The term "literary agent" refers to a person who represents writers and their works to publishers, with the goal of promoting and selling the writer's work for the best possible terms. The right literary agent is one who has experience in representing authors in your specific genre or category, has established relationships with publishers that would be interested in your work, and shares your vision and goals for your writing career. Finding the right literary agent can greatly increase your chances of getting published and achieving success as an author.