How to Land and Work With a Literary Agent

A chat with my agent, Abby Saul.

Ever wish you could sit down with a literary agent and ask them all your burning questions? You’re in luck—I did it for you!

Today’s episode of Steps to Story features an in-depth conversation with my longtime agent, Abby Saul. Whether you’re still crafting your story, deep in the query trenches, or somewhere in between, this episode is not to be missed.

(Yes, I know I say that a lot, but trust me—this one is gold.)

I remember all too well what it felt like to query agents blindly, wondering if I was doing it right, feeling like all the important information was hidden behind a wall, and not at all grounded in the realities of getting a book into the world. I don’t want that for you. Instead, I want to pull back the curtain and empower you with insight so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.

So, I sat down with my literary agent for a deep dive into:

• The querying process

• The realities of an agent’s role

• What makes a submission stand out

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by querying, you won’t want to miss Abby’s top advice for catching an agent’s eye in a crowded inbox.

“When I have a project that I love as a reader can see an editorial path or can see a sales path for, that's when I know it's a project that I need to work on.” - Abby Saul

We also bust common myths about what agents actually do, break down what grabs their attention in a query letter, and explore current market trends—plus, how to stay true to your unique voice while keeping an eye on what’s selling. And for writers feeling discouraged by rejection, Abby shares words of encouragement to help you keep going.

Grab a notebook and tune in—this is one of my favorite interviews so far!👇🏻

Every week, the Steps to Story podcast serves as a mini-workshop for novelists, covering both craft and mindset. We’re now in Season Two, and you can find episodes:
📍 Here on my Substack
📍 Apple Podcasts
📍 Spotify

Links and resources from this podcast:

For more on Abby Saul, visit larkwords.com

For help with agent query strategy, visit bookworks.co

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Agent Query
Strategy Package

If you’re ready to take the next step toward finding the right literary agent, this package will make the process seamless.

We’ll begin with a 30-minute exploratory call to discuss your goals, followed by a client questionnaire. You’ll receive a comprehensive guide on what to consider when choosing an agent, as well as a tiered spreadsheet of 25-30 agents tailored to your genre and goals—complete with contact information, author lists, and submission guidelines. To make your submission shine, we'll review and provide edits on your query letter and synopsis. We’ll wrap up with a 60-minute strategy call. Let’s get your work into the right hands!

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