I had an agent once. She got me in some doors I would not have been able to open. But in the end, we split, I found my own way to traditional publishing. Eight books now. I've had other agents look at my projects...and have received positive feedback... one telling me the writing was "too good" to find a publisher. That should tell you something about the industry and the market place. Now, I'm not trying to brag, not at all. I still consider myself a growing, learning writer...always... in fact, I'm learning and growing AS I publish with good, solid traditional publishers. My only point is that sometimes agents are not the best strategy, depending on what you write, genre, and your level of patience. Yes, they will -- at least the good ones -- will get your work before editors that would never have known you existed before...but the market still dictates... and your beautiful story may not be marketable for that publisher in today's reading world...they may not want to take any risk. They can't afford to. But some of the smaller publishers CAN take a risk. Lots of paths...but the old -- "find an agent -- get a big deal" -- is unlikely for the majority of us.