Looking for a Literary Agent Articles

Writing the most effective bio isn’t just about saying the right things. It’s about saying enough, but not too much. It’s about putting the right details in the right order. And, in most cases, it means having more than one bio. This article, which is part of our free...

Writers of all book genres pitching literary agents need to categorize their work, but there's often more than one way to go about it—and sometimes it's best to use different genre labels for different agents. This article, which is part of our free guide about How to...

Most articles about how to publish a book stop at listing the pros and cons of each publishing option—traditional, small press, hybrid/vanity, and self-publishing. This one goes further. For each path, it spells out not only what it is and what it’s good for, but...

One of the most important book publishing trends right now isn't something happening inside publishing houses. It's something happening inside writers—that's hurting some and creating opportunity for others. Due to "the state of the world," some authors are delaying...

How to interpret and react to literary agent rejections? For many writers, agent rejections feel confusing, personal, and discouraging—especially when the rejection language is vague, standardized, or inconsistent. Writers often obsess over what a rejection “really...

How to stay positive and productive while trying to get a literary agent? The query process can be one of the most exciting—and emotionally challenging—parts of pursuing traditional publishing. Writers often start out hopeful, then hit a wall of rejection letters,...

Literary agents and politics? Many writers worry that politics could hurt their chances of getting a literary agent—even when their book isn’t political. They wonder whether a literary agent might reject a query letter because of the author’s beliefs, social media...

Many writers think their book is being rejected because a literary agent “didn’t read enough,” but it’s often something the agent saw (or didn’t see) in the opening sentences, paragraphs, pages, or chapters. This article reveals the many reasons agents pass quickly...

Information about comparable titles (“comps”) in a query letter for literary agents should communicate what you wrote, who it’s for, and how it’s different. Written by a former literary agent who created this no-cost 15-part guide about How to Get a Literary Agent,...