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The Best Literary Agents Seeking Submissions

Showing 237 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.

Karen Solem

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

Genres

Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Romance, Thriller, Women's Fiction, Christian

Previous clients

Eve Silver, Lara Adrian, Patti Berg, Barbara Freethy

Query Tracker

Nancy Miles

๐Ÿ’ผ Agency - Miles Stott Agency
๐ŸŒ Location - London, GB
๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿ’ป Website - https://milesstottagency.co.uk/
๐Ÿ“ฃ Preferred contact method - Email
โ˜‘๏ธ Interested in debut authors

Genres

Fiction, Young Adult, Nonfiction, Children's Book, Middle Grade, Picture Book

Previous clients

Frances Hardinge, Gill Lewis, Mark Burgess, Kirsty Applebaum

Query Tracker

Jessica Alvarez

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

Genres

Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Thriller, Women's Fiction, Nonfiction, Cookbook, Memoir, Spirituality, Diverse Fiction, #ownvoices, BIPOC, LGBTQ

Previous clients

Stacey Kennedy, Sharon Culle, Amy Rose Bennett, Laurel Blount

Query Tracker | Publishers Marketplace | MSWL | Agent Query

Faye Bender

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

Genres

Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Literary Fiction, Women's Fiction, Young Adult, Children's Book, Middle Grade, Memoir, Politics, Self-Help, Thriller

Previous clients

Rainey Hopson, Courtney Summers, Melissa Albert, Angeline Boulley

Query Tracker | Agent Query

Uwe Stender

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

Genres

Fiction, Graphic Novel, Mystery, Thriller, Women's Fiction, Young Adult, Nonfiction, Cookbook, Narrative Nonfiction, Politics, Children's Book, Middle Grade, Diverse Fiction, BIPOC, LGBTQ

Previous clients

Adiba Jaigirdar, Dana L. Davis, Elizabeth LaBan, Christi Paul, Jared Reck

Query Tracker | Publishers Marketplace | MSWL | Agent Query

Alice Williams

๐Ÿ’ผ Agency - Alice Williams Literary Agency
๐ŸŒ Location - London, GB
๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿ’ป Website - https://www.alicewilliamsliterary.co.uk/
๐Ÿ“ฃ Preferred contact method - Email
โ˜‘๏ธ Interested in debut authors

Genres

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

Previous clients

Lara Hawthorne, Pete Williamson, Fabi Santiago, Rachel Delahaye, Paul Whitfield

Query Tracker | MSWL

Daniel Lazar

๐Ÿ’ผ Agency - Writers House
๐ŸŒ Location - New York City, 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, Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Humor, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Women's Fiction, Young Adult, Nonfiction, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Children's Book, Middle Grade, Diverse Fiction, LGBTQ

Previous clients

Hannah Kent, Chandler Baker, Raymond Villareal, Ingrid Law, Jennifer McMahon, Matt Rothschild

Query Tracker | Publishers Marketplace | Agent Query

Rob McQuilkin

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

Genres

Fiction, Historical Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir, Literary Fiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Politics, Poetry

Previous clients

Kim Addonizio, Douglas A. Martin

Query Tracker | Publishers Marketplace

Joshua A. Bilmes

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

Genres

Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller, Nonfiction, Business Book, Memoir, Politics, Sports

Previous clients

Brandon Sanderson, Charlaine Harris, Peter V. Brett, Jack Campbell, Tanya Huff

Query Tracker | MSWL | Agent Query

Jennifer Azantian

๐Ÿ’ผ Agency - Azantian Literary Agency
๐ŸŒ Location - San Francisco, US
๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿ’ป Website - http://www.azantianlitagency.com/
๐Ÿ“ฃ Preferred contact method - Online submission form
โ˜‘๏ธ Interested in debut authors

Genres

Fiction, Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Children's Book, Middle Grade, Diverse Fiction, BIPOC, LGBTQ, Horror

Previous clients

S. A. Chakraborty, Heidi Lang, L.D. Lewis, Gwendolyn Clare

Query Tracker | MSWL

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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Reedsy | Editors working on Query Letter | 2023-10

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