How to research and vet a literary agent before you query
A real agent sells books to real publishers and never charges you to read or represent your work. Here's how to confirm an agent is legit, active, and right for your book — and the red flags that mean walk away.
A query is a job interview in both directions. Before you hand an agent your manuscript — and potentially your career — confirm they’re legitimate, active, and a genuine fit for your book. It takes ten minutes per agent and saves you from the two worst outcomes: wasting queries on the wrong people, and signing with someone who can’t (or won’t) sell your work.
The one rule that filters out most scams
A real literary agent never charges you to read, edit, or represent your manuscript. They make money by selling your book and taking a commission (typically 15% domestic). If an “agent” asks for a reading fee, requires you to buy editing from a partner company, or charges a retainer, stop. That’s not how agenting works. The same logic applies to paid publishing offers — our guide to hybrid publishers and author services covers who charges what, and which of them are worth it.
Confirm they sell books — to real publishers
An agent’s value is their sales record. Look for a track record of deals with recognizable publishers in your category, ideally recent ones. The agent profiles in our directory surface known deals and the kinds of books each agent represents, so you can see at a glance whether they actually place work like yours. An agent with no verifiable sales is either brand new (which can be fine — see below) or not really selling.
Check they’re a fit — and currently open
- Category match. An agent who reps adult thrillers can’t sell your picture book. Match your genre and audience to theirs.
- Wishlist match. The best signal is an agent actively asking for something like your book. Read their stated wishlist before you query.
- Open to queries. Status changes constantly. Querying a closed agent is a wasted shot — check our list of agents open to queries and always confirm on their official submission page.
- Reputable agency. Established agencies (and members of the AAR, the agents’ professional association) follow industry norms on contracts and commissions.
A note on brand-new agents
A short sales record isn’t automatically a red flag. New agents building their listsare often the smartest place to start: they’re hungry, more likely to be open, and faster to respond. The key is that they work at a reputable agencywith experienced agents around them — a junior agent at a strong agency has the whole firm’s relationships behind them.
- Any upfront or ongoing fee to read, edit, or represent your work.
- Pressure to use a specific (paid) editing or publishing service first.
- No verifiable sales, or a vague client list you can’t confirm.
- Guarantees of publication or unrealistic promises.
- A contract with no clear commission structure or an unusually high cut.
Once an agent clears these checks, add them to your list and write a tailored query letter. New to the whole process? Start with how to find a literary agent.