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.
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 
I’m told I’ve already done more than 90% of aspiring writers, as I’ve actually written my first novel – in fact two. I’m quite proud of them.
pone was a Sci Fi novella that I wrote for one of my granddaughters It’s aimed at a young teen level, and deals with the failure to combat climate change.
The second is a detective mystery full length novel set in a fairly idealized South East England. A murder mystery that also touches on workplace harassment and the difficulties facing women in a traditionally male environment. It is set at an adult level. There is a sequel following which I hope to have up on Amazon before Christmas this year.
But writing is the easy part. The problem is that we really have no idea how to market them. We have tried to get a literary agent, but without success.
The books can be found on Amazon as e-book or paperback under the pen name of Helen M Barton. “HMB” is the name of a writing partnership between myself (Western Canada) and my sister (South east England). I do the majority of the writing while my sister acts as editor, adds color and suggestions and also writes some sections.
Most of our reviews and comments have come from friends and family, and I suppose it’s no surprise that they’ve been very favorable. One review from a lawyer was that “It would make a great TV Film.” Who knows?
We would really appreciate some help on the marketing side – which may mean getting a traditional publisher. Unfortunately we are both tied to the house a lot as we both have spouses with severe health problems. This hasn’t helped, but it is what it is.
Hi Ren,
I’m sorry to hear about your family situations. The good news is you don’t need to leave your homes to promote your books. To that end, here are some things you’ll find helpful if you haven’t seen or used them yet:
Literary Agent Advice (1-on-1 Coaching/Consulting)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-advice/
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/
If you want/need help with anything else, you can post again at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I’ll do my best 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
If you receive a very bad manuscript or book do you tell the author that its a piece of shit, or do you go ahead and put into a book?
Hi Gale,
This isn’t a publishing company, so I want to be sure you realize that. We help authors improve their chances of getting a literary agent and/or publisher via coaching/consulting. In that way, we fortunately don’t have to decide what should or shouldn’t be a book. We just tell people what we think their chances of making it are, and we give them strategy to improve their chances. We do let people know if we believe they have a much better chance, or worse, of making it. Some writers obviously have a better chance. Haven’t a realistic sense of how close one is to being ready is the first step toward increasing one’s chances. It’s important.
If your goal is to a get a literary agent, here are some things you might find helpful, if you haven’t seen or used them yet:
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 again at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I’ll do my best 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
This is Hiroko Shimbo. I am a cookbook author. The Japanese Kitchen, The Sushi Experience, Hiroko’s American Kitchen. I have a fourth, complete Japanese cuisine cookbook. The publishing industry has changed so much that I am unsure if I can publish this fourth one. I don’t have a blockbuster social media following. Is there any publication house that cares less about the gazillion followers? I appreciate your insight. Best regards, Hiroko
Hi Hiroko,
The publishing industry has changed that way. However, you’ve already been successful, so it’s more likely you’ll be able to find an agent and/or publisher to work with you. So, in my view, you should try.
Listed below you will find some things that will help. The third item shows how you can set up a call to talk 1-on-1 about what you can/should do to improve your changes with agents and/or publishers, choose the best ones to submit to, etc., if you want to do that:
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 again at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I’ll do my best 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
Peace Anthony McElroy, how do I get a literary Agent please call also 412 70603455
Hi Anthony,
Nice to meet you.
Here’s what you need, below.
The fourth item shows how you can set up a call, since it sounds like you might want to do that.
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 again at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I’ll do my best 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