Today we’re (finally!) continuing our four-part series on querying literary agents. Whether you're writing fiction or nonfiction, querying without doing your homework is like picking a random person off a dock and asking them to captain your boat across the ocean. In this episode, I'm sharing how to research literary agents and find the ones most likely to say yes to your book.

I walk you through:

• tools and databases to help you find agents;
• how to vet an agent’s interests, history, and red flags;
• an analog method for agent discovery that still hold up; and
• why being selective can save your sanity and your story.

Plus, there's some essential publishing news about the reality of book bans and a hopeful new UK initiative for working-class writers.

• Querying Literary Agents, Part 1: Big Five Dreams or Indie Vibes? - Writing Break - Episode 121
• 7 Tips for Landing a Literary Agent - Writing Break - Episode 75
• Literary Agents and Bestselling Books - Writing Break - Episode 70
• The Bee - A home for working-class readers and writers
• North Carolina advances bill on book bans in public schools
• Book Ban Data | Banned Books
• U.S. Book Challenges Update: March 2025 Edition - I Love Libraries
• PEN America Is Suing against Book Bans in Tennessee
• Free Style Sheet Templates
• Free Writing Tips

Music licensed from Storyblocks.