23 Questions to Ask a Literary Agent
The dream for most emerging writers is to connect with a literary agent. It’s a key step in the path toward publication. But once an agent expresses interest, how do you know if it’s a great match? Here are 23 questions to ask an agent who’d like to represent your work, recommended by top literary agents.
Do we have the same vision for what I want to accomplish in the publication process?
—Noah Ballard, VERVE
If an author has an offer of representation on the table, I recommend respectfully requesting the names of a few of their existing clients to speak to. It’s a great way to get a sense for the agent’s style of working with authors and get a “reference” of sorts.
—Soumeya Bendimerad Roberts, HG Literary
Are you open to me writing books in other genres/trying different things? (i.e.: If I’m writing YA now, could I write an adult book in the future? If I do more romance, could I try my hand at a thriller?)
—Amy Elizabeth Bishop, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret
Authors should definitely ask about communication styles as communicating with your agent about all aspects of your work is key. How quickly do you return emails? What’s your preferred method of communication?
—Sarah Bowlin, Aevitas Creative Management
How do you see my book being published? What other books fit with it in the market? (helps show that you have a shared vision)
—Michelle Brower, Aevitas Creative Management
How would we work together after the book is sold?
—Sonali Chanchani, Folio Literary Management
Do you have a strong sense of which editors or imprints you’d target during the book’s submission to publishers?
—Reiko Davis, DeFiore & Company
Before we go out on submission, will you share your submission list/pitch letter with me?
—Stephanie Delman, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates
What is your general timeline from the moment we sign our agency agreement to submission to publishers? What are the timeline markers along the way?
—Cherise Fisher, Wendy Sherman Associates
If our professional relationship doesn’t work out (which I hope wouldn’t be the case if we chose to work together!), can you describe the process of severing professional ties?
—Erin Harris, Folio Literary Management
What brings you to/informs the work you do?
—Annie Hwang, Ayesha Pande Literary
What if I don’t agree with a publisher’s vision for the jacket or the marketing or some element of the plan or issue? How will you help me navigate that?
—Heather Jackson, Heather Jackson Literary Agency
How do you see my book fitting into your overall list and what you are looking to accomplish as an agent?
—Kirby Kim, Janklow & Nesbit
What is your communication style? Very often, clients are confused about the best way to be in touch with me. Some clients prefer to do calls, which is fine, but can be intrusive and difficult to schedule. So I prefer emails. Ask the agent who is interested in your work what their own communication style is like and how quickly you should expect to hear back from them.
—Jeff Kleinman, Folio Literary Management
How does the agent envision your career in the long-term? What are their hopes and dreams for you, and how do those hopes and dreams intersect with yours?
—Danya Kukafka, Aevitas Creative Management
How does your agency handle the sale of foreign rights and dramatic rights?
—Wendy Levinson, Harvey Klinger Agency
How hands-on are you editorially? What if I don't agree with some of your editorial suggestions?
—Sandy Lu, Book Wyrm Literary Agency
Why do you want to represent this? (The answer should be holistic about what they want their list to look like, as well as the market. I’ve taken on projects that felt out of step with the market because I’ve loved them and taken on projects that felt in step with the market and not necessarily a perfect fit for me. There’s not an automatic right or wrong but it should be a conversation.)
—Paul Lucas, Janklow & Nesbit
What happens if you can’t sell my project? No matter how confident an agent is in their ability to place your book, no one can guarantee a deal until an offer has been made. Knowing what happens if the first book doesn’t work out says a lot about how much you’re seen as a long-term investment as opposed to the author of one great book.
—Jim McCarthy, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret
How do you make payments? Directly from the publisher (85/15 split)? Or do you take the payments and have to pay me? If the latter, how long does it take you to make the payment?
—Latoya Smith, ArtHouse Literary Agency
I suggest asking how their agency works internally. This might not seem relevant, but, depending on where you land, you can either get one agent as your advocate or, in a more collaborative setting, the full force of a whole team behind you.
—Kim Perel, Irene Goodman Literary Agency
What do you expect from me as a client? What is an ideal client, in your opinion?
—Saba Sulaiman, Talcott Notch Literary Services
Ask the agent about her submission strategy. Is she planning on sending it only to large houses, or will she include mid-sized and independent publishers? Does the agent send manuscripts out only once, or does she do rounds if she can’t sell it during the first round of submissions?
—Renée Zuckerbrot, Massie & McQuilkin Literary Agents