, in which genres, and with which publishers. It gives you a clear snapshot of who represents who and includes handy stats.

  My advice? Do your preliminary research first and build a solid agent list. Then subscribe to Publishers Marketplace for one month and use that time to look up every agent on your list. While you’re at it, sign up for the daily deals roundup—it’s not only a great way to learn which agents are making deals right now, but also a great way to learn how to craft a one sentence hook.

• Remember the time lag. Trade announcements like Publishers Marketplace are a bit like looking at the stars: they show you what publishing looked like months—or even years—ago. There’s often a long delay between signing a deal and announcing it. For me, it was a few months, but I know people who waited over a year. Just a thing to keep in mind.