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 
So glad to see you back. Great photo of you and Ingrid, it’s so good to see you both so happy. You make a beautiful couple. Congratulations on your 21st wedding anniversary.
Wishing you many more happy years together and continued success! 🙂 Warm wishes.
Hi Luisa,
Thank you so much, you’re very kind…and it’s much appreciated. It’s definitely been too long. Wishing you well also, and hoping you have a wonderful rest of your week. And stay warm up there, assuming you’re still in Canada. 😉
All our best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Congratulations on your anniversary. I appreciate you sending me the information. I have self-published my novel A Woman in Search Of… It’s on Amazon and Barnes and Noble online. The marketing is a challenge.
I wish you well.
Hi Lynne,
Thank you so much, it’s good hearing from you, and yes, I got it in March. You were kind enough to let me know then, and I was the first, or at least one of the first to get a copy! The marketing is almost always a challenge, after publication, and that’s unfortunately not an area I’m nearly as knowledgeable about, but I know there are a lot of people on the Internet who have information on that. I also know that the authors who stick with it are most likely to start seeing the results. So, please do. Like everything else with writing, it’s not easy, but it’s worth it!
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I think my message is more a news flash than a book, which I have self-published. Who would care when I’m not credentialed? (Religion news, counter to scholarly views)
Hi Robert,
It is (usually) easier to get a literary agent for a nonfiction book when the author is well-known or somewhat known as some type of authority in the area they’re writing about and/or if/when the author has a big network or following. It’s not like that for every book, but for most nonfiction books it’s something literary agents and publishers put a fair amount of weight on. No matter what, it’s worth at least trying to get a literary agent and/or publisher…and see what the response it. Doesn’t cost anything to do so, and not every nonfiction author is well known or has a big following.
And..
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 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
Thank you for responding. I am actually researching literary agents for a literary fiction I have written. I am compiling a list of agents who might be a good fit, so that I can meet All requirements for submission. I am unexperienced and a little wary. I don’t want not t reply to you email, so my question is, may I get back with you and submit a query letter in accordance with your specific requrements in a few days?
Hi Lois,
I’m happy to help somehow if possible, but I’m not sure what you’re asking. I’m no longer a literary agent but a former literary agent turned author coach, now helping authors get literary agents. If what you’re saying is that you want to talk about how to improve your query letter, you can see how to do that here and there’s no time limit. Take your time.
Literary Agent Advice (1-on-1 Coaching/Consulting)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-advice/
And..
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 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