Easy-to-follow guide with articles about looking for a literary agent, for authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books).
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...
Book scams are getting harder to spot. Some are obvious. These days, many are not. Thanks in part to AI, scams targeting writers and authors have become more polished and convincing than ever. Instead of trying to list every book scam—which would be impossible in a...
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 simply list 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 exactly...
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...
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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 Literary Agent Undercover and The Bestselling Author. Mark's authors have gotten six-figure book deals, been on the NYT bestseller list, and published with houses such as Random House, Scholastic, and Thomas Nelson. Click here to learn more about Mark Malatesta and see Mark Malatesta Reviews.