How to Find Literary Agents: A Step-by-Step Guide

You've finally finished your manuscript. Next comes the part many writers consider even harder: finding an agent.

Agent research is a systematic process, not a mystical art. This guide covers the full querying pipeline: building an initial agent list in QueryTracker, verifying legitimacy, researching each agent's manuscript wishlist (MSWL), and ranking them into tiers. You'll finish with a ranked list and a tracking spreadsheet ready to use. Questions like how many agents to query and whether to query multiple agents at the same agency are covered too.

Quick checklist: How to find literary agents

• Build an initial list in QueryTracker (filter by genre, open status, response time)
• Verify legitimacy - no fees, real sales, check Writer Beware
• Create a master tracking spreadsheet
• Research each agent's MSWL, interviews, and social media
• Score and rank agents into Tier A / B / C
• Query in batches of 5-10; use Tier B / fast responders as your test batch
• Iterate on your materials if the first batch isn't getting requests

Start With QueryTracker

QueryTracker is, for many writers, the most efficient place to start your agent search. It's a searchable database of literary agents that lets you filter by genre, track your submissions, and see response statistics from other writers.

Start by creating a free account (the premium version offers additional features, but free works fine for most). Then search for agents who represent your genre. QueryTracker lets you filter by:

• Genre and category (adult fiction, YA, middle grade, etc.)
• Whether agents are currently open to queries
• Response time statistics
• Recent sales
• Geography

The response data is particularly valuable. You can see how long agents typically take to respond and their request rates for full manuscripts. This helps set realistic expectations and identify agents who are actively building their lists. It also helps you decide who to use as your test batch, as we'll cover later.

Don't stop at QueryTracker, but do start there. It's the most efficient way to generate an initial list of potential agents.

Where Else to Find Agents

A thorough list draws from several sources beyond QueryTracker.

Agency websites. Many agents don't appear in public databases. Browse the rosters of established literary agencies directly to find agents who represent your genre.

Manuscript Wish List (MSWL). MSWL isn't just for research - you can also search it by genre to discover agents you haven't encountered yet.

Acknowledgements pages. This one is often overlooked: find published books similar to yours and check the acknowledgements. Authors almost always thank their agent by name. These agents have already proven they can sell books like yours.

Deal announcements & Trade News. Look for deal roundups, agency news pages, and recent sales announcements in your genre.

Writing conferences and pitch events. Genre-specific conferences and online pitch events let you encounter agents outside the usual databases. Even if you don't pitch, agents' panels and wishlist talks can refine your list.

Verify Agent Legitimacy

Before adding anyone to your list, confirm they're a legitimate agent. Unfortunately, scams targeting hopeful writers do exist.

Legitimate agents don't charge upfront fees. Real agents earn money through commission (typically 15% domestic, 20% foreign) when they sell your book. If someone asks for reading fees, representation fees, or payments before they'll consider your work, walk away.

Verify their track record. Look for verifiable sales to traditional publishers. Check their agency website, Publishers Marketplace, or industry databases. An agent without any confirmed sales (or who only "sells" to vanity presses) isn't going to advance your career.

Watch for red flags:

• Required paid edits (often kickbacks to specific editors)
• "Guaranteed" publication deals
• Pressure to sign quickly
• Unclear or unusual commission terms
• No verifiable clients or sales history

A few minutes of research protects you from wasting months on a questionable "agent." Writer Beware is a good first stop: it maintains a running list of known scams and problematic agents. When in doubt, search the agent's name plus "scam" or "complaints" there before proceeding.

Build Your Master List

Once you have a preliminary list from QueryTracker, transfer it to a spreadsheet. Google Sheets or Excel both work well. Your spreadsheet should track:

• Agent name
• Agency
• Email/submission method
• Genres they represent
• What they're looking for (from research)
• Submission guidelines (query only, query + pages, etc.)
• Status (not queried, queried, requested, rejected, etc.)
• Date queried
• Notes

This master list is your central hub. As you research agents more deeply, you'll add information and rank them by fit. Some writers colour-code by priority: green for dream agents, yellow for good fits, orange for possibilities.

Keep this list updated religiously. When you start querying, you'll need to track who you've contacted, when, and what happened. It's easy to lose track over weeks of querying; your sheet prevents duplicate submissions and keeps you organized.

Should You Query Multiple Agents at the Same Agency?

Many agencies allow you to query only one agent at a time. If an agent at the agency passes, you can sometimes query another, but check the agency's policy first. Note this in your spreadsheet so you don't accidentally submit to two agents at the same agency simultaneously.

Research Each Agent Individually

Here's where the real work begins. For each agent on your list, dig deeper. QueryTracker gives you the basics, but you need to understand what each agent is specifically looking for right now.

One note before you dive in: agent preferences and submission guidelines change. Always verify open/closed status and current guidelines on the agency's own website before querying, even if your notes say they were open last month.

Check Their Manuscript Wish List (MSWL)

The Manuscript Wish List website compiles agents' current wants. Many agents post detailed descriptions of the books they're hoping to find: specific tropes, settings, themes, or comp titles they'd love to see.

This is gold. If an agent says they're looking for "cozy mysteries with found family dynamics" and that's exactly what you wrote, mention it in your query. It shows you've done your research and aren't just mass-emailing every agent in the database.

Your MSWL checklist:

• Copy 2-3 exact phrases the agent uses (e.g., "cozy with found family," "morally grey protagonists")
• Note any hard no's they mention
• Pull one recent comp title they reference
• Add all of this to your spreadsheet notes

Search Social Media

Many agents are active on X (formerly Twitter) and Bluesky, where they share more casual insights into their tastes. Search for the agent's name and look for:

• Books they've recently loved
• Tropes they're tired of seeing
• Pet peeves in queries
• Manuscript wish list updates
• Announcements about being open or closed to queries

Follow agents you're interested in. Their posts often reveal personality and working style, which matters when you're choosing someone to partner with for your career.

Some agents participate in pitch events on social media, where writers post short pitches and agents "like" the ones they want to see queries from. These events can be a good way to gauge interest before querying.

Your social media checklist:

• Check their last 90 days of posts for open/closed status and wishlist updates
• Note any pet peeves or instant rejections they mention
• Look for tone and editorial style signals ("I love sending long editorial letters" vs. "I'm a light-touch editor")
• Save any relevant posts to reference in your query

Read Agent Interviews

Many agents have done interviews for writing blogs, podcasts, or industry sites. Search "[Agent Name] interview" to find these. Interviews often reveal:

• What drew them to agenting
• Their editorial style (hands-on vs. hands-off)
• Deal breakers in submissions
• Recent sales and client successes

This information helps you personalize your query and decide if this agent is someone you'd actually want to work with.

Check Publishers Marketplace

If you have access to Publishers Marketplace (it requires a subscription), you can see agents' recent deals. This tells you if they're actively selling books, what publishers they work with, and whether they have a track record in your genre.

For a free alternative, many agencies list recent sales on their websites.

Prioritize Your List

After researching, rank your agents. Not all agents are equal fits for your book. Consider:

Genre match. Does the agent actively represent and sell books in your specific genre? An agent who "considers" thrillers but primarily sells romance isn't your best bet.

Current wish list. Is the agent explicitly looking for something like your book right now? If not, it doesn't necessarily mean they won't be a good fit, but they probably shouldn't be ranked as highly on your list.

Track record. Has the agent sold books recently? To publishers you'd want to work with?

Personality fit. Based on interviews and social media, do they seem like someone you'd enjoy working with for years?

A simple scoring rubric:

To make ranking easier, score each agent in your spreadsheet:

• Recent sales (0-3): Have they sold books recently, to publishers you'd want?
• Wishlist match (0-3): Are they explicitly looking for something like your book?
• Practicality (0-2): Are they currently open? Do they respond in a reasonable time? Are their submission guidelines straightforward?
• Personal fit (0-2): Do they seem like someone you'd work well with?

Total out of 10:

• 8-10: Tier A - query with highly personalized letters
• 5-7: Tier B - solid fits, worth a tailored query
• 0-4: Tier C - query later if needed, or skip entirely

And remember, this doesn't need to be rigid. If you get a good feeling about a particular agent but they don't score highly, they might still be an A for you.

Prepare Your Materials

Before you query anyone, make sure you have everything ready:

• A polished query letter tailored to your genre, including recent comp titles
• A synopsis (usually one to two pages, though requirements vary)
• Sample pages, formatted per industry standards
• A complete, revised manuscript

Different agents want different materials. Some want just a query. Others want a query plus the first ten pages. Some want a synopsis; others don't. Your spreadsheet should track each agent's specific requirements so you can customize each submission.

A word of caution: many authors make the mistake of querying too early. Agents don't accept multiple queries, so you only get one shot per manuscript. An extra revision pass can be the difference between a form rejection and a full manuscript request.

If you're unsure if your book is ready, this readiness checklist covers the key signals to look for. If you're not getting requests after your first batch, your query package may need work - beta readers, a critique swap, or a tool like Inkshift can help diagnose structural or pacing issues in minutes before you work through your whole list.

How Many Agents Should You Query?

A practical rule of thumb:

• Build a list of 30-60 agents before you start querying
• Query 5-10 at a time, not all at once
• Adjust after each batch - if you're not getting requests, revise your materials before the next round

This keeps your options open while giving you meaningful signal. Start with Tier B agents who respond quickly so you can iterate fast, then move to your Tier A list once you know the query is working.

We wrote a separate blog on how to organize and batch your queries, so we won't go further here. But if you're interested in learning more, here's the article for further reading.

A Note on Timing

Don't query all your dream agents at once. Query in batches, starting with your Tier B agents - they respond faster and make a good test batch. If your first ten queries all result in form rejections, something might be wrong with your query or opening pages. Better to discover that early, revise, and try again than to burn through your entire list with a flawed approach. Once you know it's working, send to the rest.

The Long Game

Finding the right agent takes time. Most successful authors queried dozens of agents before finding representation. The research you do now (building that spreadsheet, understanding each agent's preferences, and targeting your submissions carefully) dramatically improves your odds.

Be patient, be systematic, and be persistent. The right agent is out there, looking for exactly what you've written. Your job is to find them. Good luck!

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between an agent and a publisher? A literary agent represents authors and negotiates publishing deals on their behalf. Publishers acquire and produce books. Most traditional publishers won't accept unsolicited submissions from authors directly - an agent is your gateway in.

Do you need an agent to publish? For major traditional publishers (the "Big Five" and most mid-size houses), yes. Small presses and academic publishers sometimes accept unagented submissions. Self-publishing doesn't require an agent at all.

How do I know if an agent is legitimate? Legitimate agents earn through commission (typically 15% domestic, 20% foreign) - they never charge upfront fees. Verify their sales history on Publishers Marketplace or their agency website, and check Writer Beware if anything feels off.

How many agents should I query at once? Query 5-10 agents per batch. Build an initial list of 30-60 total, and revise your materials between batches if you're not getting requests.

What if an agent never responds? Many agents use a "no response means no" policy. Check their guidelines before querying - if they specify a response window, wait that long, then consider it a pass and move on.