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’m an American living in South Africa. I’ve written a children’s picture book that I’m keen to source man agent for – does it matter where I’m based in the world? How can I best maximise my chances of getting published – and also getting it published as part of a series (which is my hope!). Thanks in advance, Laura Owings
Hi Laura,
It’s easier to get a literary agent in the United States if you’re in the United States, but that’s absolutely not a requirement. Most important is you understanding the American audience and being willing/able to help promote your book(s) to an American audience. I’ve helped many authors, including those who aren’t American, living outside the United States, get literary agents in the United States. So, while you might see one or two literary agents saying you can’t get a literary agent in the United States if you’re not in the United States, it’s not true.
Here are some other things you’ll find helpful, if you haven’t seen or used them yet:
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
The more reviews I read, the more I’m seeing people complain about the extremely poor job publishing companies are doing editing and, even more amazingly, proofreading. Personally, I’ve taken it upon myself to edit my books as, at this point, I trust no one to go near them on those topics. There are also programs such as Grammarly which proofread and, as far as I know, if you pay for the program, can help to edit as well.
These companies charging people thousands of dollars under the presumption of a professional edit job need to go.
If all else fails, I’m simply looking for a company that will do the page design, print and distribute. Do you know of any such outfits?
Thank you, and I hope other writers will empower themselves in learning how to edit their own works.
Hi Tim,
Stay away from book publishers that charge fees, period. You’re not likely to be happy. Query literary agents instead. No charge for that. If they say they like your work, you’ll know they mean it. And, if you get a literary agent, they’ll do what they can to get you a book publisher that improves your book vs the opposite.
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 an established working journalist and writer with thirty years of experience in the industry. I have also written eight fiction novels and one book of short nonfiction stories from a history column I have been doing for nearly 20 years.
My question is this: I have written and published them myself under my imprint Black Mule Press. They have been up on amazon.com since I published them. Do previously published books present a problem for agents as far as trying to evaluate them or sell them to the TV or movie industry?
Hi Bert,
Congratulations on your success, and, to answer your question, it will depend on the literary agent. Some will have an issue with it. See here: https://getaliteraryagent.com/getting-a-literary-agent-after-self-publishing/.
And here are some other things you’ll find helpful, if you haven’t seen or used them yet:
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
Would it be smart to get a Kirkus reivew before approaching you?
Hi Bryan,
Best to wait, and please ask me about this when we talk if you schedule a session…
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