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 seek representation for a set of three English dictionaries. It took me many years of painstaking work, omnivorous reading and patience to amass and write the material. As far as I know, this is a unique set in the world of English lexicography.
I have long been trying to find a traditional publisher but in vain. My long-cherished dream is to publish this capital work. I
My commission will be much, much higher than usual. I am not interested in pecuniary gain.
The manuscript is complete and ready for publishing.
I have also prepared sample pages of the manuscript.
Hi Zoran,
I’m happy to help.
Here are my resources to get a literary agent, 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 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 a Talent Manager last 10 years and was a Director at CBS Network Television. I represented an amazing writer.i was given your name and told your open to submission. My Company name is D2D TALENTS D2DTALENTS.COM
My writer is fiction. I have a pitch letter I can send.
Hi Dawn,
You might have contacted the wrong person my mistake.
This isn’t a literary agency.
We help authors get literary agents.
If that’s your goal…
Here are our 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 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
one Catherine Wilson phoned me, saying she was a literary acquisitions perhaps editor for Lionsgate films. they want to acquire the film rights to one of my self published books. but they will require me to help pay for a professional screen writer to write a screen play. but I will be expected to help them write (the screen play). the idea that they might pay me to help write the screen play seems not so far to have broached her consciousness. is she legitimate?
Thanks.
Hi David,
99.99% chance that’s not legitimate. Google Lionsgate to find their phone number. Call them to verify.
And here are my resources to get a literary agent, if that’s your goal and 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 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,
I am Michele Zappia, I am contacting you from Italy as I am one of the world’s leading experts on MM thought… well, I am joking, but that would be a good hook for a query, wouldn’t it? 🙂 Actually, I have carefully read all your sites, summurized and taken notes, so I am not wrong if I say I am quite an expert about your ideas on the publishing industry! And yes, I am Italian and I live in Italy!
First of all, many thanks for your tips on how to find a top literary agent, they are incredibly useful! You helped me a lot about understanding the submission process, which I have been trying to tackle unsuccessfully for my first novel in the past 2 years. And you have also provided me with more confidence, energy and willingness to keep trying! Even though Italian and US publishing are quite different: for instance, in Italy the literary agent’s role is not so widespread, it is still possible to contact top publishers (ok, they don’t answer, but you can try!), there is nothing like the query letter, and some major literary agents ask for a fee to read the manuscript (I agree with you, it is a scam, but that’s how it works, or is supposed to work here…). Anyway, thanks again for your precious help.
I do have a couple of questions:
– Do you think it is worth trying to get a literary agent in the US, even if my book is in Italian? I know that some agents specialize in Italian literature and can perfectly read Italian, so I would like to try them:. I understand that it may seem nonsense, there aren’t so many of them, and the task is daunting, but it could be an opportunity, considering that the world is changing fast and the publishing industry is no longer a single country’s affair. What do you think about it?
– Do you think it might be beneficial for me to schedule the 1 hour coaching-consultating session with you? Consider that unless you read Italian (sorry for doubting, it’s just statics!), I can’t give you the first 50 pages of my novel (just the query and synopsis, and hopefully something more). As I told you, despite the differences between Italian and American publishing, I found your suggestions extremely helpful, and although officially there is nothing like a query letter here, agents still have to be contacted by e-mail (normally, they allow you to attach the synopsis and even the full manuscript. Again, they won’t read, but you can try!), so…
Sorry for the length (actually, another problem I have is that my novel is about 170.000 words!), I hope to hear from you soon,
Best regards
Michele
PS: I also contacted you privately, don’t know what is best, sorry.
Hi Michele,
I’m happy to help, and sorry for the delay. Our house was flooded Saturday night, so, as you might imagine, that’s slowed me down a bit. If you want to get a literary agent in the US, it should be translated first with the exception of those agents you referenced who read Italian…and…only the first 50 pages needed if a book has already been published abroad and sold well or gotten recognition through awards, etc. And I’m happy do a call with you. It would be helpful, even if you don’t have sample pages translated.
Here’s the page for that if you want/need it:
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, and have a great rest of your week,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com