When searching for a literary agent, one should always ask to see the literary agents' "letter of recommendation" forms. It is in these letters that agents recommend potential candidates for a specific job description, such as writing, screenwriting, novels, non-fiction and television programming. A good writer should be able to demonstrate to a literary agent that he or she has the type of skills the particular client wants. The most common reasons that these recommendations are necessary include: lor service guarantee, the writers' expertise in his or her chosen field, or the client's familiarity with the writer. Some literary agents also use letters of recommendation as part of a literary review of potential candidates; however, these do not always carry the same weight as those written by agents.

Writers who wish to market themselves to agents should send along a good letter of recommendation. While it is difficult to sell a writer with whom you have nothing in common, a good letter of recommendation gives the agent an idea of the type of literature the writer has written, or the type of work he is interested in writing. Many writers find it helpful to compile a list of their best-known books and then send along a writing letter. This can provide a start for connecting the writer to the appropriate agents.

When searching for a literary agent, it is also helpful to utilize a professional letter of recommendation writing service. These services make it easy to let multiple agencies know that you have many references. They also provide information about your works and help connect you to the right agencies.