Literary agent referrals – How important are personal connections when it comes to getting a top literary agent, publisher, and book deal? In other words, do you need to know someone influential in publishing… to become someone influential in publishing?
This article reveals the truth, and it’s
probably not what you think.
* * *
I was inspired to share the information in this article after getting the following comment from an author (along with hundreds of others just like it during my 15+ years in the book business).
* * *
Dear Mark,
I’m convinced that getting an agent doesn’t happen unless you have a personal connection to start with. You don’t just send out inquiries and get your foot in the door. It’s a matter of having the right personal contacts and introductions.
Sincerely,
Aspiring Author
* * *
When you’re the proverbial “outsider looking in” it’s easy to think this way. You don’t know better. So it’s easy for your imagination to paint a dismal picture like this. After all, you’re a writer. Your imagination is supposed to run wild. But, your imagination can also lead you over the edge of the cliff of truth, into a dark pit of half-truths and hopelessness.
Before that happens,
let me tell you what it’s really like.
* * *
During my first two years as a literary agent, 100% of the authors who contacted me seeking representation weren’t referrals from other literary agents.
Yes, 100%.
Why?
I was an outsider.
I was young with no experience or connections. I didn’t know any other literary agents (or editors at publishing houses for that matter). I was living in South Florida, not NYC. And I wasn’t yet speaking at writers’ conferences across the country.
So, how did authors find me?
Simple…
I was smart enough to get listed in the two leading literary agent directories at the time: Jeff Herman’s Directory of Agents and the Writer’s Digest Guide to Literary Agents.
And I built a website.
After I started to become successful (and known) with a track record of sales to major publishers like Random House, things changed—but just a little bit. I started getting referrals, but it was still only about 2% of all incoming queries.
What impact did those
referrals have on me?
A lot, but only for 2 seconds.
Here’s why…
As an agent you think to yourself, “Well, golly, this book must be good. Another agent took the time to personally recommend it.”
Fantastic!!!!!
But then…
You have to read the author’s query letter,
synopsis, sample pages and/or book proposal.
Oh, snap.
If you’re an author reading this right now,
you’re realizing referrals aren’t that big a deal.
Sorry…
No literary agent is going to represent you
(in whole, or even in part)
because of a referral.
What matters is your book.
And your pitch.
* * *
If you’ve been part of my online community for a while, you know that I love comparing the author/agent relationship to a romantic soul-mate relationship (because it’s fun, and because there are a lot of parallels between the two).
So…
If you were single and searching, and someone you knew told you about someone else who was single and searching (and supposedly perfect for you), what would you think?
Yes, you might get excited about the possibilities. But, I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t decide to move in with the person or marry them sight unseen (unless you’re certifiably desperate).
No.
You’d ask questions about the person,
and then want to meet them.
Kick the tires.
Peek under the hood.
Take a test drive.
You know I’m right.
The same unwritten rules that apply in love are true
for authors seeking their “literary soul-mate.”
I know it’s twisted,
but it’s true.
* * *
Here’s something else
you’ll want to know…
When I stopped being a literary agent and closed my literary agency, I really learned how useless referrals are. I had a lot of published authors at the time–authors I’d worked hard to get established (they weren’t published when they found me). And I cared about them. I didn’t want to “break up with them” and leave them single.
So, what did I do?
I reached out to the top literary agents
I knew to make referrals.
I made phone calls.
I sent emails.
And I was shocked at
how hard it was…
These were successful authors with book deals
published by major publishing houses.
And it still wasn’t easy.
Why???
An agent has to genuinely connect with your work. They’re not going to represent you just because you’re already published, you’ve sold a lot of books, or because someone referred you.
Now, this will really shock you…
I don’t even make personal referrals for the 1-on-1 coaching clients
I work with today (even though they invest a lot of money to work with me).
Why?
Because it wouldn’t make a difference.
If you want to get the attention of the most eligible literary agents,
and get them fighting over the opportunity to represent you…
Write a great book.
Then, write a great pitch.
And…
Consider teaming up with an industry insider
who knows how to help you look even better
(just make sure that person is qualified
so they don’t do more harm than good).
Every week I help at least one new author improve their pitch materials,
choose the best agents for their work, send out their queries, and…
Get top literary agents asking for more.
No personal referrals.
“Cold” queries.
Yes…
If your book is well written, your pitch is solid, and you don’t
give up after sending out 20, 40, or even 100 queries…
you WILL get positive responses.
Lastly, don’t forget that you don’t need
to hear back from everyone.
Just someone.
You only need one agent out of the 1,000+ out there
to fall in love with you… so you can enjoy
your publishing-happily-ever-after.
Remember…
Getting published isn’t luck,
it’s a decision.
If you believe,
and do the
work.
– Mark
* * *
* * *
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 
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 
I have a non-fiction book that is completed, and a draft query letter. If I sign up for your coaching hour could you recommend some specific agents to contact, as well as help me with editing the letter?
Hi Christine, I can tell you how to improve the letter and give you general guidance regarding how to choose the most successful agents who might be interested in your… but not specific names of agents… as there are more than 1,300 and it’s a personal/subjective process.
To register for an introductory coaching call, if you want to move forward, just click here: http://markmalatesta.com/mark-malatesta-author-coaching/. Or, if you have a private question you’d like to ask me about my coaching first, you can email it to me here: https://thebestsellingauthor.com/about/contact/.
If you want help with anything else, you can post questions for me online here: https://thebestsellingauthor.com/ask/. If you haven’t already done so, you can also get access (no cost) to all the valuable resources in our private, members-only area here: https://thebestsellingauthor.com/membership/. And, again, you can register for an introductory coaching call with me here: http://markmalatesta.com/mark-malatesta-author-coaching/. I’m looking forward to learning more about you and your work.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
http://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Mark, I love your response to the opinion that referrals are essential to get a literary agent. Far better for new authors like myself to focus on writing a book that has broad appeal than obsess about networking. This helps!
Hi Paul! Just saw your comment, sorry for the delay. Busy week! Glad you liked the article. I love that the publishing industry really is primarily about the best book, not who you know. Other industries, not so much. 😉
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
http://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
My first book was published and many people liked it and was a very inspirational poetry book. Now I would like to find an agent for my second book, a fiction novel but it requires time and much effort to send my work out to find the right agent who will know how to position my work with a major publisher and a six figure advance as well. I’ve already received positive feedback from several agents saying my work is good and not to give up. Perhaps you can refer me to an agent.
Hi Laura,
I don’t refer specific literary agents to authors, here on my website, for a variety of reasons (but the main reason is that it’s a lot like dating, a very subjective process).
But…
You can easily find the best agents for you by using my Directory of Literary Agents that you can access here (no charge): https://literary-agents.com/directory-literary-agents/.
You should also (if you haven’t already done so) click here to access to all the valuable resources I have about getting an agent in my private, members-only area (no charge): http://thebestsellingauthor.com/membership/. Once you’ve entered your name and email address there, click on the link that says, “Audio Training Library”. Then you’ll see my main audio training (and text transcript), which reveals the 7 Insider Secrets You Need to Know to Get a Top Literary Agent, Publisher, and Book Deal.
If you want help with anything else, you can post questions for me online here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/ask/. You can also (if you haven’t done so already) get access (no cost) to all the valuable resources in our private, members-only area here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/membership/. And you can register for an introductory coaching call with me here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/coaching/intro-call/.
Either way, I’m looking forward to learning more about you and your work.
Have a great day, and weekend!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Damn I love reading your posts, Mark. Not so much that they are immensely revealing but rather they are reinforcing what we all know to be true but are too afraid to admit it.
Thanks Jeff, either way… I’ll take it… you just made my day.
Have a fabulous Friday, and weekend!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Still hanging in there… by my fingertips…!
As long as you’re still hanging on, it’s all good!
Have a fab Friday!!!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Thanks Mark, I needed to see this.
🙂
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Hi Mark, What if you’re a christian who’ve written a christian book that goes against christian beliefs (but is true)and no christian agent will touch it. I had a christian agent tell me, “I do not believe that could sell this proposal to a Christian publisher. And also they would want to see something like this from an author who is a recognized authority in theology and the Holy Spirit. I am sure the book is thorough.So Mark, if a christian agent won’t sell the truth, what kind of agent will?
Hi Roland, depends on the nature of book… might be a better fit for mainstream agents who are interested in religion.
Have a great day, and weekend!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Out of a dozen novels that I have written, I honestly believe that #9 is the one that ought to get published by one of the major houses. I have already sent out over 200 queries without positive results. How many more should I send before I put this unique story on the shelf and move on?
Josh
Hi Josh, sorry to hear that…
The good news is that you can often get a drastically different response by tweaking or changing your pitch materials (query letter, synopsis, book proposal, manuscript, etc.).
My favorite example of this is one of my coaching clients who’d pitched her favorite “dream” agent three times over the course of two years. Rejections every time. After I helped her rewrite her query letter, she approached the same agent a fourth time and he requested the full manuscript. So don’t get too discouraged. You might just be a few changes away from getting what you want.
As a next step (if you haven’t already done so) click here to access to all the resources I have about getting an agent in my private, members-only area (no charge): http://thebestsellingauthor.com/membership/. Once you’ve entered your name and email address there, click on the link that says, “Audio Training Library”. Then you’ll see my main audio training (and text transcript), which reveals the 7 Insider Secrets You Need to Know to Get a Top Literary Agent, Publisher, and Book Deal.
That might have what you need
to get to the next level…
If you want help with anything else, you can post questions for me online here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/ask/. You can also (if you haven’t done so already) get access (no cost) to all the valuable resources in our private, members-only area here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/membership/. And you can register for an introductory coaching call with me here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/coaching/intro-call/.
Either way, I’m looking forward to learning more about you and your work.
Have a great day, and weekend!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I have considerable successful sales experience in my history and empathize that writer agent relationship is about sales with and for the agent. All I would have to do is tell the agent that I have 100,000 followers on Facebook and I’m sure I would hook him or her to explore a bit more what I am offering. Sales is what it is and the people who make a living at it have been dragged through the streets to get where they are at. As a writer we need to empathize and apply accordingly.
Hi Tom,
You might find these two articles to be of interest: https://literary-agents.com/social-media-for-authors/ and https://literary-agents.com/author-platform/.
If you want help with anything else, you can post questions for me online here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/ask/. You can also (if you haven’t done so already) get access (no cost) to all the valuable resources in our private, members-only area here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/membership/. And you can register for an introductory coaching call with me here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/coaching/intro-call/. Either way, I’m looking forward to learning more about you and your work.
Have a great evening!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Very helpful and uplofting stuff, Mark. Thank you!
Thank you Adam, hope you’re having a good week!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Really insightful Mark. Thank you!
Thank you Michael, and have a wonderful week!
If I can help with anything let me know. As you know, you can post questions for me online here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/ask/. If you haven’t already done so, you can also get access (no cost) to all the valuable resources in our private, members-only area here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/membership/. And you can register for an introductory coaching call with me here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/coaching/intro-call/.
All my best to you and yours this holiday season,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Hey guys, happy to have contacted you. Hoping that this site will be of good use to me as well as others. I’ve written a really good story. I would like to get in touch with a really great literary agent who will connect with the expression of words that come off pages of my work of verbal art expression flowing from page to page that you just refuse to put down until the last word has been read!!!
Hi Mandy, welcome. If you haven’t already done so… take a look at our complete list of websites here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/websites/. Then make sure you listen to the FIRST audio training recording in my online audio library (link should be in the welcome email you got from me if/when you signed up at one of my websites). You can also post questions for me online here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/how-to-be-a-bestselling-author/ask/. And, lastly, if/when you’re interested, register for an introductory coaching call with me here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/coaching/intro-call/. One way or another, I’ll get you going in the right direction. Mark
Veränderungen wie diese sind eine Gelegenheit, einmal daran erinnert, dass alle Sachen sich niederlassen kann, wird alle Creme dieser Inhalt nach oben steigen. Als einer Website, alle meistens voll wie auch ganz auf die dieser Seite des guten Schreibens war, sind sie zuversichtlich, dass unsere Inhalte ebenfalls weiterhin gut effektiv tun auf die allen Suchmaschinen. Sobald sie mehr mehr als das Update erfahren, sie halten Man auf die dem Laufenden.
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Mark:
Actually, I find your article reassuring. I have lost so many battles in my life with the “old boy network” (even now that I am an “old boy” myself 🙂 ) that the idea that I MUST pitch myself and get an agent on my own merits appeals to me.
I self-published my first book (Governing Ourselves), but will not do that again! You and Ingrid have an amazing way of building self-confidence in your clients! As to hard work, I’m just looking forward to doing hard work that brings rewards… | Literary Agent Referrals
Hi Harold, glad to hear it… this one was a long time coming. I knew a lot of people needed to hear it. Now, here’s to you publishing your next book “the right way”. 😉 Talk soon, and congrats again on the gift card. I’m glad it was you. Talk soon. Mark | Literary Agent Referrals
Hi Mark,
Thank you. That was another valuable article for aspiring authors to read. My husband often says he wishes he knew someone who could recommend him to a publisher or agent. Now I can convince him that’s not necessary.
By the way, if you’re interested, I can give you a recipe for a dessert which contains no sucrose and only three ingredients plus water. My husband eats it as a substitute for chocolate ice-cream and says it is delicious.
All the best,
Gai | Literary Agent Referrals
Thank you Gai, I’m glad. The problem is it’s easier for authors to blame things like a lack of referrals for not breaking out or breaking through. But it’s usually something closer to home, like not having the right pitch or not being ready… or simply giving up too soon. I hope you don’t do that. And thank you for the recipe offer, but I basically eat everything Ingrid puts in front of me… unless we’re eating out… which is often. But thank you for thinking of that, very kind. Mark | Literary Agent Referrals
Great column! But I didn’t receive it! I think I’ve been “offed the island” address wise, with you and Ingrid’s mailings lately? Meanwhile, the ‘connections’ theme is an interesting one! (Although in my single days I trysted with a few psychiatrists, unintentionally so, and one would THINK therefore that I’d be quite saner today, yes)? Pillow talk may be overrated thus! OK, OK, always great stuff from you; AND, I did do some recent “literary homework!” THANK YOU! More soon. Cheers to you both!!! | Literary Agent Referrals
Hi Leah, since you’re having an issue getting columns from me AND my lovely Ingrid, methinks something is fishy on your end. Not sure what’s going on but we’re obviously looking into it, so let me know if you get this reply to your comment. Very funny, your psychiatrist comment by the way. Always good hearing from you, of course. And I do you hope you’re doing your homework and have something delicious to report soon. Do keep me posted. Mark | Literary Agent Referrals
Good Morning Mark and happy Thursday to you both! I DID get your comment alert now, but not the original newsletter, nor Ingrid’s since the new site’s launch, and not her comment alerts either. Odd. I do seem to be getting my other mailings and mail, but will certainly check around a bit and see if something is stuck or blocked on my end. (Of the computer that is). OK, Smiles to you two, and make today delicious!!!!!!!!!!! | Literary Agent Referrals
Hi Leah, great… at least SOMETHING is working. 😉 If you discover anything on your end, do let us know. And make each day delicious! Talk soon. Mark | Literary Agent Referrals
It sounds like the business adage, you get out of something what you put into it. So if you want to be published in hard copy, be prepared to work. If you thought writing was hard, wait til you go to the next step.
Hi Jan, very true. Or, maybe, if you put everything you have into something… you might not be successful… but at least you give yourself the best chance. And that’s all any of us can do. I’m glad I didn’t scare you off with my hard work message. 😉 Mark | Literary Agent Referrals
Ok, I have a curiosity:). When you see on websites that they will “get back w/you in 4-6 weeks” if something’s there…and sometimes not if not interested….tell me- us it fee subtle to believe they will get back with you ASAP if they like your query? Does it really take 4-8 weeks to call an author if they truly like their work? Sometimes I feel if they don’t get back to me in 3 days, they are not interested despite what the website says. Am I wrong to suspect this? | Literary Agent Referrals
Stupid auto correct! Not ” us it subtle”, but IS IT feesible? Ha, ha! | Literary Agent Referrals
I’m glad you explained that. I would NOT have figured that one out. LOL. Mark | Literary Agent Referrals
Hi KW, it’s totally random… the timing. Depends on how backed up or busy someone is. Someone might take 6 weeks to get back to you… or 6 hours…. and be equally enthused about your work. Mark | Literary Agent Referrals