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 
My question is about genre. Everyone is looking for specific genres, but I intentionally wrote my novel to be something different. It is actually the autobiography of a genre author, with the structure of an international road novel, off-beat coming of age elements, a cadre of humorous wits for characters, and very off-beat romantic threads. I’m basically reduced to calling it literary fiction which seems to be a red flag with agents. When I read a novel, I want it to be something different, and I wrote mine with that in mind.
Hi Herbert,
Common issue. You can/should often call a novel that doesn’t fit neatly into a genre, different things, depending who you’re pitching. Hard to diagnose/advise for that via my FAQ page. You might want to schedule a coaching/consulting call if you haven’t done that yet. Link below with more info.
And if you haven’t seen or used them yet, here’s everything I have that you might find helpful (much is no cost):
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
Ihave 6 books already in print Need an agent sell them
Hi William,
Happy to help.
If you haven’t seen or used them yet, you’ll find these things helpful:
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
Hi “Child of GOD,
We talk and you told me about a Literary Agent, A man say he’s a agent, Kobe Lane@writersbranding.com
a Literary Agent
Is he wasting my time? He has by his name Literary Agent.
Hi Andrew,
If you didn’t query him, it’s probably not something you want any part of. And if it’s an “agent” who want you to pay anything, it’s probably not something you want any part of.
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
Mark,
I need to update you on my progress to get published. I had an agent, Steve Schwartz in New York. Steve is in his 80s and I’m not sure how savvy he is in the Crime Novel area. I was told that he submitted my first book in a trilogy in its entirety, without a query letter. He sent me a list of all the major publishing houses and said that he only got form responses. I have several other writing projects that I will continue to use your instruction on creating a compelling query letter. I think once I get an agent to look at one book, he/she will surely want to see more. My latest project is a musical play based on my first book, a memoir: Baddest Troop Alive. A professional director, Louis Fantasia, is coaching me. As you know, persistence is a requirement for success.
Hi Steve,
Thank you, yes, I remember. You reached out and let me know you got an offer for representation. Hopefully, and offer for publication will be next. If not for that book, for one of your others. And yes, if you get someone on board with one book, it will be easier to get them on board for the rest. Would love to see more good news from you, so do share when you have it, at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
Have a great day, and hope to see you soon, on the other side,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com