Looking for a Literary Agent Articles

Many writers have heard the question, "Are you a plotter or a pantser?" but there's more to it than that. In other words, it's not just about whether you outline before you write, or if you write “by the seat of your pants” and discover your book as you go. There are...

Does a writer’s race or ethnicity affect literary agents and publishers? Yes, sometimes. Literary agents are usually looking—first and foremost—for a compelling concept, a clear audience, strong writing, and a book they believe they can sell. But a writer’s background...

Understanding the history of literary agents—and how their role has changed over time—can give you an advantage as a writer. Many writers think of literary agents mainly as gatekeepers or people who decide which authors get access to traditional publishers and which...

Are you a writer who looks at bestseller lists such as the New York Times bestseller list and gets inspired—or discouraged? Either way, there are nine things that writers of all genres can learn from looking at what books are selling. Some writers look at the list,...

Subsidiary rights in publishing are a valuable opportunity for authors of all types of books: fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books. There are many ways to package, distribute, license, adapt, and share the content in your book—including unexpected ones—that can...

AALA literary agents—some things that were previously required of literary agents are no longer required. Understanding that will cause you to look differently at which literary agents you decide are good, great, or not so great. If you’ve ever researched literary...

What's the best email address to use querying literary agents—and what email deliverability issues do you need to know about? Most writers spend many years preparing their manuscript, book proposal (mainly for nonfiction authors), synopsis, and query letter. Yet they...

What’s the best time to submit to literary agents? Sounds simple. It isn’t. And it’s a question I wanted to revisit because publishing has changed in ways that make the answer more complicated than it used to be. Many agencies now use portals, category restrictions,...

What's your target market for literary agents and publishers? Many writers don't realize a book's target market isn't equally important in every query, and it's not always equally hard to address. Some target markets need explanation. Others are so obvious that...

There are more writing organizations for authors than most writers realize. You can save a lot of time, stress, and money with the support of a professional organization. Unlike other articles that simply feature a list of writing organizations, this one will also...