Literary Agent Blog – By a Former Literary Agency President
This literary agent blog by former NY Times bestselling book agent Mark Malatesta reveals everything you want and need to know about literary agents, and everything you wouldn’t know to ask.
The categories on this literary agent blog are named and organized in a way that makes it easy for you to find exactly what you’re looking for. Scroll below to browse the latest posts on our publishing agent blog, or use the category links in the sidebar on the right!
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Literary Agent Blog – Welcome
This literary agent blog has information about literary agents, literary agencies, writing, getting published, and book marketing. You’ll even find a section on our book agent blog where you can submit your questions to a former book agent.
It’s called Ask a Literary Agent.
Many authors find this part of our literary agent blog as valuable as the articles. They appreciate the thoughtful answers to their questions, posted by former NY Times bestselling book agent–and AAR member–Mark Malatesta. But they also find themselves learning a great deal by reading other authors’ questions (and answers) on our literary agent blog.
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Recent Posts on Our Literary Agent Blog
Be An Entrepreneur Author to Get a Literary Agent
Entrepreneur author - the most important tip that I can share with you about how to get a literary agent and grow your business... is this. If you’re writing books you’re not an author. You’re an expert, and an entrepreneur. Many writers don’t think of themselves as...
Fantasy Writing for Literary Agents
Fantasy writing is for fools... wait, let me explain. I’m literally the last person on the planet who’s going to limit you (or tell you what you can’t do). The world has enough of those already. But, many authors (dare I say most authors?) have "slightly" unrealistic...
Suspension of Disbelief
Suspension of disbelief or "willing suspension of disbelief" is more important than most authors realize. The term... Suspension of Disbelief ...is usually used to describe something that fiction readers do: Temporarily “forget” that something is improbable, and focus...
Write a Book for Your Business
If you're an entrepreneur or small business owner, there are only three ways to write a book for your business (at least in my mind). One of them is good, I call it Win-Win Writing. The other two are a complete waste of time, and they can destroy your business. I call...
How to Become a Literary Agent
How to become a literary agent - before you decide to start a literary agency and/or represent yourself, read this article by a former NY Times bestselling book agent. How to Become a Literary Agent? So you say that you want to learn how to become a literary agent....
Self-Publish a Book
Self-publish a book? Before you do, come closer. More. It’s dark in here. Closer... Nope, closer still. Okay. I'm going to tell you a secret. A confession really. Do you see that, over there… next to the stairs? Take a look. Now, look at me. It physically hurts to...
Book Genres – Which Ones Are Best?
Book genres - which ones are popular, 'hot' or pay the most right now? I haven't written any books yet, because I have so many wonderful ideas. Which book genres should I consider writing to make lots of money? – Heather Book Genres - Which Ones are Hot or Popular? *...
Make Money As An Author
If You Want To... Make Money As An Author ...It's MORE Than Okay I was attacked this week by an author... Not an uppercut to the jaw, but something more sophisticated… words. Yep, a full blown assault on the comments section of my YouTube account (don’t bother going...
How to Write a Novel that Sells – Raise the Stakes
How to write a novel that sells (after all, isn't that the goal of every aspiring novelist)? It's simple... Figure out how to write a novel that isn't boring. In other words, write a page-turner. Now, one of the best ways to write a page-turner (or a novel that...
How to Write a Book that Sells – Understanding High-Concept
How to write a book that could become a bestseller - for authors of fiction, nonfiction, and children's books. This article contains the single most important secret that you need to know... how to come up with a high-concept premise. How to Write a Book that Sells...
Not Writing – Author Excuses
If writing was a religion... I’d be going to hell. God help me, I’m a hypocrite. Reading about writing, thinking about writing, talking about writing. But... Not writing. No late night meetings with my muse. No midnight melting into morning as I put the finishing...
Should I Self-Publish My Book?
Should I self-publish my book? That's the question I'm asked by authors, more than any other. So, let me answer it definitively, by saying... Just because modern technology has made it possible for you to self-publish a book, doesn't mean you should self-publish a...
Why I Love Writers – By a Former Literary Agent
It might surprise you to hear this (and you won’t like it), but some literary agents, book editors, and other publishing professionals don’t like writers. It’s true. You see... most agents, editors, and other publishing professionals love books. But they don't love...
How to Get a Book Published – Literary Agents
How to get a book published with one click of your mouse... Although you might not know it yet, you and I were born to be together. That is, if you have a book -- or book idea -- that you’d like to sell to a traditional publisher for a decent amount of money (maybe a...
Biography
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TBA
"Berkley Books recently published my book in hardcover after Mark helped me get multiple agents interested in my work. I was able to speak with literary agents from top agencies such as Janklow & Nesbit, Trident Media, Anderson Lit, and Folio. I signed with Don Fehr at Trident Media and a short time later I had a publishing contract! Having Mark on your side is incredibly valuable." [Click here to see all Mark Malatesta reviews]
About Mark Malatesta
MARK MALATESTA is a former literary agent turned author coach. Mark now helps authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children's books) get top literary agents, publishers, and book deals through his company Literary Agent Undercover and The Bestselling Author. Mark's authors have gotten six-figure book deals, been on the NYT bestseller list, and published with houses such as Random House, Scholastic, and Thomas Nelson. Click here to learn more about Mark Malatesta and click here for Reviews of Mark Malatesta.About Mark Malatesta
MARK MALATESTA is a former literary agent turned author coach. Mark now helps authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children's books) get top literary agents, publishers, and book deals through his company Literary Agent Undercover and The Bestselling Author. Mark's authors have gotten six-figure book deals, been on the NYT bestseller list, and published with houses such as Random House, Scholastic, and Thomas Nelson. Click here to learn more about Mark Malatesta and click here for Reviews of Mark Malatesta.* * *
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