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 
Hello Mark,
Thank you very much for your quick response to my letter. I truly appreciate it and am quite pleased with what you have recommended, for I feel the same.
Wishing you a lovely weekend as well.
Best regards,
Ingrid
Hi Ingrid,
My pleasure, and do follow through…you’ve come close, so you have a real possibility of getting the rest of the way. 🙂
If you want/need help with anything else, as you know, 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, and have a wonderful weekend,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Mark, thanx,
Just FYI, what he said was: “Today, publishers make business rather than artistic/creative decisions, only taking on what their sales and marketing departments say it’s (sic) a sure thing. Unfortunately, I don’t think this will break out of (sic) a very crowded marketplace.”
Sounds like a thoughtful and personal reply, largely true. I plan to make a special run on New agents for one who’s willing to take a chance on something novel. I’ve tweaked my pitch to mention “breakout,” Bourdain, and “tall tale.”
This will help me sleep at night, hopefully through the summer doldrums.
Hi Leonard,
You bet, and I’ve seen that letter. It’s a form letter, and just a “bit” of an overstatement. 😉
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Dear Mark, I want to send some material but how? Thanks for your concern. Safdar Ali
Hi Safdar,
Happy to help.
See here, the page my assistant sent you a link to previously on 6/8:
Literary Agent Advice (1-on-1 Coaching/Consulting)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-advice/
You’ll likely find these things helpful as well, 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/
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
Hey Mark, my big problem is Comps. Tropic of Cuba is unique as a travel memoir, plus thrills. I should mention Bourdain, tho he-was a food guy. Mine is escapist travel since Cuba is again off-limits.
Can’t unique/insider appeal (and misadventure) be a plus? Like, vicarious Terry & the Pirates appeal? I’ll try to insinuate this into my pitch. What I have here is a Tall Tale.
Hmm, wow, my latest rejection just said it: publishers are looking for a Sure-thing, not a potential Break-out book. Breakout isn’t even a genre! How to get around this?
Hi Leonard, comps not something I can help with via my website, unfortunately. And that’s a poorly worded rejection. Don’t let that get to you. Keep going.
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com