Getting a Literary Agent

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Within two weeks of sending out my first query, I received multiple offers from agents. I value our friendship.

N E L S O N . J O H N S O N

NY Times bestselling author of Boardwalk Empire, produced by Martin Scorsese for HBO, and Darrow’s Nightmare

Fiction Book Authors

How to get a publishing agent for fiction (all novel genres): debut, general, commercial, mainstream, upmarket, literary, historical, contemporary, etc.

Nonfiction Book Authors

How to get a book agent for nonfiction (all genres): general, self-help, spirituality, business, memoir, narrative nonfiction, current events, cultural/social issues, etc.

Children's Book Authors

How to get a publishing agent for children’s books (all genres): picture books, board books, early readers, chapter books, middle grade, and young adult.

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How To Get a Book Agent

This step-by-step guide about how to get a literary agent includes all you need to know about finding a book agent.

This guide to getting a literary agent was written by a former book agent who's helped more than 300 authors of all book genres get offers from literary agents and/or traditional book publishers.

Writers have called this guide to getting a book agent the most comprehensive resource on the topic--and the most concise, current, and easy to use.

Guide to Getting a Literary Agent

Library with statues of published authors, Get a Literary Agent Guide

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how i got a literary agent

Successful Authors

After following your advice, my book was acquired, the prestigious PW gave it a great review, and Time Magazine asked for an excerpt. Thank you for believing in my book, and for helping me share the surprising truth about women’s most popular body part!

L E S L I E . L E H R

A Boob’s Life: How America’s Obsession Shaped Me―and You, published by Pegasus Books, distributed by Simon & Schuster and now in development for a TV series by Salma Hayek for HBO Max

Thanks in part to your query letter, manuscript suggestions, and support prioritizing agents, I received multiple offers from agents. Within two weeks of sending out the first query, I knew who I was going to sign with. I value our friendship.

N E L S O N . J O H N S O N

NY Times bestselling author of Boardwalk Empire, produced by Martin Scorsese for HBO, and Darrow’s Nightmare: The Forgotten Story of America’s Most Famous Trial Lawyer

AHHH! OMG, it happened! You helped me get three offers for representation from top literary agents! A short time later I signed a publishing contract. After that, my agent sold my next book. I’m in heaven!

M I R I . L E S H E M . P E L L Y

Author/illustrator of Penny and the Plain Piece of Paper (Penguin Books/Philomel), Scribble & Author (Kane Miller), and other children’s picture books

Fine Print Lit got publishers bidding against each other [for my book]. I ended up signing a contract with Thomas Nelson (an imprint of Harper Collins) for what I’ve been told by several people is a very large advance. What cloud is higher than 9?

S C O T T . L E R E T T E

Author of The Unbreakable Boy (Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins), adapted to feature film with Lionsgate starring Zachary Levi, Amy Acker, and Patricia Heaton

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Author Coaching & Consulting

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We offer 1-on-1 coaching and consulting for getting a literary agent to both new and established authors. We’ve helped more than 300 authors of all book genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books) get book agents and/or traditional publishers.

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Free Author Resources

Enter your first name and email address for instant access to all our information about how to get a literary agent. Our resources for finding and getting a publishing agent include:

The official Directory of Book Agents
Our Author Training Library (text and audio archives)
The Ask a Book Agent section of our website where you can read (and post) questions about publishing agents
Our popular Book Genre Dictionary
Insider Articles and Updates