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 
In 1998, Joan Rivers introduced me to Mel Berger at the William Morris Agency. I met with him, and he said at that time he would like to represent me (I am an author and screenwriter) and my sci-fi novel (“VOICE IN THE MIRROR”) and the screenplay for the feature film. Unfortunately, I was set to direct a feature film in North Carolina and was tied up for several months and lost touch with him. After speaking with Samuel Mannetti, a friend at STAGE 32 he suggested I reconnect with him. Can you assist me?
Hi Lee,
You can find what we have for all active literary agents here, contact info, etc.
Literary Agent Database (Directory of Literary Agents)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-database/
And…
If you want/need help with anything else, you can post at “Ask a Literary Agent” page 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 have a published 5 star reviewed Middle Grade novel but need a bigger publishing company to take it to the next level – I.e. film. Do you accept previous published novels for consideration? My publisher has effectively breached the contract by failing to pay royalties or produce book sales. Many thanks.
Hi Moyra,
Yes, I work with authors of previously published books who are trying to get a literary agent. I want to make sure you understand, though, I’m not a literary agent or a book publisher. I’m a former literary agent who now helps authors as a coach.
Here are some things you might helpful if you haven’t seen 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/
And…
If you want/need help with anything else, you can post at “Ask a Literary Agent” page 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
My last comment was removed and it was unanswered, which I wrote under my pen name, so my I’m posting it again. Is there a way to match a book summary to an agent. I’m looking for something like #pitmad on twitter.
Hi Justin,
It took me a moment to figure out what happened. You posted on two of my websites, so I responded to one (hopefully got the reply), and I deleted the other one, which was a duplicate.
Here’s the reply I sent previously.
***
I’m sorry but our website isn’t set up for that.
You’ll find these two things helpful though, if you haven’t yet used them:
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, you can post at “Ask a Literary Agent” page 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
Good afternoon
I have some manuscripts that exceed a thousand pages. How can I send them in English if I don’t speak the language and translators charge high fees to translate them?
Hi Ludmilla,
Unfortunately, the only way to submit something to English-speaking literary agents is to submit it in English. So, if you want to do that, you’ll need to get your work translated. Or, at least, write your query letter in English and get the first 50 double-spaced pages or so of your first manuscript published. Then, if you get literary agent interest, you would have more reason to invest more to get the rest translated. If you aren’t able to afford translation, consider querying literary agents and/or publishers in the countries where the language your book is in, is spoken.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com