What’s the Difference Between Literary Agents and Publishers?

 Understanding the difference between literary agents and publishers is essential for any writer seeking to publish a book through traditional means. While both play pivotal roles in bringing a manuscript to the market, their functions, responsibilities, and relationships with authors are very different.

In simple terms:

• A literary agent acts as the author’s representative, helping them find a publisher, negotiate contracts, and manage their writing career.

• A publisher is the company that edits, designs, prints, distributes, and markets the book once the manuscript is accepted.

This comprehensive guide will explore these two roles in depth—what they do, how they work with authors, their key differences, and how they each influence the publishing journey.

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1. Definition and Core Function

A) Literary Agent

A literary agent is a professional who represents writers to publishers. Their job is to sell your manuscript to a publisher and ensure you get the best possible deal. They act in your interest, handling the business side of your writing career.

Key tasks of a literary agent include:

• Reading and evaluating manuscripts

• Advising on revisions before submission

• Pitching your book to editors at publishing houses

• Negotiating contracts and royalties

• Selling rights (foreign, film, audio, etc.)

• Offering career guidance and long-term strategy

Agents do not publish books themselves—they work to get publishers to publish your book.

B) Publisher

A publisher is a company that produces and distributes books. Once they acquire a manuscript (usually through an agent), they take it through the editorial and production pipeline and then release it to the market.

Publishers are responsible for:

• Editing the manuscript

• Designing the interior layout and cover

• Producing the print and/or digital versions

• Marketing and promoting the book

• Distributing it to bookstores and online retailers

Publishers invest their own money into the book, aiming to make a profit from sales.

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2. How They Interact With Authors

Literary Agents:

• Work for the author

• Take a commission (typically 15%) from the author’s earnings

• Do not get paid upfront—they earn only when you earn

• Provide personalized attention to your writing and career

• Filter your work before it reaches publishers, often suggesting edits

Publishers:

• Work for their own company

• Pay the author an advance and royalties (terms negotiated by the agent)

• Invest in your book’s success, but retain the final say on edits, cover, pricing, etc.

• Usually have limited direct communication with the author; the agent manages most of it

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3. The Submission Process

If you're pursuing traditional publishing, the typical path looks like this:

1. Author finishes manuscript

2. Author queries literary agents

3. Agent signs author and pitches to publishers

4. Publisher offers book deal through agent

5. Agent negotiates terms

6. Publisher produces and releases the book

In this chain, the agent is the gatekeeper, and the publisher is the decision-maker who brings the book to market.

Without an agent, it's very difficult to get in front of editors at major publishing houses, since most only accept agented submissions.

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4. Financial Roles

Agent:

• Takes a commission only (usually 15%)

• Helps secure:

  • Advance payments from publishers

  • Higher royalty percentages

  • Rights deals (foreign editions, film/TV options, audiobooks)

Publisher:

• Pays the author:

  • An advance against royalties

  • A percentage of royalties on book sales (10–15% for print; ~25% for eBooks)

• Covers:

  • All production and marketing costs

  • Distribution to online and physical retail stores

Agents help you get paid. Publishers are the ones paying you (after acquiring your work).

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5. Gatekeeping vs. Production

Role	Literary Agent	Publisher
Primary Role	Represent authors to publishers	Produce and sell books
Accepts Submissions	From authors (queries, proposals)	From agents (rarely from unagented authors)
Makes Editorial Decisions	Gives feedback but doesn’t control publication	Makes final edits, cover choices, and launch plans
Controls Distribution	No	Yes

The agent helps get your foot in the door, while the publisher decides whether your book gets published and how.

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6. Career vs. Project Focus

• Agents are long-term partners. They may represent you across several books, genres, and formats. Their goal is to help you build a career as an author.

• Publishers typically work on a per-book basis, though they may offer multi-book deals. Their focus is on selling specific titles profitably.

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7. Who Should You Approach First?

Almost always, approach an agent first—especially if your goal is to publish with a large or mid-sized traditional house.

Agents:

• Know which editors are looking for what types of books

• Can pitch your work directly to publishers

• Can help you avoid bad contracts or unfair royalty terms

Publishers:

• Usually won’t consider submissions directly (unless small or niche)

• Are harder to reach without an agent's network

Some small or indie publishers, however, do accept direct submissions during open windows or through contests, so authors in niche markets may go straight to a publisher.

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8. Can You Bypass One or the Other?

• Bypassing the agent: If you find a small or open-submission publisher, you may not need an agent initially. However, you’ll need to handle contract negotiation yourself, or hire a publishing lawyer.

• Bypassing the publisher: If you self-publish, you skip both the agent and traditional publisher. This gives you full control but also means full responsibility for editing, marketing, and sales.

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9. How They’re Paid

Role	Payment Source	Amount
Literary Agent	Takes a cut from author’s earnings	15% of advances and royalties
Publisher	Pays the author an advance and royalties	Varies based on contract

Agents only succeed if you do. Publishers invest upfront and hope your book sells.

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10. Summary of Key Differences

Category	Literary Agent	Publisher
Role	Author’s representative	Produces, markets, and distributes books
Works For	The author	The publishing company
Payment	Commission (usually 15%)	Pays author advance and royalties
Submissions Accepted	Directly from authors	Typically only via agents
Responsibilities	Find publishers, negotiate deals, guide career	Edit, design, print, market, and distribute
Decision Power	Advisory role	Final say on book production and sales
Relationship Type	Long-term, across multiple projects	Usually per-book, may extend with success

Conclusion

In the traditional publishing world, literary agents and publishers play distinct but complementary roles. A literary agent is your advocate—helping you navigate the complex publishing landscape, pitching your work to the right editors, and ensuring you receive the best possible terms. A publisher is the entity that takes your manuscript, shapes it into a finished product, and delivers it to readers through bookstores, libraries, and online platforms.

While agents don’t publish books, and publishers don’t represent authors, both are critical in the traditional publishing process. Understanding their differences—and how to approach each—can significantly increase your chances of getting your book published and building a successful writing career.