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 
This is just a comment about your info on IMPERSONATION SCAMS on your website. I like the info, but having worked as a proofreader I couldn’t help finding four typos within two paragraphs – see below in CAPS. You even mention that scammers sometimes use typos…
“Eventually, however, if you go down that rabbit hole, you might end up providing personal and/or banking information that SHOULDN’NT be share. You also might be asked to pay some type of registration fee and/or other fees…HAT no legitimate literary agent, book publisher, or movie/streaming company would require you to pay.
The scammers might send you a glowing write-up or review of your book (generated by AI). They might set up multiple phone or Zoom calls with you, and you might be contacted by two conspirators: one pretending to be a well-known literary agent, the other pretending to be a book publisher or MOVE/streaming company executive. Their email(s) might be written with good English, completely free of typos, and they might send you documents that look official.”
It’s easy to remedy and I like what you offer.
Regards,
Sten Linnander
Hi Sten,
Thank you for your kindness. I found/fixed those mistakes yesterday.
All my best to you and yours, this holiday season,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I. Star to need a literature agent ,bit my 10,,novels are write in spanish,i know testigo in the distes there are agents. Working whith spanish , anisé is a important market know ,plegase found Oné. For me
Thais
Tina. Diaz
Hi Tina,
Here are my resources to help you 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/
If you look at the agent bios, you’ll hopefully find some that say they speak Spanish.
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
A difficult one for you: Precisely, what did Jesus mean when He said “And if your right hand offend thee, cut it off and cast it away….”. If you cannot find the answer that you deem satisfactory you should read my book Provisions by Larry Richards. The aftermath of the events described therein has resulted in my ability – via a “provision” – to understand this, and explain it in a concise way.
Hi Larry,
If your goal is to get an agent, I’m happy to help.
Here are my resources to help you 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 need help with the manuscript of my debut novel. It has been professionally edited and is about 100,000 words long. I have queried a bunch of literary agents but have had no luck in getting an offer of representation. My wish is to have Mr. Malatesta or one of his associates go through the manuscript, give me feedback and, if possible, help me find an agent for the newly edited version of the manuscript . Can you provide such a service? What would the fee be?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Hi Raouf,
I’m happy to help.
Based on your note, you should consider scheduling an introductory coaching call.
I’ve included information about that below.
If we both think we’re a fit, at the end of that, we can see if we’re a fit to do more together, which is when/how I’d review and talk with you about the entire manuscript.
To that end, here’s what you need:
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