Literary Agent & Publisher Research

Let us take care of your literary agent or publisher research needs!

Authors who benefit from literary agent research or publisher research services usually have submission materials (such as a query letter, book synopsis, or book proposal) prepared or at least in draft form. We will generate a list of agents or publishers who are looking for manuscripts like yours. Once we turn the list of agents or publishers over to you, all you need to do is submit your materials to the agents or publishers of your choice.

Although we will point out any obvious errors or issues we find in your submission materials, we do not provide opinions or assurances about the viability of book projects, and there is no guarantee that anyone on the list will accept your proposed book project. Please check out Jane Friedman’s consulting services and courses (here) and her list of trusted resources (here) for help with these issues.

We offer two tiers of research:

Basic Agent Research ($150): Genre-Targeted List of 25 Agents

Basic Agent Research includes:

  • a list of 25 literary agents who are seeking manuscripts in the genre/category of your book project
  • important submission information for each of the agents

Premium Agent or Publisher Research ($250): Personalized List

Premium Agent Research includes:

  • a curated list of 20 literary agents who have landed deals with publishers for manuscripts that share thematic or other similarities with your book project; past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior!
  • important submission information specific to each agent

Premium Publisher Research includes:

  • a curated list of up to 10 publishers who have published books that share similarities with your book project
  • important submission information specific to each publisher

Sample Premium Agent Research Report:

This sample is an abridged version of a Premium Agent Research Report. In a full version, 20 agents would be listed. You can see both parts of this report by clicking on their respective buttons below. This report includes deals the agents have landed with publishers and a color-coded rating system, neither of which is included in the Basic Agent Research Report.

Need a Query Critique, too? We'll give you $50 off our Premium Agent/Publisher Research List!

Our colleague Jane Friedman is offering our Premium Literary Agent/Publisher Research package as an add-on to her Query & Synopsis Critique service. If you purchase a package or critique services from Jane Friedman, you can get our Premium Agent/Publisher Research service for $200 (a $50 discount). Note that this is a discounted rate not offered elsewhere. To purchase or find out more information about Jane Friedman’s services click here for Query Letter and Synopsis Critiques and click here for Nonfiction Book Proposal Critiques.

Here's how to get started with our services:

We need a bit more information about your project in order to get started.

Please fill out and submit the following form and we will get back to you within 2 business days with an invoice for the tier you have chosen and a proposed plan for your research. Please note that the full package amount must be paid before services will be scheduled.

  • If possible, for each agent please include the following information: agent name; agency name; date of query submission; and date of MS request, rejection, or no response
  • Drop files here or
    Accepted file types: doc, docx, pdf, jpg, gif, png, Max. file size: 2 GB, Max. files: 3.
      If for some reason you are having trouble uploading documents via this form, please fill out the rest of the form and submit it. We will get in touch with you and discuss how to submit your documents to us.
    • Please describe the following: 1. The kinds of services you are seeking from a hybrid publisher (marketing, printing, etc.) 2. Your ideal budget range

    Want to find out more before purchasing?

    Schedule a free 15-minute one-on-one consultation with one of our associates (see bios here).

    Literary Agent & Publisher Research Testimonials

    <p>Within a week of sending queries out to the agents recommended by Grad Student Freelancers [now Copy Write Consultants], I got three requests from three different agents to see my manuscript. GSF's service was prompt and thorough, and obviously, their research was beautifully specific to my work. I highly recommend them!</p>
    Katie Daley
    <p>I was very impressed by the quality of the research that GSF [now CWC] performed in our search for agents for a particular book project. Truly professional work and a time saver!</p>
    Atilla Vekony
    <p>I am very pleased with the details of the report sent to me. It has saved me hours of time and energy. I especially liked the color-coding. This type of guidance is exactly what will make my life easier.</p>
    Helene Simkin Jara
    <p>On Agent Publisher Research & Formatting Work:</p> <p>Kelly was extremely professional, highly responsive, and delivered the materials right on schedule. She was additionally generous with my couple of follow up questions. A great experience. Would recommend without reservation.</p>
    David B.
    <p>Impressive and very useful service for the money we paid. For new writers in the business (like me), the analysis provided by GSF [now CWC] is critical in navigating through the agent search.</p>
    Ravi Vannela
    <p>Grad Student Freelancers [now Copy Write Consultants] helped me get closer to achieving my writer goals. Their level of professionalism puts them above any other service.</p>
    Bradley Backus
    <p>I found the service highly reliable and professional. It is a bit daunting doing this on my own, so the service made me feel supported and ready to launch on my publishing quest.</p>
    Kelly Piner
    <p>The service I received was pluperfect, professional and punctual. It far exceeded my expectations. Thorough research and well-presented.</p>
    Stephen Maitland-Lewis
    <p>I highly recommend GSF's [now CWC's ] services, as they were an immense help in targeting an appropriate agent and gathering the necessary information to submit the right materials. Additionally, GSF staff were courteous, highly responsive, and all-around terrific.</p>
    Ian Reifowitz
    <p>To migrate through the lists of publishers and where to go next is very difficult. This program is amazing with the guidance that they provide. And, I especially appreciate the professionalism. They know what they are doing!</p>
    Karen Trolan
    <p>Fantastic and much needed service for writers just starting out. Helps you target your project to specific agents so you are not just blindly submitting it and crossing your fingers.</p>
    Rush Leaming, Author
    <p>Very prompt, professional and responsive to questions along the way. Reasonable price for service package (agent/publisher research). Found promising agents for my novel spanning a couple of genres. Always showed good knowledge of agent query process and publisher market.</p>
    Tom Higgins
    <p>An excellent service! All interactions were professional and personal and the list Kelly and her helper came up with impressive. It's heartening to see how many agents are representing novels similar to mine.</p>
    Emunah Herzog
    <p>I am just beginning to query my YA fantasy, and the list of agents Grad Student Freelancers [now Copy Write Consultants] found for me will be extremely helpful. The research was detailed and specific for my novel. My hopes are high that I'll find an agent to represent me. Thanks for your help.</p>
    Joseph Bingham
    <p>Kelly and Christopher courteously and professionally tailored my search for a literary agent and packaged my submission -- highly recommended!</p>
    John Witherow