Ask a (former) literary agent your question about how to get a publishing agent here. You’ll also find answers to questions other authors have posted. This article is part of our free 15-Part Guide About How to Get a Book Agent. It was created by, and is curated by, a former literary agent who’s now helped hundreds of authors get book agents as an author coach and consultant. See successful authors at How I Got My Literary Agent.
ASK A Literary Agent – FAQ
This Ask a Literary Agent FAQ answers questions about: the definition and role of a book agent, who publishing agents are, when you should query literary agents, how much representation costs, the best way to find book agents looking for authors, submissions to literary agents, how to handle an offer for representation, what happens after you get a book agent, and more.
The Bestselling Author™Get a Literary Agent(Everything You Need)450+ writers have gotten offers from literary agents and/or traditional publishersUse our article and audio library, and the official Directory of Literary Agents™Your Information is confidential
Author Representative definition and role
When you Should Get An Author Representative
How Much An Author Representative Costs
Finding An Author Representative
- How to find a literary agent?
- How to research book agents?
- Who are the best publishing agents?
- Who are the top 10 book agents?
- How to find publishing agents near me?
- Licensed book agents?
- Established publishing agents?
- New book agents?
- Publishing agents to avoid?
- Book agents seeking submissions?
- How to do a publishing agent search?
- Find a list of book agents?
- Publishing agent database?
- Book of literary agents?
- Where to meet publishing agents?
- Book agent events?
- How to Pitch a Literary Agent at a Conference?
Submitting To An Author Representative
- Literary agent submissions?
- How to contact a publishing agent?
- What to submit to a book agent?
- How to write a publishing agent query letter?
- How to write a synopsis for a book agent?
- How to write a publishing agent proposal?
- How to submit a book to a literary agent?
- How many publishing agents should you query?
- Best time to submit to book agents?
- How long to hear back from publishing agents?
- Book agent response time full manuscript?
- What happens when a publishing agent requests your full manuscript?
- Book agent not responding?
- How to follow up with a publishing agent?
- Book agent rejection letters?
- Revise and resubmit to a publishing agent?
Representation Offer From a Book Agent
- Getting an offer of representation from a literary agent?
- First meeting with a book agent?
- Questions a book agent will ask?
- Questions to ask a publishing agent?
- Multiple offers from publishing agents?
- Choosing a book agent?
- Literary agent contract?
- Standard book agent contract?
- Publishing agent contract terms?
- Book agent contract red flags?
- Publishing agent lawyer?
What Happens After You Get An Author Representative
Mark has helped hundreds of authors get offers from literary agents and/or traditional publishers. Writers of all Book Genres have used our Literary Agent Advice coaching/consulting to get Top Literary Agents at the Best Literary Agencies on our List of Book Agents.
Ask a Literary Agent
Due to time constraints, we can’t answer questions that have already been answered. Please make your question clear, and concise, since the submission form below is limited to 500 characters.
If you want to remain anonymous, type “Anonymous” in the name field. You’ll receive an email when a reply has been posted (usually within 48 hours). We look forward to helping you get a book agent.
MARK MALATESTA is a former literary agent turned author coach. Mark now helps authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children's books) get top literary agents, publishers, and book deals through his company
Mark,
I wrote to you because I’d done a search, looking for a person or company w/ a stellar reputation and known for integrity, who could help me w/ the issues I shared w/ you. Your name was at the top of the list . . . and I am a little taken aback that you would respond personally and so quickly.
I appreciate your candor about there being no guarantee that I will be able to find a literary agent, as well as the fact that you’ll be sending me a recording of our call (I’ve found that details get lost in phone calls). I was also grateful that you will be sending me a form to fill out, and I’m hoping that this will be filled w/ questions about who I am and what this is all about so that you will be informed before we talk . . . yes?
I will be registering soon for the consultation call, but before I do, I just want to say a few words about what this is and why it’s important to me that you care about it. This is, literally, worldview-shattering information about a possible shift in global human consciousness, and represents 40 years of research, discovery, design, and writing. As an unpublished, now self-published author, I have been exposed to the underbelly of the publishing industry since the book won an award – a long story I don’t need to share right now . . . but it is the reason that your expertise and integrity are so important to me. I also know that this is your business, and that there is no reason at all that you should care about what this is all about . . . but it would mean everything if you do – meaning that it would mean everything if you could actually stand behind this as the incomparably ground-breaking information it is when contacting literary agents.
So . . . I just needed to say that and hope that you will see that this is different, and more important than anything that you have experienced in your career. Having said that, I know from experience that it may mean nothing to you at all, and that I understand that. Please respond as honestly as you can . . . I will be registering soon regardless of your response.
Thank you for responding so quickly and precisely to my request.
James
Hi Dan,
I received your latest message, and you kind words. Thank you. I do my best to help every author I speak with, but it’s certainly more rewarding when the work is both more meaningful and more meaningful to the author.
To that end, I look forward to our time.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author, LLC
Phone/Fax: (800) 928-5028
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
https://getaliteraryagent.com
Established in 2011, we’ve helped 450+ authors get offers
from literary agents and/or traditional publishers
I recently read an article that Mr.Malatesta posted, regarding books meant to teach, motivate or inspire in uncertain times.
I’m writing an Instructional/novelty book, that playfully introduces the craft of sailing to millennial hipsters and/or their parents. Here comes what I assume is a cardinal-sin question: Can I query without first deciding who my audience is? I have 2 or 3 more potential targets.
Hi Dan,
I received your message and I’m happy to help.
To answer your question, you’re okay for a query letter. Meaning your explaining of what the book is about makes it clear who the audience is, and it’s okay and often good to have multiple target market segments. You can sell more books that way and serve more readers that way.
You might find the following helpful also:
Free Resources to Get a Literary Agent
https://getaliteraryagent.com/#find_and_get_a_literary_agent
Literary Agent Advice (1-on-1 Coaching/Consulting with Me)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-advice/
Anything else, let me know.
You can post questions more for me here:
https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I will respond personally, and promptly.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author, LLC
Phone/Fax: (800) 928-5028
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
https://getaliteraryagent.com
Established in 2011, we’ve helped 450+ authors get offers
from literary agents and/or traditional publishers