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 
Hey Mark,
Got my first rejection and within 2 hours, lol.
It was a ‘I’m not the right fit’ turn down, so no harm done.
Another 9 queries out there, and more to go this weekend.
Cheers
Keith
Hi Keith,
Everyone goes through that, so don’t get discouraged too soon!
Glad you’re planning to keep pitching.
October is better than Nov for that.
Nov better than Dec.
And Jan is wonderful.
Let me know if you get good news.
You can post again here at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
And have a great weekend,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I’ll ask again. My book is genre specific. It is a journal-tracker for those with medical/mental issues. More than a diary. The agent would probably go to doctor’s offices, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, retirement homes, etc. Are there any agents among you or am I barking (woof) up the wrong trees? Any advice would be helpful I hope. Thank you, Marie Neder www.journalandtrack.us
Hi Marie,
I’m not sure you’re getting our email replies. It looks like this is the third time you’ve shared information with us about your project. Please let me know if you receive this reply.
Here are some of my resources to help you 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/
This is not a literary agency, but an author coaching and consulting company.
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
Hi, Mark: Pitching my Cuba books to agents, we agreed my personal immortality claim wouldn’t work. But now with publisher leads, I’m pushing it as an appeal to Anti-Aging & Life-Extension readers. Of course, it’s already part of the Fountain of Youth theme. I’ve dialed back the pitch at the start, but also made it a looming conflict with Big Med, Big Pharma, etc. Since I’m still getting rejects, I’ll try this out on any new agent queries, as well. It could become my new author/celebrity platform!
Hi Leonard,
If you’ve been at it for a while and one approach isn’t working, it’s a good idea to mix it up, so I’m glad you’re doing that. And, as always, any good news, please share at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
And have a good weekend,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Does your agency list contain Asians to represent play rights?
Hi Clement,
Our directly including literary agents seeking book authors only, unfortunately.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com