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 
I worked with you a year ago on a query for a memoir about my being pushed out of a university’s Ph.D. program and my subsequently lawsuit. QueryShark just declined to help me develop my revised query further, though, saying that no one would publish it because of the risk of lawsuit. How much do you agree? Is pursuing an agent for it still a realistic option?
Hi Andy.
Literary agents and publishers are different, so I wouldn’t make a sweeping statement like that. There’s no harm in querying literary agents to see what happens.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Hi Andy,
Did you get my reply below?
I think my website my comment reply system was having an issue, but I’m not sure.
I’m resending my reply in case you didn’t get the first one.
***
Literary agents and publishers are different, so I wouldn’t make a sweeping statement like that. There’s no harm in querying literary agents to see what happens.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Question: Is the opening photo pic your best concentration shot? I find it a kind of mesmerizing and “stop looking at me so intensely photo. Like you’re drilling down to see if there’s really, really…, really any talent there. God we don’t know? We’re just writers. We don’t know if it’s good or bad. We just write!
Hi ron,
As long as you’re writing, I’m happy. And you’re keeping your sense of humor along the way. Even better. Thank you for making me smile, and happy holidays!
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Hi Ron,
Did you get my reply below?
I think my website my comment reply system was having an issue, but I’m not sure.
I’m resending my reply in case you didn’t get the first one.
***
As long as you’re writing, I’m happy. And you’re keeping your sense of humor along the way. Even better. Thank you for making me smile, and happy holidays!
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I have recently completed my first novel but I cannot get an agent to take a look. It has been read by an established author who says it’s a good well written story. My problem is trying to get an agent to give it a second glance! It’s so frustrating! Any advice would be very welcome.
Thanks ☺️
Hi Mike,
I’m happy to help.
Don’t give up.
Here are my resources to 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 again 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
Hi Mike,
Did you get my reply below?
I think my website my comment reply system was having an issue, but I’m not sure.
I’m resending my reply in case you didn’t get the first one.
***
I’m happy to help.
Don’t give up.
Here are my resources to 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 again 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
I am not sure what genre my book falls into. It is a mix of solid historical facts (documented…both family and political) set around World War One. The life of my father (an Englishman) who grew up and was educated in Imperial Russia from age 4 years to sixteen. He was 100% fluent in Russian and could pass as a Russian. At age 16, he returned to England and joined the Royal Navy. His Russian ability was recognised and he was secretly moved into the British Secret Service before his 17th birthday, and posted to St. Petersburg by the time he was 19. Based at the embassy there, he was involved in the Revolution and, along with other British and American agents, was involved in a lot of the world-changing events of that period and through the war. Using the documented facts, I have woven a story of his life that is a mix of fact and fiction. So my question. What genre? (and who would be interested!)
Hi Errol,
Did you get my reply below?
I think my website my comment reply system was having an issue, but I’m not sure.
I’m resending my reply in case you didn’t get the first one.
***
That’s an easy one. It’s historical fiction. Since it’s not entirely factual, it can’t be called nonfiction.
Here are some other things to (hopefully) 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 again 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