The industry’s best and brightest agents respond directly to readers’ questions in this regular column dating back to 2010. To submit a question for the next featured agent, e-mail editor@pw.org
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Jody Kahn of Brandt and Hochman [1]
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 [3]
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 [5]
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.
Annie Hwang of Folio Literary Management [7]
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.
Kirby Kim of Janklow & Nesbit Associates [8]
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 [10]
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 [12]
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 [14]
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 [16]
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 [18]
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.
Chris Parris-Lamb of the Gernert Company [19]
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 [21]
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 [23]
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.
Rebecca Gradinger of Fletcher & Company [24]
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 [26]
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.
Jenni Ferrari-Adler of Brick House Literary Agents [27]
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 [29]
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 [31]
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 [33]
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. [34]
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.