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 plan on using a pen name for my books. But because of that, when sending out query letters, setting up a LinkedIn account, etc. should I already start using my chosen pen name or should I first use my legal name until I finally get a literary agent and he/she says when I can start using it [pen name]?
Hi Vanessa,
Literary agents will need to know your legal name, and they would prefer you not use pseudonym because it’s harder to promote a book using a pen name. For those reasons, consider using your real name for now. If/when you get a literary agent interested, ask for their thoughts on the topic. It can vary quite a bit from one literary agent to another.
And…
If you want to post a question or anything else, you can do so on my “Ask a Literary Agent” page at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I’ll do what I can to help.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Mark, should I change my genre category to dark thriller/thriller instead of horror? I received my 25th response the other day, saying they weren’t interested in handling my first novel. I will follow your advice and submit the second novel I wrote in a trilogy, this time using a different genre. What do you think?
Paul
Hi Paul,
Absolutely, except when pitching those who you know want horror.
🙂
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
My partner and I hold 7 copyrights covering a project consisting of a story introducing 22 characters the children will meet in the game(ages 5-8) and as they journey through the stories. There are 22 small books (ages 5-8), 10 short stores Volume One (ages 9-11) and a novel (ages 9-13). We have a video to submit. How would we find an agent who would cover the age span and as connections to both publishing and animation.
Hi Patricia,
I’m happy to help.
Start here:
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/
Use the database to find literary agents who say they’re interested in children’s books and/or juvenile fiction, and middle grade for 9-13. Look at https://book-genres.com for more about genres.
Also…
Most literary agents handle (or have connections for) film, TV, animation, and other subsidiary rights.
If you want to post a question or anything else, you can do so on my “Ask a Literary Agent” page at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I’ll do what I can to help.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I’ve been writing for twenty years, currently writing in many areas: plays, screenplays, soon more of my novels, novellas, a TV pilot. I’m looking for a literary agent or more to say a manager; to help bring my many areas of writing to the public.
Hi Jeff,
I’m mainly on the book side of things…
For that, you’ll likely find the following 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/
And if you want/need help with anything else, or have another update, post on my new “Ask a Literary Agent” page at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I’ll do what I can to help.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com