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 really need help to find a literary agent to represent my book. (Cabin by the Lake). It’s Fiction. Young adult/adult. it’s also Fantasy. It’s about my main character that has not seen his friends since high school and his grounds keeper sees him and then convinces him to send out the invites to his friends. Each of his friends gets the invite. Some text him back see you at his cabin and his ex-girlfriends hesitate to go but the main character convinces her to go. She brings her adopted sister along with her. They get bullied by the local hoodlum and his very small gang. Later on, with the Halloween block party with some surprises in the story. I ‘am a new writer that really wants to share my stories that I have written since the pandemic. sorry for the grammar and errors in this message. I also have other stories to publish.
Hi Phillip,
I’m happy to help.
Here are my resources to get a literary agent, if you haven’t see 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
Dear Sir;
I am writing to ask what genre poetry is in since I don’t see it in the above listings for obtaining a literary agent? Second part, do I need multiple agents for multiple genres? For example, nonfiction, children’s books, fiction, poetry. Thanking you in advance!
Tracey Smithee
Hi Tracey,
There are so few agents who represent poetry, and most of them only want poetry from award-winning poets who are well published, that I don’t have those agents identified in my agent directory, unfortunately. But if you do a Google search such as “literary agents who represent poetry” you’ll likely find someone(s) with those agents online.
You’ll likely find this helpful as well, if you haven’t yet seen it:
How to Get a Literary Agent (NEW 15-Part Guide)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/how-to-get-a-literary-agent/
And…
If you want/need help with anything else, you can post on my new “Ask a Literary Agent” page at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/. I’ll always do what I can to point you in the right direction. And, on that same page, you’ll find my answers to the questions authors ask me most.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Hello Mark,
Following your guidance, I’m shrinking LE CHEF from 166 662 to 85 000 words. Verb by verb. On it everyday. Balmy but nice.
Thanks for your help.
Be good.
Sincerely,
Denis
😊
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Hello, recently I was approached from someone that claims they are with Icon Publishing. They want to buy the movie rights to my book and pay me $300,000. They claim that due to the writer’s strike, they’re reaching out to look for new stories. However, they claim that they have an agency that will supply anything necessary during the filming. I never mention money from me until today. They claim the cost is $10,000 and they want $3,000 from me. I did ask for more contact information and spoke to someone in California with the address of Icon publishing. I concerned is that, first of all this is not the way a film industry would buy the film rights to someone’s book. Also, the studio usually pays for everything. I got a sample copy of the contract that was only three pages long. I feel that this is like a vanity book publisher but now they’re in the film industry. I’m afraid that eventually they will keep asking for more money. Is this possibly something legitimate, or just a new scam / vanity publisher?
Hi Mark,
I’m sorry to say that’s not something that’s probably going to end well. I’m guessing it’s not legit, as they’re asking you for payment. I could be wrong, but I doubt it, unfortunately.
And here are my resources to get a literary agent, if you haven’t see or used them yet (no cost):
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/
There is a cost for the following:
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