We have listed some of the most commonly asked questions. We hope that the following will help answer any questions you might have. How do I make a submission to your Agency? What type of work do you accept? How long does it take to hear back about a submission? Are you a member of the AAR? What should a writer avoid in the query letter? Do I have to pay any fees up front? How are literary agents paid? What is your rate for services as an agent? What does a literary agent do for writers? How do I know if an agent is dishonest? How long does it take to sell my work? Do you offer additional services? Do you accept queries from outside of North America? Can I submit an un-finished manuscript? If I become a client, will I get published? How can I contact a client? What are some useful publishing resources? How do I make a submission to your Agency? For our submission guidelines, please click here. What type of work do you accept? We represent both fiction and nonfiction in the following categories: Literary, Commercial mainstream, Romance, Chick lit, Women's fiction, YA / Middle Grade, Mysteries & Thrillers, History, Politics, Current Affairs, Business, Gambling and Health & Fitness. Please review our submission guidelines for more information. How long does it take to hear back about a submission? We normally respond within 4-6 weeks. However, the process may take longer depending on the volume of submissions we may be reviewing at a particular time. Please do not call to check on the status of your submission - if you have a question or concern with regard to your submission, e-mail is the best way to inquire. Are you a member of the AAR? We are not YET a member of the AAR; however, we do subscribe to the AAR's "Canon of Ethics". What should a writer avoid in the query letter? A query letter should avoid personal circumstances. You are sending a business letter to business professionals who are evaluating whether they can profit from the work and the relationship. Do I have to pay any fees up front? Not at our Agency. The only payment an agent deserves is a percentage of the sale. How are literary agents paid? An agent receives a percentage, usually 10-15%, of any advance and all royalties. We don't get paid unless we make a sale. What is your rate for services as an agent? As Literary Agents, we receive 15% commission on domestic sales (the United States and Canada), and 20% to 25% on international sales. We may employ a sub-agent for sale of TV/film rights or international rights. What does a literary agent do for writers? A literary agent has connections. They know the publishers inside and out and make sure your manuscript gets into the hands of the right publisher. An agent's job is to get you published - that's how they make money. Agent representation gives you an immediate degree of credibility. Publishers understand that if an agent has agreed to represent a manuscript, there must be some merit to it. Some publishers simply will not deal with anyone but an agent. An agent has the experience, skills and motivation to negotiate the best publishing contract for an author. It's a simple formula - the more the author makes, the more the agent makes. Once a book is published, an agent can continue to help manage the book's life cycle, which may include paperback, international publishing, television or film deals, etc. How do I know if an agent is dishonest? There are a lot of fantastic and dedicated agents out there who make their living by selling their client's work to legitimate royalty paying publishers. However, there are some who make their living by charging fees, engaging in referral schemes and by misrepresenting themselves. How long does it take to sell my work? From 1 day to 5 years. You should view this process as a long term business relationship. On average, approximately 99% of submissions to publishers and literary agents get rejected, especially if you've never been published. Don't take rejection personally and don't let it discourage you as a writer. You may need to revise your work and give it another try. Do you offer additional services? No. We have one simple mission. We sell our clients' work for as much money as we can get for them. Do you accept queries from outside of North America? We work with authors from anywhere in the world. Can I submit an un-finished manuscript? For fiction, we will only consider queries for completed manuscripts. For nonfiction, you must have a completed full-length proposal prepared. If I become a client, will I get published? We can't guarantee you will get published, but we can guarantee we will work hard to try and make that happen. How can I contact a client? Please submit your request to the P.S. Literary Agency, 20033-520 Kerr Street, Oakville, Ontario, L6K 3C7 CANADA. You may also contact us by e-mail. What are some useful publishing resources? Publishers Marketplace Agent Query Backspace Writer Beware Preditors & Editors Association of Authors' Representatives Pub Rants Blog Nathan Bransford's Blog BookEnds Blog Miss Snark's Blog Top of Page