What To Do When a Publisher or Literary Agent Approaches YOU

Every so often, I receive a message like:

An editor at PUBLISHER reached out to me. What should I do?

Or —

A literary agent sent me a DM on Instagram. How do I know if they are legit?

These are both awesome questions.

Frankly I’m always happy to see them because it means that you’re doing something to stand out — and the publishing world has noticed what you’re up to.

Yay you!

So: after you stop freaking out, hyperventilating, or refreshing your app to make sure the message is real — here are five things to do.

1. Celebrate! A publishing insider reaching out is a great sign that you’re on the way to a book deal. And that’s true whether the person who reached out to you ends up as part of your team or not. Feel the excitement and let that goodness in.
2. Do your research. Google is your best friend for publishers, editors, and literary agents. You can also use specific tools like Publishers Marketplace (well worth the $25 monthly fee) to check out the past success of a literary agent or editor. And always check Writer Beware to ensure you’re not talking to someone sketchy or could be the target of a scam.