Ask a 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.
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 
Hi Mark, I just got my first nibble from Mark Gottleib (Trident), to whom I’d sent ONLY a query letter (no writing samples etc.). His response: Can you tell me more about your novel in progress?
Aside from sending him a synopsis, what more should I say that isn’t already in the query?
Hi Jo-Anne,
Way to go!
No idea what he wants.
I’d send the synopsis and say you’re happy to send anything else his way that he believes would be helpful.
Let me know what happens next at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
Very happy for you,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I’ve written a book of speculative fiction that has been read by no less than 50 people, only a handful of whom I know. The handful is 3 family members and 2 friends.
Every person who has read the book has said how much they enjoy the book, how they love the characters, and how the story compels them to read further. 2 of the people who have read it said it wasn’t at all the genre type they would read, but they still found it very readable and read it entirely. Most of the readers even said that they would absolutely buy and read any books that would follow the original. I was even working on a sequel.
My main problem is that – I am an unpublished MALE author. It’s no secret that the publishing industry is overwhelmingly female, and, as I’ve read many different literary agent’s newbie published authors lists, it’s dominated by female authors.
I’ve come to believe that being a male author – and a newbie at that – almost immediately reduces one;’s chances of being published by over 80%.
I know my book is really engaging and a page-turner. But it surely seems that, after 10 years of trying, I’m trying to run up a steep, greased mountain.
I’m not asking or expecting for you to do anything about it, but perhaps you can tell me if my efforts are just being wasted.
Thank you for your time,
Dan McLoughlin
Hi Dan,
When it comes to who makes it, it’s significantly more about the book than the author’s gender, except that books written to appeal to not just men but also women are going to have a significantly better chance, as 80-85% of all books are bought by women.
Don’t give up; do all you can to make it happen.
To that end…
Here are my resources to help you get a literary agent:
How to Get a Literary Agent (NEW 15-Part Guide)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/how-to-get-a-literary-agent/
Literary Agent Database (Directory of Literary Agents)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-database/
Literary Agent Advice (1-on-1 Coaching/Consulting)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-advice/
If you want/need help with anything else, you can post here at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I’ll do what I can to point you in the right direction.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com