Twenty-six of the industry’s best and brightest agents responded directly to readers’ questions in this column that ran from 2010 to 2022.
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Howard Yoon of the Ross Yoon Agency [1]
4.13.2022
The agent answers questions about mentioning positive feedback in a query letter, how much plot to include in a query, and agents for teen writers.
Monica Odom of Odom Media Management [3]
12.15.2021
The agent answers questions about attracting agents using self-published books and whether to use a summary or a writing sample to pitch a memoir.
Larissa Melo Pienkowski of Jill Grinberg Literary Management [5]
10.13.21
The agent who represents writers TJ Alexander and K. Tempest Bradford, among others, answers questions about being ghosted by agents and how to query for nonfiction books.
Jade Wong-Baxter of Frances Goldin Literary Agency [7]
8.18.21
The agent representing Chris Belcher, Kate Broad, Delia Cai, Duy Doan, and others offers advice about working with a coauthor, changing a memoir to fiction, why agents don’t consider previously published work, and how to become an agent.
Amy Elizabeth Bishop of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret [9]
6.16.21
The literary agent answers questions about how to seek representation as a self-published author, break into the agenting business, and more.
Iwalani Kim of Sanford J. Greenberger Associates [11]
4.14.21
The literary agent answers questions about submitting story collections, getting an agent’s attention, and querying two agents at the same agency.
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Jody Kahn of Brandt and Hochman [13]
4.10.19
A literary agent answers questions from writers about genre, age, costs, and client lists.
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Priya Doraswamy of Lotus Lane Literary [16]
10.10.18
An agent answers questions on obtaining the copyright of a self-published novel and seeking a U.S. publisher from abroad.
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Regina Brooks of Serendipity Literary Agency [18]
8.15.18
An agent answers questions on referrals, pitching a self-published book, and what to do if you’re dropped by an agency.
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Annie Hwang of Folio Literary Management [20]
12.13.17
A literary agent answers readers’ questions—from how seriously agents consider a writer’s previous sales to how to responsibly seek new representation.
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Kirby Kim of Janklow & Nesbit Associates [21]
4.12.17
A seasoned literary agent offers valuable counsel on when to query, how to keep revising, and whether horror fiction is a genre worth pursuing.
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Anna Ghosh of Ghosh Literary [23]
12.14.16
Anna Ghosh answers readers’ questions—from why poetry agents are seemingly nonexistent to whether or not it is possible to be “too young to write.”
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Betsy Amster of Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises [25]
10.14.15
The agent of authors such as María Amparo Escandón and Joy Nicholson offers advice on query letters, editing, and what not to do when submitting a manuscript.
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Danielle Svetcov of Levine Greenberg Rostan [28]
4.15.15
Should you pay to have a manuscript edited beforehand? Are there benefits to querying via snail mail versus e-mail? Danielle Svetcov of Levine Greenberg Rostan answers readers’ questions about what (and what not) to do when trying to find an agent.
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Meredith Kaffel Simonoff of DeFiore and Company [30]
8.20.14
An agent representing authors such as CJ Hauser and Cecily Wong answers questions about writing in multiple genres, agents’ fees, and publishing work in online journals.
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Amy Rennert of the Amy Rennert Agency [32]
3.01.14
The agent of authors such as Diana Nyad and Herman Wouk answers questions about self-publishing, age restrictions, and working with an agent remotely.
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Chris Parris-Lamb of the Gernert Company [33]
10.06.13
Chris Parris-Lamb of the Gernert Company offers advice on submitting query letters and manuscripts, and when to embrace or eschew self-promotion.
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Lucy Carson of the Friedrich Agency [35]
9.01.13
Lucy Carson of the Friedrich Agency discusses e-book publishing, when to send a sample to an agent, and more.
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Matt McGowan of Frances Goldin Literary Agency [37]
5.01.13
Literary agent Matt McGowan, who represents Eula Biss, John D’Agata, Brian Evenson, and many others, answers writers’ most commonly asked questions.
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Rebecca Gradinger of Fletcher & Company [38]
10.17.12
Literary agent Rebecca Gradinger explains why writers need agents and offers tips about best practices for finding one.
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Douglas Stewart of Sterling Lord Literistic [40]
4.12.12
The agent of Jami Attenberg, David Mitchell, Carolyn Parkhurst, Matthew Quick, and others offers guidance about publishing credits, MFA programs, and unagented submissions.
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Jenni Ferrari-Adler of Brick House Literary Agents [41]
3.01.11
Does your book need to be finished before you seek representation? Do agents really read synopses? Agent Jenni Ferrari-Adler, whose clients include Lauren Shockey and Emma Straub, answers these questions and more.
Terra Chalberg of the Susan Golomb Literary Agency [43]
10.15.10
When is the best time in your career to look for representation, and when should you call off an author-agent relationship? Terra Chalberg, whose clients include Lori Ostlund and Glenn Taylor, tackles these questions and more.
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Jennifer Carlson of Dunow, Carlson & Lerner [45]
8.11.10
The agent of authors such as Kevin Brockmeier and Marisa de los Santos offers her thoughts on self-publishing and what she looks for in the first five pages of a writing sample.
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PJ Mark of Janklow & Nesbit Associates [47]
5.01.10
The agent of authors such as Samantha Hunt, Dinaw Mengestu, and Josh Weil offers advice on shaping a query letter and when to follow up after pitching your book.
Katherine Fausset of Curtis Brown, Ltd. [48]
3.01.10
Agent Katherine Fausset answers questions from readers about the agent's role in submitting work to literary magazines and how writers can choose agents based on their client lists.