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The Best Literary Agents Seeking Submissions

Showing 222 agents that match your search.

๐Ÿ’ก This information is based on the agent's bio on their agency website, and may not reflect the current state of their submission policy. We encourage authors to browse all agents in your genre and check QueryTracker to find your best match.

Merrilee Heifetz

๐Ÿ’ผ Agency - Writers House
๐ŸŒ Location - New York, US
๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿ’ป Website - http://www.writershouse.com/
๐Ÿ“ฃ Preferred contact method - Email
โ˜‘๏ธ Interested in debut authors

Genres

Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Literary Fiction, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Children's Book, Middle Grade

Previous clients

Neil Gaiman, Robin McKinley, Octavia E Butler, Laurell K. Hamilton, Melissa Marr, Cynthia Voigt

Query Tracker | Publishers Marketplace | Agent Query

Jessica Sinsheimer

๐Ÿ’ผ Agency - Context Literary Agency
๐ŸŒ Location - New York City, US
๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿ’ป Website - https://www.contextlit.com/
๐Ÿ“ฃ Preferred contact method - Email
โ˜‘๏ธ Interested in debut authors

Genres

Fiction, Action & Adventure, Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Horror, Humor, Literary Fiction, Mystery, New Adult, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Women's Fiction, Young Adult, Nonfiction, Cookbook, Children's Book, Middle Grade, Diverse Fiction, BIPOC, LGBTQ

Previous clients

Margot Harrison, Shannon Alexander, Jonathan Chesner, Gwen Hayes

Query Tracker | MSWL

Caryn Wiseman

๐Ÿ’ผ Agency - Andrea Brown Literary Agency
๐ŸŒ Location - Chicago, US
๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿ’ป Website - https://www.andreabrownlit.com/
๐Ÿ“ฃ Preferred contact method - Online submission form
โ˜‘๏ธ Interested in debut authors

Genres

Fiction, Graphic Novel, Young Adult, Children's Book, Middle Grade, Picture Book, Diverse Fiction, BIPOC, LGBTQ

Previous clients

Kelly Starling Lyons, Tom Angleberger, Cece Bell, Debbie Levy

Query Tracker | Publishers Marketplace | Agent Query

Jane Dystel

๐Ÿ’ผ Agency - Dystel, Goderich & Bourret
๐ŸŒ Location - New York City, US
๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿ’ป Website - https://www.dystel.com/
๐Ÿ“ฃ Preferred contact method - Email
โ˜‘๏ธ Interested in debut authors

Genres

Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Women's Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir, Politics, Cookbook, Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Self-Help, Sports, Thriller

Previous clients

Colin Broderick, David Morrell, Scott Hamilton, Michele R. McPhee, Anne Stuart, Mary Ann Esposito

Query Tracker | Agent Query

Laura Langlie

๐Ÿ’ผ Agency - Laura Langlie Agency
๐ŸŒ Location - New York City, US
๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿ’ป Website -
๐Ÿ“ฃ Preferred contact method - Email
โ˜‘๏ธ Interested in debut authors

Genres

Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction, Humor, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Thriller, Young Adult, Nonfiction, Memoir, Politics, Diverse Fiction, LGBTQ

Previous clients

Joan Druett, Meg Cabot, Malinda Lo, Mary Hogan, Renee Ashley, Meg Tilly

Query Tracker | Agent Query

Pete Knapp

๐Ÿ’ผ Agency - Park & Fine Literary and Media
๐ŸŒ Location - New York, US
๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿ’ป Website - http://www.parkfine.com/
๐Ÿ“ฃ Preferred contact method - Email
โ˜‘๏ธ Interested in debut authors

Genres

Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Children's Book, Middle Grade

Previous clients

Daniel Aleman, Julia Drake, Adalyn Grace, Ayana Gray, Sara Holland, Lucy Keating

Query Tracker | Publishers Marketplace

Lisa Grubka

๐Ÿ’ผ Agency - Fletcher & Company
๐ŸŒ Location - New York, US
๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿ’ป Website - http://www.fletcherandco.com/
๐Ÿ“ฃ Preferred contact method - Email
โ˜‘๏ธ Interested in debut authors

Genres

Fiction, Literary Fiction, Thriller, Women's Fiction, Young Adult, Nonfiction, Business Book, Cookbook, Sports

Previous clients

Robin Benway, Elizabeth Ames, Alex Snodgrass, Kathleen Barber

Query Tracker | Publishers Marketplace

Katie Kotchman

๐Ÿ’ผ Agency - Don Congdon Associates
๐ŸŒ Location - New York City, US
๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿ’ป Website - http://www.doncongdon.com/
๐Ÿ“ฃ Preferred contact method - Email
โ˜‘๏ธ Interested in debut authors

Genres

Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Women's Fiction, Nonfiction, Business Book, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Self-Help

Previous clients

Jill Althouse-Wood, Lauren Berger, Jenny Dearborn, Tom Faley

Query Tracker | MSWL

Bonnie Nadell

๐Ÿ’ผ Agency - Hill Nadell Literary Agency
๐ŸŒ Location - Los Angeles, US
๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿ’ป Website - https://www.hillnadell.com/
๐Ÿ“ฃ Preferred contact method - Online submission form
โ˜‘๏ธ Interested in debut authors

Genres

Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Literary Fiction, Thriller, Women's Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Politics

Previous clients

David Foster Wallace, Antonya Nelson, Lynn Schooler, Richard Polsky, Kate Racculia

Query Tracker | Publishers Marketplace | Agent Query

Allison Hunter

๐Ÿ’ผ Agency - Trellis Literary
๐ŸŒ Location - New York City, US
๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿ’ป Website - https://www.trellisliterary.com/
๐Ÿ“ฃ Preferred contact method - Email
โ˜‘๏ธ Interested in debut authors

Genres

Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Humor, Literary Fiction, Women's Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Politics, Romance, Thriller

Previous clients

Rosie Walsh, Lauren Ho, Randall Klein, Alexandra Borowitz, Katie Heaney

Query Tracker

What do literary agents do?

A literary agent represents your book to acquiring editors who want to publish it. In other words, an agent gets the foot of new authors in the door of a publishing house โ€” and onto the path of getting traditionally published.ย 

In addition to championing you and your writing and serving as your point of contact with others in publishing, literary agents understand editorsโ€™ tastes and the types of books they are looking to add to their lists โ€” a crucial component in getting any publishing house to invest in the works of new authors. Since most big publishers donโ€™t accept unsolicited submissions, getting a literary agent whoโ€™s accepting submissions is the most realistic route to traditional publication, particularly for debut authors.

Aside from getting your foot in the door, what else do literary agents do?

  • They are expert negotiators, combining publishing acumen with a nose for the value of good, sellable writing;
  • They act as mediators between you and your publisher (when you donโ€™t want to hurt your working relationship with an editor by talking brass tacks);
  • They manage the financial and marketing side of things while you concentrate on the writing; and
  • They often have strong editorial skills, helping refine your manuscript before you submit it to a publisher.

As you might've guessed, literary agents are especially important for debut authors, who often don't have a starting point in the vast maze that is the publishing industry. That's what a literary agent will become for you: a guide to help you throughout the publishing process, and kickstart your publishing career.ย 

New authors might be intimidated by the wealth of information and cautionary signs in the industry. It's especially tricky to research literary agents when some are open to submissions from new authors, and some are not.

If you're one of those debut authors, don't fret! We've got you covered with the resources that you need to gain your bearings.ย 

Resources for new authors landing a literary agent in 2023

You might think that a great book is all you need to catch a literary agentโ€™s attention. But youโ€™ll need to put in a good amount of work to land them โ€” and that includes everything from the careful study of each agent's wishlist to personalizing your query letter for each candidate..

Whether youโ€™re a new author learning how to research literary agents or an experienced writer refining your query letter, here are the resources that can give you a headstart.

Free online materials for debut authors

Recommended books

Save agents to shortlist them

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