Check the acknowledgments sections in novels that fall into your genre, sub-genre, or other suitable categories to see if the authors mention their agents by name.

Note agents and the books and authors they represent when they are mentioned in trade publications such as Publisher's Weekly or newsletters such as this one.

Study the agent section of 2005 Guide to Literary Agents, Writer's Market, Literary Marketplace (LMP) and other resources, including Writer’s Digest magazine.

On the Internet, use the keywords literary agents to access resources for learning more about or reaching agents, including the websites of The Society of Authors' Representatives, the Independent Literary Agents Association, and so on.

When appropriate, "study" agents in writing classes, conferences, book fairs, and the like to gauge their personality, how open they are to new authors, what they might be looking for, how professional they appear, and so on.

If they are willing to hear a pitch on the spot, be prepared with a succinct but compelling summary of your completed manuscript. Offering a thumbnail sketch of your main character or characters and summing up the narrative thrust of your story in a few lines can be a big plus. Don’t waste an agent’s time pitching a book you "plan" to write, unless you’re an established author with a strong enough track record to land a contract with a "partial" (outline and sample chapters). Get their business card for later contact, but don’t expect them to remember you or your storyline.

Network through national or local writer’s organizations such as Sisters in Crime and the Mystery Writers of America. There’s no better introduction to an agent than a referral from an established author. Get involved in these nonprofit organizations, making friends and learning more about the business along the way.

Scan published interviews with writers to see if their agents are quoted or named. If they sound right for you, add their names to your growing list.

When your list feels solid, prioritize it from the top. Give this step serious thought. A big name agent who represents a number of bestselling authors, for example, may not be right for you, if he or she will be unable to give you the time you need to get established; a smaller but active agency where you may get more personalized attention may better suit your needs. This is something you’ll need to decide for yourself, possibly after consulting with more experienced authors.

If your prioritized list feels solid and well-considered, and your manuscript is polished and ready for submission, begin contacting targeted agents, using your list to keep track of which agents you contact, when, and how they respond.

Try to limit your pitch to one page.

Capture the agent’s attention quickly, from the first line.

If appropriate, identify your novel by genre or sub-genre, and describe your main characters, setting, plot and theme.

Study the promotional jackets of best-selling novels in your genre to get an idea of the style and flavor needed to write a succinct but appealing description of your story.

Give the agent a bit of background about you, the writer, including your credits, if you have any. If you have some special expertise or experience that relates to the book (police officer, lawyer, paleontologist, mother) mention this briefly. But do not go into mundane details of your life if they are not pertinent.

Include important details – i.e., tell them if your fictional protagonist is intended as a series character – but refrain from overselling yourself or your novel. Be sincere, even enthusiastic, but avoid hyperbole and hot air.

Never tell the agent his or her job ("You should represent me because...," "You should send this novel to such-and-such..."). Assume they know what they’re doing.

If you have a unique or special promotional angle or skill that will help market your novel (such as promoting a mystery series with a physician sleuth through medical organizations you belong to), you may want to mention that in a line or two, but don’t try to impress the agent with a lot of wishful thinking and boastful nonsense.

Do not apologize for yourself or your work in any way, or send up red flags signaling your lack of experience ("I realize I have no professional writing experience, but..."). Present yourself confidently and professionally.

Above all, be sure your query is well crafted and carefully proofread – it is your calling card, the only thing the agent will have by which to judge you as a writer, a person, and a potential client.

Use an attractive but professional-looking letterhead. It’s advisable not to use a letterhead for another line of work (such as a doctor or academic) unless it directly relates to the book’s contents (such as a sleuth who is a doctor or an academic).

Some agents now accept and even prefer e-mail queries; some do not. How do you find this out? Do your research, including a phone call to their office, if necessary.

With your query, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE), with your phone number and e-mail address.

In general, multiple queries to agents are acceptable, if you mention this in your query, although some agents don’t accept them. Again, do your research.