Hunting for a literary agent, publisher, or magazine to submit to?
I got you! I've been compiling a list on reputable agents, publishers, and magazines that you can query.
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First off, what is a reputable agent? A good agent:
NEVER asks for money or gifts upfront, they earn a percentage of your book sales. That means if you don't sell books, neither of you make money!
ALWAYS is kind, courteous, and respectful. They should be your biggest fan and champion your books.
HAS many contacts with publishers and other agents.
HAS lots of experience brokering deals OR is learning from another agent.
IS a great editor as well. They will go over your manuscript with you and suggest edits. They often have backgrounds in editing or law to receive contracts.
A list of reputable agents and agencies are below.
Remember, if something smells fishy, it probably is. Protect yourself and don't get scammed!
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Newer agents are easier to sign with because they're building their list. They're often called Junior Agents. However, they may have less experience. They should be actively reaching out to make connections with publishers and being shadowed by a more experienced agent at their agency, known as Senior Agents.
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Not everyone can just wake up one morning and decide to be an agent. It takes experience and knowledge. While there's no official training course or certification (I think there should be), they often shadow bigger agents at their agency to learn all they can.
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What is a reputable publisher? They can be indie or traditional. They:
NEVER ask for money upfront. They earn when you do!
HAVE editors on staff or will hire one, free of charge for you that will edit your book alongside you.
HAVE professional-looking cover designs and don't use AI.
HAVE a website and social media presence. They might not have a robust marketing team, especially if they're an indie publisher, but they should be trying at least.
ALWAYS treat their authors with respect.
HANDLE book cover creation, formatting, and listing your book online. All you do is write!
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If they ever ask you for money, they are a vanity publisher. Trust me, that's not something you want to get into. Money should always flow to YOU from the publisher.
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What is the difference between indie and big publishers? Big publishers, like Simon and Schuster, HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, and others are very much sought after by agents and authors. But it's very difficult to get published by them and you must get an agent first. They don't accept direct submissions from authors. They have more money, more exposure and popularity, and can often offer you an advance (money to buy your book) and afford proper marketing. They can also get your books physically distributed in bookstores around the world. If you decide to go this route, good luck!
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Indie publishers are a little easier to sign with. Yes, they have less money and can't get your books in stores around the world. But are they still worth publishing with? I think so. They will still handle creating your book, editing with you, and marketing on social media. They are a great opportunity for new authors who have never been published before!
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If you have questions or concerns, especially if you receive an offer of representation or a publishing contract, feel free to shoot me a message. Be careful when dealing with contracts. Please, don't get scammed. Unfortunately, there are MANY scams in this industry. Where can you learn to avoid scams?
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Writers Beware dot com is a great resource. They list poor publishers and the latest scandals.
Make sure to check the QueryTracker website and the Absolute Write website to see if people are talking about your chosen agent or publisher. You may save yourself from a scam by reading up first! Always do your research.
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Where can you find agents and publishers to query? Besides below on my website, QueryTracker, Manuscript Wishlist, and Writer's Digest are good resources. The same goes for indie publishers. You can also go to their publisher or agency's website directly. They will list their submission requirements for writers.
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Reputable Literary Agencies
To query for book and career representation. This list is constantly being updated. If you have concerns about an agency listed here, please contact me directly at danagricken@gmail.com. I will immediately remove any agency conducting bad behavior. Remember: consult the website directly for submission guidelines and if they're open to queries! Also double check they represent your genre/age group.
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*Sorry for any duplicates! I'm pulling information from multiple websites.*
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My best advice to querying? Search up books similar to yours and find out who agented and published them! Okay, on to the list:
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DeFiore and Company
Writer's House
Creative Artists Agency
The Book Group
Ross Yoon Agency
Liza Dawson Associates
Jabberwocky Agency
New Leaf Literary
HG Literary
Bennett Literary
Pew Literary
Trellis Literary Management
Janklow and Nesbitt Agency
Aevitas Creative
Bresnick Weil Literary
Serendipity Literary Agency
Metamorphosis Literary Agency (my former agency, where my agent left due to health reasons)
Sterling Lord Literistic
Gernert Company
Susanna Lea Associates
Chris Calhoun Agency
Folio Literary
Miller Bowers Griffin Literary Management
Stonesong
BookEnds
The Blair Partnership
​Blake Friedman
AM Heath
PS Literary
Aaron M. Priest Literary
Liza Dawson Associates
Trident Media Group
Janklow and Nesbitt
Donald Maass Literary Agency
Root Literary
Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret
The Lark Group
Darley Anderson
Tobias Literary
Martin Literary
Greene Heaton
Kate Nash
Annie Bomke
Laura Dail Agency
Mad Woman Literary
McIntosh and Otis
Looking Glass Literary
Creative Media Agency
Spencerhill Associates
Kimberly Cameron and Associates
Jane Rotrosen Agency
Ladderbird Agency
Eve White Literary
Talbot Agency
Ethan Ellenberg Agency
Harvey Klinger Agency
Fineprint Literary
Writers House
Andrea Brown
David Higham Associates
Marsal Lyon
ArtHouse Literary
Fuse Literary
D4EO Literary
Lowenstein Associates
Park, Fine, and Brower
Aevitas Creative
Browne and Miller
Prospect Agency
Weaver Literary
Talcott Notch
Joelle Delbourgo
Transatlantic Agency
Open Book Literary
Doncongdon Literary
Stringer Literary
New Leaf Literary
Creative Artists Agency
High Line Literary
Paper Literary
Corvisiero Agency
InkWell Management
Megibow Literary
Context Literary
Azantian Literary
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Reputable Indie Publishers:
To submit novels to. This list is constantly being updated. If you have concerns about a publisher listed here, please contact me directly at danagricken@gmail.com. I will immediately remove any publisher conducting bad behavior. Remember: consult the website directly for submission guidelines and if they're open to queries! Also double check they represent your genre/age group.
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What is an indie publisher? It's a smaller publisher, much easier to get published with. They have much less money and popularity than larger publishers (Penguin, Simon and Schuster, etc.), obviously, but they can still be a good route for newer authors who want their books out there. Don't overlook them - I've loved working with mine! Here are some reputable ones who will NOT ask you for money and that you can submit to as an unagented/indie author.
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*Apologies for any duplicates! I'm pulling these references from multiple websites.*
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First off, my publishers. I can personally attest to their professionalism:
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Fire and Ice Young Adult Books (an imprint of Melange Books)
Bella Books
Oliver-Heber Books
Evernight Teen
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Other publishers:
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Acorn Publishing
Rising Action Publishing
Crooked Lane Books
Belle Isle Books
Black Rose Writing
Evolved Publishing
Immortal Works
Meryton Press
Monster Ivy Publishing
Next Chapter
Owl Hollow Press
Red Adept Publishing
The Wild Rose Press
Acadian House
Aethon Books
Africa World and Red Sea Press
Agate Surrey Publishing
Akashic Books
Albert Whitman
ZunTold
Aleph Book Company
Algonquin
Allen and Unwin
Alpha Science International
Angry Robot
Annick Press
Anthem Press
Arcadian House
Aria Fiction
Arsenal Pulp Press
Artisan Books
Atmosphere Press
August House
Augustus Publishing
Rowan Prose Publishing
Autumn House Press
Baen Press
Baker Publishing Group
Bellevue Literary Press
BenBell
Beyond Words Publishing
Big Sky Publishing
Black and White Publishing
Black Classic Books
Black Horse Westerns
Brigids Gate Press
Blackstone Publishing
Blind Eye Books
Bluemoose Books
BOA Editions
Bold Strokes Books
Book Strand
Boyds Mill Press
Brown Girl Books
Bywater Books
C & R Press
Camino Books
Candlewick Press
Canelo
Cardinal Rule Press
Carnation Books
The Cartel Publications
Catapult
Charlesbridge
Chicago Review Press
Chronicle Books
City Lights Publishers
City Owl Press
Cleis Press
Coffee House Press
Cohesion Press
Cole Hart
Comma Press
Conundrum Publishing
Copper Canyon Press
Counterpoint Press
Cozy Cat Press
Cursed Dragon Ship Publishing
Dancing Cat Books
Dark Horse
Dark Regions
David Fickling Books
Dead Ink Books
Dover Publications
Drawn and Quarterly
Dundurn Press
Dzanc Books
Edgar Elgar Publishing
Eerdmans Publishing
Embassy Books
Enchanted Lion
Entangled Publishing
Equinox Publishing
Eraserhead Press
Europa Editions
F.A. Davis
Fantagraphics
Featherproof Books
Feminist Press
Firefly Books
Fitzcarraldo
Fitzhenry and Whiteside
Flame Tree Press
Flashlight Press
Fledgeling Press
Flying Eye Books
Free Spirit Publishing
Future Tense Publishing
Galley Beggar
Genius Book Publishing
Good 2 Go Publishing
Graywolf Press
Grey Oak Publishing
Grey House
Grimbold Books
Grove Atlantic
Hardie Grant Publishing
Harvest House Publishing
Hatherleigh Press
Hay House
Haymarket Books
Head of Zeus
Headpress
High Plains Press
Hinkler Books
Hogs Back Books
Holland Park Press
House of Anansi
Hurst Publishing
IG Publishing
Imagine That Publishing
Immedium
Influx Press
Interlude Press
Jaico Books
Jessica Kingsley Publishing
Jo Fletcher Books
Joffe Books
Journalstone
Juggernaut Publishing
Just Us Books
Katha Press
Kensington Books
Kids Can Press
Korero Press
Kregel Publications
La Femme Fatale Publishing
Lake Isle Press
Leadstart Corp
Lee and Low Books
Levine Querido
Liebert Publishing
Lion Hudson
Liquid Mind Publishing
Literary Wanderlust
Liturgical Press
Loyola Press
Luna Press
Manohar Books
MB Publishing
McSweeney's Books
Melodrama Books
Melville House
Microcosm Publishing
Milkweed Editions
Montag Press
Moody Publishers
Morel Books
Mountaindale Press
Murdoch Books
Mysterious Press
Muythos Ink
Narrative Press
New Directions Books
NewSouth Publishing
Niyogi Books
No Exit Press
Northwest Press
Octopus Books
Odyssey Books
Oldcastle Books
Oni Press
Orient Paperbacks
OSU Press
Owens Publishing Company
Pacific Education Press
Page Street Publishing
Pantera Press
Paraclete Press
Parliament House
Peepal Tree Press
Peirene Press
Permanent Press
Persea Books
Peter Pauper Press
Piccadilly Publishing
Pirates (India)
Polis Books
Pothi (India)
Pratham Books
Press 53
Pride Publishing
Quattro Books
Quill and Crow Publishing House
Quirk Books
Rare Bird Books
Rebellion Publishing
Red Bones Press
Red Deer Press
Ripple Grove Press
RJ Publications
Rockpool Publishing
Roll Books
Rosen Publishing
Royalty Publishing House
Rupa Publications
Oliver-Heber Books
S Chand Publishing
Sapere
Saraband
Sea Crow Press
Seagull Press
Second Story Press
Seven Stories Press
Severn House
Shade 7 Publishing
Shalko Press
Siglio Press
Skyhorse Publishing
Sleeping Bear Press
Small Beer Press
Smallworks Press
Soho Press
Sourcebooks Fire
Speaking Tiger Books
Speaking Volumes
Spencer Hill Press
Springer Publishing
Square One Publishers
Stairway Press
Sterling Publishing
Stone Pier Press
Strangers Press
Sunbury Press
Supposed Crimes
Tachyon Publications
Tanglewood Books
Tartarus Press
Text Publishing
Thames and Hudson
Third World Press Foundation
Tilbury House
Tilted Axis Press
Tin House Books
Titan Books
Touchwood Editions
Tramp Pres
Tule Publishing
Turner Publishing
Two Dollar Radio
2 Leaf Press
Unnamed Press
Uproar Books
Urban Books
Ventura Press
Verso Books
Vikas Publishing House
Wakefield Press
Whitecap Publishing
Wiseblood Books
Wolfpack Publishing
Workman Publishing
World Castle Publishing
Wraithmarked
YLVA Publishing
Zed Books
Zubaan Books
Cross Your Fingers
Formac Publishing
Future House Publishing
Islandport Press
Jolly Fish Press
Juventud Press
Maveric Children's Books
Restless Books
Shadow Dragon Press
Shadow Mountain Publishing
Skypony Press
Sleeping Bear Press
Stony Meadow Publishing
Thistle
Touchpoint Faith
Partridge Island Publishing​
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Reputable Magazines:
To submit poetry and short stories to. This list is constantly being updated. If you have concerns about a magazine listed here, please contact me directly at danagricken@gmail.com. I will immediately remove any magazine conducting bad behavior. Remember: consult the website directly for submission guidelines!
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The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Harper's Magazine, Ploughshares, McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, Tin House, The Paris Review, and Carve Magazine are the biggest ones. But I'll share indie ones as well below.
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Also: Horror Tree is a website that lists open calls for anthologies. They update frequently. If you're looking to submit a short story, I highly recommend browsing their free website to see what publishers are open. I use it quite a lot. Without further ado, onto indie publishers for short stories, poetry, and more!
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Cohesion Press
Stars and Sabers
Inky Bones Press
Oddity Prodigy
Brigids Gate Press
Fraidy Cat Press
Burial Books
Bag of Bones
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