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, over the past 4-5 years, written a 400+ page novel. It is a coming of age of an orphan boy to a prominent man; seasoned with mystery, romance, and strife. In need of significant editing due not only to length but plot advancement.
1- Should I retain my own free lance editor or initially do it myself?
2-Is there a market for “Dickenesque” novels?
3-My writing style resembles Jeff Shaara, 3rd person with inserts of 1st person thoughts and observations. Is that problematic?
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Hi Dennis,
I’m happy to help.
1. You don’t need to hire an editor but if you’re considering it, see this: https://literary-agents.com/book-editors-for-hire/.
2. Yes.
3. No.
You’ll also 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/
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 have an established moderately successful but very favorably received YA sci-fi trilogy. While I know literary agents don’t like to work with authors once they self-publish, will book or literary agents take on clients solely for purposes of book to film/screen representation? Can I get an agent to rep out my trilogy to film/ screen/ series purposes only?
Hi Marc,
To answer your question: sometimes.
I don’t have much about that topic, see below.
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/
You might find the following helpful also:
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
Is there a good site or SM platform other than Querytracker or MW or Twitter to contact junior or up-and-coming literary agents building their lists of new authorsin assorted genres?
Hi Derek,
Specific to that, I don’t know of any, but we have all literary agents accepting clients in our literary agent directory, with photos, so that might help:
Literary Agent Database (Directory of Literary Agents)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-database/
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
Dear Mark, thank you for your expertise and knowledge that you use to help new Authors.
My question is: I am an Indie writer with two published books. The latest was published in May 2021. I have been getting calls from everywhere wanting me to spend more money with them for marketing, etc. which I politely say no. The more recent call is from a Scout with a known film company in Los Angeles, California, (I did research on them). He claimed that my latest book was chosen to pitch to producers, in the industry in July. They are giving independent writers an opportunity to present their work. However, they are asking for a screenplay, which I haven’t written. They suggested that they have someone but it’s very expensive. I do have someone in mind which would not cost me a lot of money. They said they need it in March 2023 for presentation in July. I am skeptical now, because there are a lot of scams out there and I have heard them all. Please give me your professional opinion on this. Thank you
Hi Minerva,
If they’re not asking you to spend money or suggesting someone specific to spend money with, it might be legit. Good chance it’s not. You’d have to do some Googling. That usually reveals what you need to know.
I hope it’s real.
If it is, please let me know.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com