A literary agent acts as an intermediary between an author and potential publishers. An agent will submit manuscripts to publishers on behalf of their authors and negotiate contracts to ensure a fair deal for everyone involved. Literary agents commonly earn a percentage of an author's earnings on a book sold through the agency, but some have flat fees that cover all their services depending on the agent responsibilities. Some agents only work with established authors and may not accept submissions from new writers unless they already have a track record of sales. Finding a good agent to represent you is an important part of the publishing process, particularly if you are going the traditional route as they can increase your chances of a successful outcome.