What is a literary agent?

You have written a book. You want it published by a traditional publisher. There is one thing standing between your manuscript and the desk of a commissioning editor — a literary agent.

A literary agent is a professional who represents authors and their work to publishers. They are the primary gateway into traditional publishing for most fiction and non-fiction authors — the majority of major publishers do not accept unsolicited submissions directly from authors, which means securing agent representation is the essential first step toward a traditional publishing deal.

In practice, a literary agent reads and evaluates manuscripts, signs authors whose work they believe in and can sell, and then pitches that work to publishers on the author's behalf. When a publisher makes an offer, the agent negotiates the deal — including the advance, royalty rates, subsidiary rights, and contract terms. Once a book is published, the agent continues to manage the author's relationship with the publisher and explore opportunities for foreign rights, film and television adaptations, and other subsidiary income streams. They earn their fee — typically ten to fifteen percent of the author's earnings — only when they sell the work.

A good literary agent is far more than a deal broker. They are an editorial sounding board, a career strategist, and an advocate for their authors in an industry that can be difficult to navigate alone. Many agents offer editorial feedback before submission, helping authors refine their manuscript to the point where it is ready to go out to publishers.

Literary agents are sometimes confused with publishers, editors, or book scouts, but the roles are distinct. An agent represents the author. A publisher acquires and produces the book. An editor — whether in-house at a publisher or freelance — works on the manuscript itself.

Literary agents are relevant to authors pursuing traditional publication routes for fiction, narrative non-fiction, and most commercial non-fiction. For academic, self-published, or highly specialist works, the agent route is typically less relevant.

In traditional publishing, a great agent does not just open doors — they know which ones are worth knocking on.