A handbook for authors
The Writer's Guide to Agents
What an agent is. What they actually do. Whether you need one. How to get one. What they charge. How to approach them without wasting everyone's Tuesday. And a directory of agencies you can sort by region and type of representation.
Contents
Six questions every writer asks
- 01What is an agent?Literary, film and talent agents — and what they are not.
- 02What do they do?Deals, contracts, rights, and the long game of a writing career.
- 03Do I need one?When representation is essential, optional, or a waste of postage.
- 04How can I get one?The unglamorous path from finished pages to a signed agreement.
- 05What are their fees?Commission, expenses, and the fees you should never pay.
- 06How to approach an agentQuery letters, etiquette, red flags, and a working checklist.
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Agencies in the directory, with official contact links
6
Geographical regions, from London and New York to Dublin and Sydney
90 days
Automatic review cycle. Last checked 10 September 2026; next 10 December 2026.
What is an agent, in one paragraph?
A literary agent is a professional representative who sells your work to publishers (and often to film and foreign-language buyers), negotiates the contract, and takes a commission only when you are paid. They are not a publisher, not a vanity press, and not someone you hire by the hour to “get you a deal.” If they want money before they have sold anything, walk away.
Read the full chapterHow to use the directory
Filter by region if you are writing for a particular market. Filter by type if you need a book agent rather than a film agent — they are not interchangeable. Then open the agency's own website and follow their guidelines, not a blog post from 2019. The list is reviewed automatically every three months.
Open the directoryChapter 08
Further reading
Five books that go deeper on directories, query strategy, and what it is like to open the slush pile. Amazon.co.uk links, and Amazon.com where the book is sold there.
See the shelfChapter 09
Companion studios
How writers earn, what a contract actually says, a query log, book marketing, writing prizes, and why manuscripts come back. Six more guides by Stewart Ferris.
See the studios