Questions to Ask a Literary Agent Before Signing
Updated: Oct 9
An offer call is not an exam you pass by sounding grateful. You are deciding whether to build a working relationship around your book and possibly several books after it. Write down your questions before the call so excitement does not erase them.
Ask about the manuscript
What revisions would the agent want before submission? Which parts do they think are strongest? Where might editors hesitate? An answer that engages with specific scenes and the book's intended readers tells you more than praise alone.
Ask about the submission plan
How would they position the novel, and to which kinds of editors? How many publishers would be approached at a time? What happens if the first round does not sell? You do not need a guaranteed outcome, but you should understand the plan.
Ask about working style
How often do they update clients? Who handles foreign, film, audio, and other rights? Will an assistant or co-agent be involved? How do they approach a disagreement over revisions or the next project? If possible, speak with a client about actual communication.
Ask about the agreement
What work and future books does it cover? What are the commissions and expenses? How does termination work, and what commission continues on deals already made? Read the document afterward rather than trying to settle every detail on the phone.
Choose the whole partner
A warm call matters, but so do track record, agency support, editorial fit, and the ability to talk honestly. Take the offered decision period to compare the relationship you are being offered with your goals.
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Viola Musaraj is a writer, novelist, micro and vertical drama producer, and interactive narrative designer with more than 140 million reads worldwide.
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