Trust and Agents.
It's so important that you trust your agent. Is there anything more personal than your own writing? It's like it's part of you, and an agent might be the first person aside from yourself who reads it.
Agents see your book as a great read, sure, but also as a commodity. It's a hard transition for a lot of writers to make, and we understand that completeliy. Criticism can hurt. It can also help, by making your book better.
How can you tell an agent isn't trustworthy? The biggest tip is that she asks for money upfront. It's not honest and it's not the industry standard. Agents should make a commission after they have provided you with a service: placing your book with a publisher.
