When a literary agent formally offers to represent you and your book, typically through a phone call where you discuss vision, strategy, and next steps.
An offer of representation is the moment a literary agent decides they want to work with you and formally asks to represent your manuscript. This usually happens via 'The Call,' a phone or video conversation where the agent tells you what they loved about your book, shares their editorial vision for it, discusses their submission strategy for pitching to publishers, and answers your questions. It's a two-way conversation. The agent is pitching themselves to you as much as you're being evaluated. An offer is exciting, but it's also a business decision that deserves careful thought rather than an instant yes.
This is the moment the entire querying process has been building toward, and how you handle it matters enormously. The right agent can shape your career for years or even decades. The wrong one can stall your book, damage your confidence, or lock you into a contract that doesn't serve you. Taking time to evaluate the offer, ask hard questions, and notify other agents who have your work isn't being difficult. It's being professional. The best agent-author relationships start with honest, thorough conversations at this stage.
Collins connected with agent Rosemary Stimola, whose enthusiasm and children's book expertise made her the perfect champion for a YA novel that would cross over into massive adult readership.
Hosseini, a practicing physician with no publishing connections, landed an agent who believed in his debut novel so fiercely that it became an international bestseller translated into over forty languages.
Miller's agent relationship demonstrates the long-game value of the right representation. After The Song of Achilles, her agent helped position Circe as a major literary event years later.
When you receive an offer, email every agent who currently has your query or manuscript. Give them a deadline (usually two weeks) to read and respond. You might get competing offers, and at minimum, you owe other agents the courtesy of withdrawing.
Prepare a list of questions before the call. Ask about their editorial vision, communication style, how they handle disagreements, their sub-rights strategy, what happens if the book doesn't sell, and what their typical response time is. You're choosing a business partner, not accepting an award.
A famous agent isn't automatically the right agent for your book. Consider their enthusiasm for your specific project, their editorial vision, their communication style, and whether you felt comfortable talking to them. The best fit is personal, not just professional.
Before signing, understand the agency agreement. What's the commission rate? What's the termination clause? Do they have an agency clause that follows the book even if you leave? Ask other clients about their experience. Join writing communities where people discuss this openly.
Write a list of fifteen questions you would ask a literary agent during The Call. Include questions about their editorial vision for your specific book, their communication style, their approach to career strategy, and what happens if your book doesn't sell. Then rank them in order of importance to you. Knowing what matters most to you in an agent will help you make a clear-headed decision when the moment comes.