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 have submitted my work to numerous agents. Today I received a hopeful reply from an agent who said I had “a wonderful story idea but they didn’t fall in love with my current draft, so they were stepping aside for now.” Does this mean I should revise my draft again and try to resubmit to that agent? Or should I move on? Thank you for your advice.
Hi Valerie,
That’s great, and, in a situation like that, you can ask the literary agent if they’re open to considering a revised version. You might also ask if the literary agent is willing/able to share an additional detail or two re: what you might consider changing. There’s a good chance the literary agent won’t provide additional/helpful information, but there’s also a chance they might.
If you want/need help with anything else, you can post on my “Ask a Literary Agent” page at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Hi Mark,
You know about my book, Dignity Denied. I have completed it for a while now, but I will admit, as a first-time author, writing about a topic that fits a niche market, and without a platform, finding a literary agent hasn’t been easy. As you so rightly mentioned, I need a ‘platform,’ and as you advised, my narrative nonfiction was too long; I extracted a complete short story, Kato, and launched it today on Kindle, called:
A Promise of Paradise – to create this platform.
I hope you enjoy A Promise of Paradise, approximately a 2-hour read. And, by the way, you are mentioned in the Acknowledgements.
Thanks, and best wishes for a great New Year.
Hi Linda,
I love that you’re continuing to make progress, and that’s very kind of you. Right now, however, it’s all I can do though to keep up with the material I must read…and there are days/weeks when that, in and of itself, feels impossible. Do please let me know, though, if you land a literary agent and/or traditional publisher at some point, for any of your books.
Still hopeful for you here,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Hi, Mark. Do you represent authors of television/movie scripts?
Hi Craig,
I don’t, unfortunately.
Here are some things you might find helpful though:
How to Get a Literary Agent (NEW 15-Part Guide)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/how-to-get-a-literary-agent/
Two articles about books for TV or movies:
https://literary-agents.com/literary-agents-publishing-screenplay/
https://literary-agents.com/literary-agents-managers-cinematic-writing/
And…
If you want/need help with anything else, you can post at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/. I’ll always do what I can to point you in the right direction. And, on that same page, you’ll find my answers to the questions authors ask me most.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I found a resource online from a self-publishing company that mentions reasons why one should start promoting their book even before they started writing the book. I am aiming for traditional publishing, so is this still something an aspiring writer should do before they finish their manuscript and before finding a literary agent?
What ways should an author start marketing? What platforms would be best for my genre/age group?
I’m writing a book for the Christian children’s fiction marketplace (ages 12+).
Hi Vanessa,
It depends on the genre. Generally, that’s good advice for everyone, but it’s more important for nonfiction authors. Most literary agents aren’t going to expect or require you to be well known or have a big platform. 🙂
And, if/when you’re ready to start pitching book agents, 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/
If you want/need help with anything else, you can post 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