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 
Yesterday, I saw your offer for $297–which I want to review again and know how to sign up. Terry C Thomas PhD at
Drterrycthomas@live.com
Thank you!
Hi Terry,
Happy to help, here’s what you’re looking for:
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 am a magazine published author and theater professional, “Story Tellers International” since 1965. with many original short stories that are attached to cartoons. i am now 80 years old, – time to gather cartoons and stories into one book or several books. i have access to a network of 3 billion people in different faiths and languages… i believe what i write is important to them, creating an affordable plan in this downturn economy is necessary. theater people have plenty of ideas, but with humility i say i am not sure how to proceed. . What i do know about profits is a low cost item can over the years become a lot of money.. and rather than money go to myself, i wish for it to be redirected to education and housing for the homeless. i understand the cost of editing and printing and would like to use the inside covers of my books as advertising space to pay for these costs of editing and publishing. my aka pen name is S.G. O’Dear. I was born into family show business, my Uncle Harry Saltzman created 007 Sean Connery films, Gold Finger, Doctor No etc; too long a list to mention. my husband and i were Carnegie Hall concert producers, my original one woman show “Divinely Ooh” had a 15 year run in Mexico where i chose to live and retire; home office tel: 52 376 688 3636. Currently I am writing a piece on Shah Rukh Kahn, the king of Bollywood, who Dave Letterman tells me has 3 billion adoring fans. Put o’dear and kahn numbers together in this dangerous world, we have a long exciting road to hoe – possibly much good for many people can be accomplished. if you need to speak to me, i am happy to call you or zoom with you if you send three days notice, a link and hour of day. My office is open 10am to 3pm mexican central standard time. Many thanks for sending me your e letter in such a timely way.
Hi Sydney,
My pleasure, and here are some things you’ll find helpful if you want to get a literary agent:
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 their any legitimate way that an author such as myself can actually determine sales that have taken place on sites such as Amazon, Barnes and Nobel, BOM. Publishers have a tendency to cloud this issue with their issued contracts that are lawyer friendly towards this issue for their company welfare, while keeping the author under the mushroom.
Hi Kenneth,
If you’re talking about a publisher that’s published your work, their contract probably has a clause in it that says you or a representative you appoint can review/audit their books.
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
Given the heavy reliance on the illustrations in picture books, how should authors represent their vision for the action that takes place via pictures if they are not an illustrator themselves? Should the vision for illustrations be embedded as descriptors in brackets? Without some form of explanation for the action that is intended to be depicted, the text could get very confusing.
Hi Julie,
If the ms text doesn’t reveal everything you envision for the illustrations, you can absolutely add illustration notes in brackets. Just don’t include those notes as part of your word count.
You might also find these things helpful, on your road to getting a literary agent:
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