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 again Mark, I think I figured it out! Please disregard, sorry for the inconvenience. :-/ Thx.
🙂
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
hello my name is Samantha smith.
I would like to asked few questions.
would I be able to find an agent for my books? I’ve googled publishing houses but how could I trust someone with my manuscript.
I also would like the help in finding a good publishing house for my books?.
I’ve googled everything
Hi Samantha,
The following will help.
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
Mark, I hired you over the summer, and during our hour talk you mentioned a list of independent publishers. I’ve looked online, but there are many such lists. Did you have in mind one in particular? My genre is literary fiction.
Hi Keith,
Here’s my information on that. 😉
At any point while querying agents, or if/when you run out of agents to query, you can query publishers directly–legitimate publishers that don’t charge fees, not vanity or hybrid publishers. I’m talking about small- to medium-size publishers that operate the same way major publishers do. They pay for everything, and they help you promote your book.
These publishers aren’t as profitable so they’ll pay a smaller advance–possibly none at all. But as long they don’t ask you to pay to publish your book, you’ll know they genuinely believe in it and they’re motivated to help you make it successful. Some of these publishers are prestigious, with bestselling titles or books that have sold 25,000+ copies.
If you query publishers directly, you’ll use the same pitch materials and strategy you used to query agents. In other words, you’ll send each publisher what they ask for in their submissions requirements–and you’ll send it to them via their preferred submission method (email, online form, or postal mail). The only difference is you’ll tell them in your query that you’re seeking publication, whereas with agents you’d say you’re seeking representation.
Where to Find Independent Publishers
Google the following:
NewPages
Poets&Writers
TheNonconformist
CLMP
TheMilkHouse
Duotrope
PublishedToDeath
No matter what genre your book is, you should also (very important) do an Internet search for “list of best independent presses publishers [insert any other genre or topic keyword(s) that might make sense for your work, etc. and narrow the results or reveal extra/new pubs that might not appear on the other lists I’ve included via the links above].”
You’ll need to look through the lists above to find the publishers you think might be a good fit, as you’ve been doing with agents. The number of publishers you’ll be able to query won’t be a huge number, so you should just send two rounds of submissions to publishers.
Your first round should be to publishers in the United States that look the most impressive/prestigious. Two months later, if you don’t have a publishing contract offer, query your second tier–those that look less prestigious and those outside the United States.
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
Quick Question — Any and All Ideas Welcome
Dear Mark Malatesta:
Here’s the question/proposition:
http://dennyhatch.blogspot.com/2024/01/198-stork_2.html
Thank you.
Cheers
P.S. Feel free to publish my question & email address.
Hi Denny,
I appreciate the offer and if I was still a literary agent, I’d consider it. These days, however, I’m only doing coaching/consulting work, unfortunately, so not acting as agent or working off commission, etc.
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com