Agents and contracts

First of all Agents have changed in the last few years. A lot of them won't, while others can't anymore, help the writer.  They help the publisher if anyone.

And I don't know how many people who read this blog will be signing a book contract soon but in case there are some:

http://www.thepassivevoice.com/05/2011/dont-sign-dumb-contracts

Don't Sign Dumb Contracts Just because it's your first book sold. Or for that matter even if its the twentieth book sold.