Maria Vicente
@agentvicente
Literary Agent
senior literary agent + advisor @psliterary
195 MSWL
329 AskAgent
330 Queries
107 Tips
Maria Vicente
@agentvicente
Literary Agent
senior literary agent + advisor @psliterary
195 MSWL
329 AskAgent
330 Queries
107 Tips

Debra Daugherty @dmddeb

#askPSLA When submitting a query for a possible series, how much detail should be given on future stories. Should the focus just be on book 1?
Replying to @dmddeb

Focus your query on book 1 and then say that it's the first in an intended series. An interested agent or editor will ask to see a series overview if they need more info! #askPSLA

Maria Vicente
@agentvicente
Literary Agent
senior literary agent + advisor @psliterary
195 MSWL
329 AskAgent
330 Queries
107 Tips
Maria Vicente
@agentvicente
Literary Agent
senior literary agent + advisor @psliterary
195 MSWL
329 AskAgent
330 Queries
107 Tips

Erica Secor @thedavisgirl

@alishagabriel #askPSLA follow up to Alisha's Q: Would a NF be queried via a full proposal vs. manuscript?
Replying to @thedavisgirl

A nonfiction query letter should be very similar to a fiction query letter except that you should have a proposal (with sample chapters) available upon request rather than a full manuscript. #askPSLA

Kurestin Armada
@kurestinarmada
Literary Agent
Literary Agent at @RootLiterary . Specializes in science fiction, fantasy, & graphic novels for all ages.
57 MSWL
137 AskAgent
2 Queries
20 Tips

Kari Hagen @KariHagenWrites

When reading a partial/full and the pages need some minor editorial tweaking but you love it, would you make and offer or tell the writer to Revise and Resubmit? #askPSLA

If I had the vision for it, I would offer on it. If I had a big picture vision but it would require a complete rewrite of the book, I would ask for an R&R (which happens even less often than I make an offer). #askPSLA

Maria Vicente
@agentvicente
Literary Agent
senior literary agent + advisor @psliterary
195 MSWL
329 AskAgent
330 Queries
107 Tips

Kari Hagen @KariHagenWrites

When reading a partial/full and the pages need some minor editorial tweaking but you love it, would you make and offer or tell the writer to Revise and Resubmit? #askPSLA
Replying to @KariHagenWrites

I'd most likely make an offer if it's only minor changes. If I ask for a revise and resubmit, it's because big changes need to be made to the plot and I want to make sure the author can tackle those large-scale revisions in a way that lines up with my vision. #askPSLA

Maria Vicente
@agentvicente
Literary Agent
senior literary agent + advisor @psliterary
195 MSWL
329 AskAgent
330 Queries
107 Tips

Cheyenne Campbell 🦄 is on hiatus @chylu

Hello #askPSLA :) If an agent says a manuscript is beautifully written with great characters but it doesn't stand out enough in a competitive market but they give no example of what aspect needs revising, what would you suggest as the next step?
Replying to @chylu

It sounds like the writing is strong, but the concept isn't different enough from what's already out there. If you think you DO have a strong hook, then keep querying—maybe it's just that one agent's opinion. If not, then maybe move on to another project for now? #askPSLA

Maria Vicente
@agentvicente
Literary Agent
senior literary agent + advisor @psliterary
195 MSWL
329 AskAgent
330 Queries
107 Tips
Kurestin Armada
@kurestinarmada
Literary Agent
Literary Agent at @RootLiterary . Specializes in science fiction, fantasy, & graphic novels for all ages.
57 MSWL
137 AskAgent
2 Queries
20 Tips

Shelby Cohen @BigHungryShelby

How important is the genre ID in a query letter? I'm not sure I'm objective enough to decide if my book is commercial or upmarket fiction. #askPSLA

Small distinctions like that aren't a big deal. Something like adult vs MG or thriller vs fiction makes a bigger difference--but even then I've read manuscripts with an eye toward what I think they should be, rather than what the author labeled them as originally. #askPSLA

Maria Vicente
@agentvicente
Literary Agent
senior literary agent + advisor @psliterary
195 MSWL
329 AskAgent
330 Queries
107 Tips

Angela Sebastian @Kauto_on_belly

@PSLiterary @kurestinarmada @msmariavicente Hi! I attended a conference recently where an agent on a publishing panel said that YA fantasy was so saturated that, "book deals are being cancelled." Any truth to this? #askPSLA
Replying to @Kauto_on_belly

I think most YA genres are saturated by now. That just means anything being acquired needs to have a unique hook.

I don't personally have experience of a YA fantasy book being cancelled, so I can't speak to that specifically. #askPSLA

Maria Vicente
@agentvicente
Literary Agent
senior literary agent + advisor @psliterary
195 MSWL
329 AskAgent
330 Queries
107 Tips

Mike Kern @miekkenr

PS Lit has a very good, detailed page on how to send queries and how long to wait (~6 weeks is a no). Does this same wait apply to requests or do you all generally respond with a yes/no?

Thanks for your time!

#askPSLA

Unfortunately, the 6 week timeline doesn't apply to partial and full manuscript requests (we are not superhuman readers, as much as we'd all like to be). But we ALWAYS send responses to requested material, whether it's a yes or a no. #askPSLA

Kurestin Armada
@kurestinarmada
Literary Agent
Literary Agent at @RootLiterary . Specializes in science fiction, fantasy, & graphic novels for all ages.
57 MSWL
137 AskAgent
2 Queries
20 Tips

J.L. Cole @jlcole1331

Thank-you for doing this! My first question is; would having minor grammar or punctuation mistakes in my MS be enough for an agent to turn it down? Wondering if I can get away with not hiring a professional editor as it's very pricey. #askPSLA

Absolutely not! You should carefully proofread it yourself, of course, but a handful of mistakes won't make me turn down something that otherwise flows well. And minor mistakes like that are definitely not what you would want to pay a professional editor for. #askPSLA

Maria Vicente
@agentvicente
Literary Agent
senior literary agent + advisor @psliterary
195 MSWL
329 AskAgent
330 Queries
107 Tips