Top 3 Qualities in an Agent

Why is everything in life so uncertain? Just when you think you've got a good thing going...BAM! It's gone.

"For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." James 4:14

I suppose you're wondering what in the world this has to do with writing. Today I am lamenting the sad news that my agent extraordinaire, Barbara Scott, has resigned from WordServe Literary. Don't panic. It's not that I'm agentless, since they'll simply move me to a different agent within the agency. But doggone it...I'll sure miss her. 

Which made me stop and wonder why. I've had 2 agents before and I didn't particularly miss them. What was it about Barbara Scott that made her such a great agent?

The Top 3 Marks of Good Literary Agent
(from a writer's perspective)

Encouraging
If your agent isn't at the top of your cheerleading squad, you should rethink who you've signed with. An agent should believe not only in whatever project you're working on, but most importantly, should believe in you as a person.

Communicative
A good agent should keep you in the loop. You should know where your manuscript has been sent, who's looking at it, and their response/feedback, even if it's a simple "No."

Available
You're writing the last of your magnum opus. It's 10:00 p.m. and you're struggling so pathetically that even your cat is looking at you sideways. This is where a great agent won't mind a call. Note: I didn't say it was 2:00 a.m. and you've awakened them every night for the past week and a half. The point is that a great agent welcomes your plea for hand-holding when you are in dire straits. 

I'm hoping my new agent will be Agent Extraordinaire Take 2. Nah. I hate it when people name their pets the same name and slap a number after the end. I'll come up with a new title after I get to know her a bit, and then I'll introduce her to you, my faithful readers.