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05/07/2026 - How to Research Agents and Publishers Like a Pro

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Each registration comes with access to the archived version of the program and the materials for one year. You do not have to attend the live event to get a recording of the presentation.  Attendees have the ability to chat with the instructor during the live event and ask questions. This webinar is 90-minutes.

A copy of the webinar presentation recording will be added to your Writer's Digest University account as soon as possible after the live webinar. It may take 24-48 hours to process and post in your Writer's Digest University account.

You have a polished manuscript or book proposal, and you’re ready to start pitching agents and publishers. But how do you figure out who to submit to? And how do you evaluate the quality of the agents and publishers you do find?

In this class, you’ll learn not only how to research agents and editors using a variety of online resources, but also how to evaluate fit and reputation, so that you don’t unwittingly end up with a schmagent or a publisher that’s really a self-publishing service.

Some writers wonder whether they can hire out this work—to identify the right markets, put together their materials, and track responses. Although a handful of services can undertake this process for you, they rarely care about your work as much as you do. But there’s another significant reason to do the work yourself: it represents a marvelous learning opportunity. This work increases your familiarity with the business side of writing and publishing, which in turn leads you to make better decisions for your career.

You should focus on researching and submitting your work to agents if you believe your work has some commercial potential or is a good fit for a big New York publisher because those publishers rarely accept unagented work. The same is true of some midsize publishers and prestigious independent publishers. If you can’t find an agent to represent you, then you’ll need to research publishers on your own who accept unagented work. Typically, you’ll want to research agents and publishers at the same time to keep your process efficient. You may discover through your research, in fact, that your book is better suited to a small or independent press, rather than a big publisher.