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
hello Mark,
we have been at this but no action or resolution.
I self pubbed 200 of my book on www.wanderlustconsulting.com
and wish to send you a free copy by mail,
I am still looking for an agent. If you are interested you can be my agent, no question.
best to you and your darling wife
Hi Leo,
I received your message and I appreciate it, but it’s all I can do to keep up with my must-read pile…and it’s all I can do to keep up with other responsibilities…so while I appreciate the offer…there’s no way I can be an agent again. That ship sailed decades ago, unfortunately.
The good news is…
As long as there are agents and/or publishers to query, it (really) can still happen, so don’t give up too soon, and do please let me know if you get good news at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
As you might imagine, I don’t get as many of those messages as I’d like.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author, LLC
Phone/Fax: (800) 928-5028
https://getaliteraryagent.com
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Established in 2011, we’ve helped 400+ authors get offers
from literary agents and/or traditional publishers
I am a writer in my 70s, back after a sabbatical and w toting up a storm again. I have sold around 20 short stories and novelettes in the past few years, completed two novels and a. Children’s series, and no fiction essays. I was with one agent for decades but he’s retired. No luck with people. Is it age, gender, or the fact that I am Jewish?
Hi Susan,
I received your message and I’m happy to help if possible.
I’m glad you’re writing, and I’m equally happy you’ve been placing so much work. So many writes aren’t even able to get to that point. Having had an agent previously, and those credits, you have an advantage. Let’s hope it’s not an issue of agent, gender, or anything else like that…and more a matter of you just not having queried the right person yet.
So, don’t give up to soon.
And consider using the following if you haven’t already done so.
Any one of them could make the difference.
Literary Agent Advice (1-on-1 Coaching/Consulting with Me)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-advice/
How to Get a Literary Agent (15-Part Guide)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/how-to-get-a-literary-agent/
Ask a Question (FAQ Page on My Website Where You Can Also Post. Questions)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/
Literary Agent Database (The Official Directory of Literary Agents)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-database/
Anything else, let me know.
Remember, you can post questions for me here:
https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I will respond personally, and promptly.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author, LLC
Phone/Fax: (800) 928-5028
https://getaliteraryagent.com
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Established in 2011, we’ve helped 400+ authors get offers
from literary agents and/or traditional publishers
Hi. As a strategic marketing professional and published journalist, I’ve developed two commercially strong properties: Please Be Kind! (a SEL-focused picture book series resonating with parents, educators, librarians, and grandparents) and Erased (a timely, emotionally charged tech thriller reflecting today’s global reality). When presenting multiple validated, high-impact projects, how should I position them to attract serious, competitive representation? TY
Hi Ken,
I received your message and I’m happy to help.
Your work sounds promising, and your marketing/journalist background will help.
Start here:
How to Get a Literary Agent (15-Part Guide)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/how-to-get-a-literary-agent/
Literary Agent Advice (1-on-1 Coaching/Consulting with Me)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-advice/
Ask a Question (FAQ Page on My Website Where You Can Also Post. Questions)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/
Literary Agent Database (The Official Directory of Literary Agents)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-database/
Anything else, let me know.
Remember, you can post questions for me here:
https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I will respond personally, and promptly.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author, LLC
Phone/Fax: (800) 928-5028
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Established in 2011, we’ve helped 400+ authors get offers
from literary agents and/or traditional publishers
Query: Governing Intelligence in an Age of Distributed Agency
We are living through a structural transformation in agency.
Decision-making authority is no longer centralized in institutions or individuals. It is distributed across networks, platforms, autonomous systems, and increasingly artificial intelligence. Yet our governance architectures remain designed for hierarchical control.
This book argues that the defining leadership challenge of our time is not influence or culture, but the design of constitutional structures capable of governing distributed intelligence at scale.
Titled “When Everything Acts: Governance After Central Authority,” the manuscript proposes an integrated framework for aligning human and machine agency through decision-right architecture, accountability pathways, escalation design, and stewardship constraints. It draws from organizational governance, political theory, systems design, and emerging AI practice.
The core question is simple: When everything can act, what governs action?
Unlike most leadership literature, this work does not focus on persuasion or productivity. It reframes leadership as the authorship of conditions — the structural design of environments in which autonomy becomes contribution rather than fragmentation.
The manuscript is complete at approximately 45,000 words.
I would welcome the opportunity to share the proposal and discuss whether this project might be a fit for your list.
Warm regards,
Robert Long
Hi Robert,
I received your message and I’m happy to help if possible.
First, however, I want to make sure you realize this isn’t a literary agency or a publishing company. We help writers get literary agents (400+ since 2011).
To that end, see here:
Literary Agent Advice (1-on-1 Coaching/Consulting with Me)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-advice/
How to Get a Literary Agent (15-Part Guide)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/how-to-get-a-literary-agent/
Ask a Question (FAQ Page on My Website Where You Can Also Post. Questions)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/
Literary Agent Database (The Official Directory of Literary Agents)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-database/
Anything else, let me know.
Remember, you can post questions for me here:
https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I will respond personally, and promptly.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author, LLC
Phone/Fax: (800) 928-5028
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Established in 2011, we’ve helped 400+ authors get offers
from literary agents and/or traditional publishers