When I meet new people, inevitably I get the question, “What do you do for a living?” When I tell them “Literary Agent,” I’m often met with blank stares, as I realize that many people don’t know what that means. Perhaps you don’t either? Here are seven top qualities shared by our kind.

ONE | Literary Agents are Gatekeepers.

At the simplest level, many traditional publishers will only work with authors who have professional representation. Working with a literary agent help authors get their proverbial foot in the door, especially at the more prestigious publishing houses.

TWO | Literary Agents are Researchers.

There are hundreds of publishers in the US and abroad and many different acquiring editors at each house. Presses open and close, editors move on or retire, new ones join, and each has his, her, or their specialty. Much of an agent’s time is spent actively keeping tabs on all the moves and preferences of each editor

THREE | Literary Agents are Matchmakers.

Literary agents spend a lot of time getting to know acquisitions editors personally. Editors frequently send along detailed manuscript wish lists to agents that are updated each year. This knowledge helps the agent match their client’s writing style or story with the editors they think will like it best.

FOUR | Literary Agents are Teammates.

Having an agent means that an author has someone on their team to take care of the business side of selling their work so that they can focus on the fun stuff—writing and creating.

FIVE | Literary Agents are Interpreters.

A literary agent is knowledgeable about the language of publishing contracts, helping authors understand the legalese and looking out for red flags in the contract that aren’t favorable to the author.

SIX | Literary Agents are Negotiators.

A literary agent knows how to do the back-and-forth dance of negotiating, helping the author get the best possible deal for their book. Interestingly, it is not always about the most money!

SEVEN | Literary Agents are Cheerleaders.

Selling a book can be a long, confusing, and lonely process. A literary agent helps bolster an author when they are down and lend perspective on industry trends to ease confusion.

In contemplating this post, I asked some of my clients why they sought a literary agent. Here’s one of the comments I received that sums up everything so well:

“I appreciate having a spirited cheerleader, a brilliant navigator of the publishing world’s murky waters, a clear communicator who keeps me in the loop, and a champion who believes in the promise of my work. Sometimes more than I do.”