Keep in mind before approaching an agent
- Many writers believe they must have a literary agent in order to get published, but this is not always the case. There are approximately thirty agents in Canada and, because there are so few, it can be difficult to find an agent who will represent you. Competition for agents is tough, but keep in mind that approximately eighty percent of published Canadian writers do not have agents at all.
- Your manuscript should be finished and very polished before you try to find an agent. Unless they request a revised manuscript, assume that agents who have rejected an unpolished draft will not want to look at a more polished one. Most agents receive hundreds of submissions a day from prospective new clients.
- Please note that many agents only accept query letters and not unsolicited manuscripts. Before submitting manuscripts to literary agents, check the submission guidelines on their websites to learn about their submission requirements and areas of interest/specialization. Some agencies do not accept unsolicited manuscripts at all, but rather require an introduction from a more seasoned writer.
- After reviewing your work, the agency will decide whether or not to represent you. The Union's Writers' How-to publication Author and Literary Agent contains a list of questions to ask your agent, and should help you to reach an agreement. Be sure you have a letter of agreement or contract with the agent outlining the terms of your arrangement.
Looking for help polishing your manuscript before you submit it?
Consider a professional evaluation of your work through our Manuscript Evaluation Service.
Canadian Literary Agents
This list is provided for convenience only and does not constitute a recommendation by TWUC of any of the services offered by the persons or agencies listed. Submission guidelines vary by agency and may change from time to time. Always refer to the agency website for the most up-to-date information.
5 OTTER LITERARY
Toronto, ON
fiveotterliterary.com
Established: 2020
See submission guidelines.
BALLPOINT LITERARY AGENCY
Toronto, ON
ballpoint.agency
Established: 2021
Accepts queries.
See submission guidelines.
BEVERLEY SLOPEN LITERARY AGENCY
Toronto, ON
slopenagency.com
Established: 1972
Does not take on many new authors. Accepts queries.
THE BUKOWSKI AGENCY
Toronto, ON
bukowskiagency.com
Established: 1986
Accepts fiction and nonfiction submissions. Does not handle genre fiction, poetry, children's literature, picture books, film scripts, or television scripts.
See submission guidelines.
COOKE McDERMID LITERARY AGENCY
Toronto, ON
cookemcdermid.com
Established: 2017 (merger between The Cooke Agency and The McDermid Agency)
Interested in thrillers, horror, commercial suspense, speculative fiction, upmarket women's fiction, middle grade, YA, literary fiction, research-driven nonfiction, and narrative nonfiction. Does not accept screenplay, stage play, poetry, or picture book queries.
See submission guidelines.
THE HELEN HELLER AGENCY INC.
Toronto, ON
thehelenhelleragency.com
Established: 1988
Specializing in adult and young adult fiction and nonfiction. Does not handle screenplays, illustrated books, or children's books.
See submission guidelines.
MINT LITERARY AGENCY
Nelson, BC
mintliteraryagency.com
Established: 2004
Represents literary and commercial fiction, including mystery, thrillers, narrative nonfiction, and lifestyle. Does not represent children’s stories or picture books, young adult fiction, fantasy, science fiction, poetry or screenplays.
See submission guidelines.
P.S. LITERARY AGENCY
Oakville, ON
psliterary.com
Established: 2005
Represents fiction and nonfiction in a variety of categories. Does not represent poetry or screenplays.
See submission guidelines.
RICK BROADHEAD AND ASSOCIATES
Toronto, ON
rbaliterary.com
Established: 2002
Accepts nonfiction proposals in the following subject categories: history, politics, business, natural history/environment, national security/intelligence, current affairs, biography, science, pop culture, pop science, relationships, self-help, health, medicine, military history, humour.
See submission guidelines.
THE RIGHTS FACTORY
Toronto, ON
therightsfactory.com
Established: 2004
For submission and query information: therightsfactory.com/agents-list
ROBERT LECKER AGENCY
Montreal, QC
leckeragency.com
Established: 2003
Specializes in books about entertainment, music, popular culture, popular science, intellectual and cultural history, food, and travel. Open to any idea that is original and well presented. Also receptive to books written by academics that can attract a broad range of readers.
See submission guidelines.
SEVENTH AVENUE LITERARY AGENCY
Surrey, BC
seventhavenuelit.com
Established: 1988
Represents non-fiction only.
See submission guidelines.
TRANSATLANTIC LITERARY AGENCY
Toronto, ON
transatlanticagency.com
Established: 1994
Represents adult and children's authors of all genres, including illustrators.
See submission guidelines.
WESTWOOD CREATIVE ARTISTS
Toronto, ON
wcaltd.com
Established: 1995 (incorporating Sterling Lord & Lucinda Vardey agencies)
Represents literary and quality commercial fiction; a wide range of narrative nonfiction; a limited range of practical nonfiction, including cookbooks; high quality fiction and nonfiction for children and young adults. Does not represent screenwriters, playwrights, or poets. Accepts queries.
See submission guidelines.
This list is provided for convenience only and does not constitute a recommendation by TWUC of any of the services offered by the persons or agencies listed. Submission guidelines vary by agency and may change from time to time. Always refer to the agency website for the most up-to-date information.
5 OTTER LITERARY
Toronto, ON
fiveotterliterary.com
Established: 2020
See submission guidelines.
BALLPOINT LITERARY AGENCY
Toronto, ON
ballpoint.agency
Established: 2021
Accepts queries.
See submission guidelines.
BEVERLEY SLOPEN LITERARY AGENCY
Toronto, ON
slopenagency.com
Established: 1972
Does not take on many new authors. Accepts queries.
THE BUKOWSKI AGENCY
Toronto, ON
bukowskiagency.com
Established: 1986
Accepts fiction and nonfiction submissions. Does not handle genre fiction, poetry, children's literature, picture books, film scripts, or television scripts.
See submission guidelines.
COOKE McDERMID LITERARY AGENCY
Toronto, ON
cookemcdermid.com
Established: 2017 (merger between The Cooke Agency and The McDermid Agency)
Interested in thrillers, horror, commercial suspense, speculative fiction, upmarket women's fiction, middle grade, YA, literary fiction, research-driven nonfiction, and narrative nonfiction. Does not accept screenplay, stage play, poetry, or picture book queries.
See submission guidelines.
THE HELEN HELLER AGENCY INC.
Toronto, ON
thehelenhelleragency.com
Established: 1988
Specializing in adult and young adult fiction and nonfiction. Does not handle screenplays, illustrated books, or children's books.
See submission guidelines.
MINT LITERARY AGENCY
Nelson, BC
mintliteraryagency.com
Established: 2004
Represents literary and commercial fiction, including mystery, thrillers, narrative nonfiction, and lifestyle. Does not represent children’s stories or picture books, young adult fiction, fantasy, science fiction, poetry or screenplays.
See submission guidelines.
P.S. LITERARY AGENCY
Oakville, ON
psliterary.com
Established: 2005
Represents fiction and nonfiction in a variety of categories. Does not represent poetry or screenplays.
See submission guidelines.
RICK BROADHEAD AND ASSOCIATES
Toronto, ON
rbaliterary.com
Established: 2002
Accepts nonfiction proposals in the following subject categories: history, politics, business, natural history/environment, national security/intelligence, current affairs, biography, science, pop culture, pop science, relationships, self-help, health, medicine, military history, humour.
See submission guidelines.
THE RIGHTS FACTORY
Toronto, ON
therightsfactory.com
Established: 2004
For submission and query information: therightsfactory.com/agents-list
ROBERT LECKER AGENCY
Montreal, QC
leckeragency.com
Established: 2003
Specializes in books about entertainment, music, popular culture, popular science, intellectual and cultural history, food, and travel. Open to any idea that is original and well presented. Also receptive to books written by academics that can attract a broad range of readers.
See submission guidelines.
SEVENTH AVENUE LITERARY AGENCY
Surrey, BC
seventhavenuelit.com
Established: 1988
Represents non-fiction only.
See submission guidelines.
TRANSATLANTIC LITERARY AGENCY
Toronto, ON
transatlanticagency.com
Established: 1994
Represents adult and children's authors of all genres, including illustrators.
See submission guidelines.
WESTWOOD CREATIVE ARTISTS
Toronto, ON
wcaltd.com
Established: 1995 (incorporating Sterling Lord & Lucinda Vardey agencies)
Represents literary and quality commercial fiction; a wide range of narrative nonfiction; a limited range of practical nonfiction, including cookbooks; high quality fiction and nonfiction for children and young adults. Does not represent screenwriters, playwrights, or poets. Accepts queries.
See submission guidelines.