Literary agents & partners
We can make the introduction.
For a traditional publishing contract, you need a literary agent; publishers rarely accept direct submissions. We work with over 40 leading literary agencies worldwide.
The path from manuscript to agent
Almost all new writers seeking to be traditionally published need a literary agent. The major publishing houses account for almost 80 percent of book sales worldwide and acquire books almost exclusively from literary agents.
We are in touch with literary agents on a daily basis and prime them on forthcoming manuscripts from our writers. Join The Finished Novel Course and, if your manuscript is a match for one of our trusted literary agents, you will be invited to enter our submissions process. We neither ask for nor accept a commission for this; it’s part of the service.
A good literary agent can get you a traditional publishing deal with major publishers and independents, as well as TV and film rights. If you want to be published by one of the Big Five; Penguin Random House, Hachette, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Macmillan, you will need an agent to get your manuscript in front of their editors.
Agent listings are hard to navigate. You’ll research literary agents for many weeks to find those who represent your genre, pore through their submission guidelines and wish lists, and still be unsure whether you have found the right match.
Even if a literary agent shows interest, requests a full manuscript and likes your writing, you may still have questions. How well are they regarded in the industry? Do they have contacts at the publishing houses that acquire in your genre? Editors prioritize submissions according to the agency they come from.
Many new authors think the publishing industry is impenetrable, a closed shop. It isn’t. The writer’s market is stronger than it has ever been, and you might be closer than you think. A literary agent views a query letter with the same eye as the acquiring editor at a publishing house. They know immediately what they are looking for.
We submit on your behalf, keeping you informed throughout and allowing you the choice of meeting the agents interested in taking things further. It’s a joy for us to make that life-changing call to say an agent loves your book. Submission is never guaranteed; it depends on your manuscript being ready.
Our trusted literary agencies
Our literary agents are AAA and AALA members, operating worldwide. They represent bestselling and award-winning authors including Tom Clancy, Meg Wolitzer, Philip Pullman, Michael Ondaatje, Hilary Mantel, Marilynne Robinson, Madeline Miller, Celeste Ng, Gail Honeyman, Richard Osman, Paula Hawkins, J.M. Coetzee, Jacqueline Wilson and many more.
The Plot Agency
Skylark Literary
Is it time to take your writing seriously?
Yes, you can
Leading literary agencies are seeking debut authors with great stories in all genres of fiction, authors who present their pitch professionally and have a strong voice. If you are serious about your career as a writer and take good advice, the path to representation is open.
Get good advice
Whether you’re a debut author, have self-published or been published by a small press, whether you’re seeking your first agent or a new one, we can help you find the right match. Our editorial team are in conversation with literary agents daily and well placed to make the right introduction at the right time.
Work with professionals
Our team have strong relationships with many leading literary agents, built over years working alongside them as Big Five acquiring editors. They know what makes an exceptionally good submission, because they were on the other side of the desk receiving them.
Become a professional
We help you establish your voice, genre specialism and commercial positioning, with expert editorial feedback at every stage from shaping your idea through to a pitch-perfect submission package, ensuring the story is as strong as it needs to be to sell.