Ask a (former) 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 Mark. Thanks for the great content, and your accessibility to help us struggling writers! I’m working on finishing my memoir (and screenplay) about my experience as a healthcare whistleblower. I spoke up to protect patients at a hospital, and the hospital retaliated with bullying for 4 1/2 months, then fired me on false charges. I ultimately won a wrongful termination suit against the hospital, where the jury found in my favor, and against the hospital, on all six counts. An important part of our evidence was my work record and scholastic record, so it’s important to my story. However, I don’t want to come across as bragging when I include related events in my story (e.g. graduating with Highest Honors, as the Honor Graduate for my class.) Also, my supervisor had given me excellent performance evaluations, but then demonized me after I took a stand to protect the patients. I normally wouldn’t mention this type of thing in a memoir, but because of the nature of the story, it’s important to build the foundation that they fired me in retaliation, not for performance. Is there a best way to approach setting this foundation, without turning readers off? Currently, I have a scene where I was announced as the Honor Graduate during the graduation ceremony. And I have a brief scene where my supervisor gave me an evaluation of excellent in every category. They’re true events, but do you think it will sound like bragging? I’m thinking maybe I should include the scenes, then rely on beta readers to give me their input. What do you think? Thank you.
Hi Anonymous,
Thank you, nice to meet you, and well done on having the courage to stand up, as well as getting a ruling in your favor, To answer your question, absolutely, those things should be communicated in your memoir. I’m glad your goal is for everything to come across in the best way. If that’s your intention, it’s much more likely to come across the right way. Perhaps best to not tell the reader directly, but for them to discover those details through an active scene, dialogue, etc.
If you want/need help with anything else, you can post again at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I’ll do my best to point you in the right direction, and promptly.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Hi, my name is Gloria and I have a masterpiece. I know it is a masterpiece because every time I read the manuscript, it feels brand new, like a living being I am meeting for the first time.
The characters in my book have evolved with me over the years and they have become a fictional reality in some inimitable way.
I need representation. I need to put this out, where do I start from?
Hi Gloria,
Your message made me smile…the joy you’re experiencing with your writing.
And since you’re ready to pursue representation, here are some things you’ll likely find helpful if you haven’t seen or used them yet:
Literary Agent Advice (1-on-1 Coaching/Consulting)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-advice/
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 want/need help with anything else, you can post again at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I’ll do my best to point you in the right direction, and promptly.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I’m a new writer who experienced the Cuba Missile Crisis and wrote Kincheloe (published by Covenant), a book base on a true story. Many who read it describe the book as a, ‘couldn’t put it down’ book.
There is far too much confusing information available (and scammers).
How does a Novice Writer with a really good book proceed.
Hi Monte,
Start here, if you haven’t seen it yet: https://getaliteraryagent.com/how-much-does-a-literary-agent-cost/#alert. That will help you avoid the biggest potential problems.
Second, try to get a literary agent vs paying a publisher. Read this guide to understand how agents work and how to get a good one: https://getaliteraryagent.com/how-to-get-a-literary-agent/.
And, later, when you’re closer to ready to pitch, you might these things helpful if you haven’t seen or used them yet:
Literary Agent Advice (1-on-1 Coaching/Consulting)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-advice/
Literary Agent Database (Directory of Literary Agents)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-database/
If you want/need help with anything else, you can post again at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I’ll do my best to point you in the right direction, and promptly.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
My Amazon bestseller ENEMY AT THE HELM just won a “Best Book” award for Winter 2026 from Pencraft Awards, and I’ll be attending the awards ceremony in Las Vegas in April. The sequel is finished and I’m submitting it for professional developmental editing before pitching it to agents.
Should I mention the prior novel and its accolades to the editor that I will query soon?
Hi Mark,
That’s great, absolutely. 🙂
And, later, when you’re closer to ready to pitch, you might these things helpful if you haven’t seen or used them yet:
Literary Agent Advice (1-on-1 Coaching/Consulting)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-advice/
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 want/need help with anything else, you can post again at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I’ll do my best to point you in the right direction, and promptly.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com