How to Find a Publisher or Literary Agent

Finding a publisher is less like discovering a secret door and more like finding the right business match. A strong manuscript matters, but so do research, professional presentation, patience, and an understanding of the different routes available.

Originally published February 4, 2010. Substantially revised and expanded July 2026.

My First Publishing Experience

When I began submitting The Canticle Kingdom, I felt intimidated by stories of towering slush piles and endless rejection. I was fortunate to meet a representative from Cedar Fort at a publisher’s fair at Brigham Young University. That face-to-face connection helped me identify a publisher that might fit the book.

The first answer was not an immediate contract. It was closer to “Yes, but…” The publisher identified areas that needed revision, and I spent considerable time polishing the manuscript before submitting it again.

That path worked for one book at one point in my career. It is not a universal formula. Many writers query agents, submit directly to open publishers, enter carefully chosen contests, receive referrals, or publish independently.

Understand the Main Publishing Paths

Querying Literary Agents

Many commercial publishers accept fiction only through literary agents. An agent evaluates the manuscript, helps position it for the market, submits it to appropriate editors, and negotiates contracts. Agents are paid through commission rather than an upfront reading fee.

Submitting Directly to Publishers

Some independent, regional, academic, religious, and specialty presses accept unagented submissions. Follow each publisher’s current guidelines exactly. A company that does not publish your genre is not a promising target, no matter how polished the query may be.

Independent Publishing

Independent publishing removes the need to secure an agent or traditional publisher, but it does not remove the need for professional editing, design, formatting, distribution, metadata, and marketing. You become the publisher and take responsibility for every stage.

Research Before You Submit

• Confirm that the agent or publisher is open to submissions.
• Check the genres, age categories, and word counts they represent or publish.
• Review recent books to understand the list.
• Follow the requested subject line, sample length, file type, and submission method.
• Look for clear business information and a professional track record.
• Avoid organizations that guarantee publication or charge questionable reading fees.

Submission requirements change. Always use the instructions currently provided by the recipient rather than copying a package prepared for someone else.

Prepare a Focused Query

A query letter usually needs to communicate four things efficiently:

1. What the protagonist wants
2. What stands in the way
3. What is at stake
4. The book’s title, genre, audience, and word count

Add a brief relevant biography and any requested comparable titles. Do not use gimmicks such as unusual paper, gifts, inflated claims, or an attempt to explain every subplot. The query should make the reader want the pages.

Use Conferences Wisely

Conferences can create opportunities to learn about publishers and agents, practice pitching, and understand the industry. A personal meeting does not guarantee representation or publication, but it can help you discover whether a professional is interested in the kind of book you have written.

Respect the setting. A scheduled pitch session is appropriate. Following someone into an elevator or restroom is not. The goal is to begin a professional interaction, not force an immediate decision.

Track Submissions and Keep Writing

Maintain a record of where and when you submitted, what materials were sent, and the response. Send simultaneous submissions only when permitted. If a manuscript is declined, evaluate whether the response reveals a pattern—but do not rebuild the book after every form rejection.

Most importantly, continue writing. A second strong project gives you another opportunity and prevents one inbox from controlling your entire creative life.

Persistence Needs Direction

“Never give up” is incomplete advice. Keep improving the manuscript, researching better matches, and learning how the business works. Persistence is most effective when each attempt becomes more informed than the last.

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