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 
Is there a place on the agent’s information page that lists submission information? I looked all over and couldn’t find the details. Thanks!!
Hi Debra,
To access each agent’s individual submission requirements, you’ll need to click on the agent website link in the directory and look on the agent website to see what they want/need submitted.
If you want/need help with anything, you can post again 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
Hi Mark,
I am the author of a set of three English dictionaries entitled A LEXICOGRAPHICAL LIBRARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE: PAST AND PRESENT. I have long been trying to find a traditional publisher but in vain. I feel justified in claiming that this set contains one of the most comprehensive list of archaic and modern English words and phrases in three volumes. It took me many years of painstaking work, omnivorous reading and patience to amass and write the material. As far as I know, this is a unique set in the world of lexicography.
Now I see it is almost impossible to find a traditional publisher. Do you think that my lexicographical project could be published traditionally?
Hi Zoran,
Based on your post, it sounds like you might be able to get a literary agent and secure a traditional publisher if you stay with it.
If you decide to continue pitching, you’ll likely find some or all the following 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 again 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
Mark,
My question requires some background to make clear. Early in my career years I was a newspaper reporter and writer at 3 organizations for about a decade, in CT, CA and WA. During that time my work included the basic meeting coverage, feature writing, covering cops, fire, criminal and civil courts, serving as a managing editor of a small group of weeklies, writing editorials, columns, theater reviews and more.
My later career was in fundraising for a longer time, but that too involved a lot of writing.
Now I am “retired,” but doing a lot of nonfiction writing in hopes of freelancing. I would describe what I am doing now as a kind of mix of Op-Ed, column and essay type writing. Can I find an agent to work with me in trying to place my stuff with magazines, scholarly journals, current event websites, etc.?
Hi Peter,
If you want to get a literary to pitch a book, yes, but not likely just the other. That happens sometimes but infrequently, and it’s usually for a writer who’s very high profile.
Either way, if you decide to pitch agents, you’ll likely find some or all the following helpful:
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/
You should only book a coaching/consulting call if you want to pitch a book to literary agents.
If you want/need help with anything else, you can post again 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 searched for “memoir” in the drop box of agent list. It noted 539 results, but I went through about 7 of them and none included memoir in their bio…..
Hi Mark, My name is Elle. Once I am further along with my project, I’d like to contract you for 1-on-1 coaching. Thanks.
Hi Elle,
Since there are approximately 118 book genres, most literary agents don’t list every genre they’re open to in their bios. That’s the reason. And if you want/need help with anything else prior to scheduling a coaching/consulting call, you can post again 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