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,
I live in the UK, and my novel is dual timeline, one strand set in the seventeenth century and the other in the present day, but both set in England.
Some of the novels closest to mine have American agents. Should I look at American agents too, or should I stick to British ones?
Thank you and best wishes.
Hi Andrea,
You can absolutely pitch American agents.
To that end, 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
Hi Mark,
During our Coaching Call 11/7/23, you suggested to make my book more marketable and categorize it as Inspirational Fiction (A Novel based on true events.) I have worked faithfully to publish with Literary Agents and Independent Presses and found a small press who asked to read my manuscript based on my query/synopsis submission.
Please read their response below and help me to decide if I should change the Inspirational Fiction Genre to something more like Memoir or whatever you think may be better to get published. I believe that the Executive-Editor who wrote this is very competent because she has a few successful Fiction novels that she authored herself.
“Hi, I wanted to get back to you as soon as possible after perusing your manuscript, just to get the feel of it. Having done so, unfortunately, I won’t be able to offer a contract for a variety of reasons, the main one being the total absence of dialogue or the rudiments of a novel… namely characters with whom readers can learn to identify and whose lives become meaningful because of the kinds of people they are.
You have a narrator… plain and simple, one who tells the reader everything he want to impart. An essential element in novel writing is the ability to convey believability, mostly by allowing the characters to show what they’re made of, how they relate to each other and, most importantly, how the reader learns to relate to them. Your manuscript relies on the reader to conjure images of the people and places your narrator describes.
I don’t know what to suggest to make the manuscript publishable. To label it a novel is to create the false impression that it is populated by people and events for the reader to follow.”
Thank you in advance and I hope you are having a wonderful summer.
Eddie
Hi Eddie,
I’m glad you’re getting some interest. Novel or memoir is up to you though, not a right or wrong thing. You might want to consult with a story development coach or consultant. I recommend Leslie Lehr. If you Google her, you’ll find a did an interview with recently. She’s good people. And, no matter what, sounds like you need more dialogue and active scenes.
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’m a screenwriter with a recent sale to an Oscar nominated producer, now querying my debut manuscript. The book is based on my tv pilot that was offered a studio attachment (an if-come deal), but was never shopped to networks, so not considered a “busted spec.” I thought this background would establish the market for the IP (contemporary fantasy), but I’ve had no requests to read the MS yet. Is it worth mentioning in a query?
Thanks for any input you might offer. Best–
Hi Matt,
Yes, you should mention it in the query.
It’s “just” almost always hard to get agents reading, period.
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
Hi, I recently made a printed version of a unique children’s picture eBook. It’s unique in the children’s picture book market. Check this out. robotosofmars.com and it will give you all you need to know about my book. The eBooks are available on Apple Books and Amazon. I’m looking for an agent to represent me, probably one who specializes in children’s books. So, how do I find one?
Hi Don,
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