Alexandra Levick
Literary Agent
Writers House
Literary Agent & Media Rights Manager at Writers House, LLC. I believe in books. Always learning. Opinions are my own. She/Her.
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J.L. Scritchfield @JLScritchfield
@AllieLevick Splendid! Last question: (since I'm drafting a letter anyway) how do you like to be addressed in a query?Allie, Alexandra, totally doesn't matter.
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
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J.L. Scritchfield @JLScritchfield
@AllieLevick If a query letter checks all your boxes, do you always read the ten page sample (even if the query doesn't grab you)? Thank you for doing this btw.I always read the sample! (I read backward: sample first then letter)
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Allie Levick @AllieLevick
Cc: @JustinRColonThank you so much to everyone who participated!! I've answered as much as I can right now. I'll try to schedule another #AskAgent soon for anyone who missed out!
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Bruce Pollock @cousinB
@AllieLevick Do you think YA is a tougher sell than it was a couple of years ago?I do think the market is a bit more crowded and competitive.
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Manju B. Howard @ManjuBeth
@AllieLevick Hi, Allie! Following the @SCBWIMidSouth Conference, I submitted my latest NF PB ms to some faculty. If I submitted the same ms to you, would you wish to know that an editor is considering it? Or should I put that ms aside and submit other PBs to agents? #amwritingI think you should submit the project you feel is the strongest and the best fit (for the market and the agent). If that's the one that's with editors, I think that's fine. Just give a brief mention of it.
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Allie Levick @AllieLevick
@EmilyMBailey1 I think it's ok to submit and I think you should let agents know.I *highly* recommend having an agent negotiate a deal for you, if it comes to that. I'm biased of course but you NEED someone advocating on your behalf.
If the editor does make an offer, email all the agents who still have the project *OFFER OF PUBLICATION RECEIVED* and let them know the details. Do NOT accept the terms as offered by the editor. Thank them and let them know you'll be back to them soon.
Literary Agent
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Allie Levick @AllieLevick
@EmilyMBailey1 I think it's ok to submit and I think you should let agents know.I *highly* recommend having an agent negotiate a deal for you, if it comes to that. I'm biased of course but you NEED someone advocating on your behalf.
If the editor does make an offer, email all the agents who still have the project *OFFER OF PUBLICATION RECEIVED* and let them know the details. Do NOT accept the terms as offered by the editor. Thank them and let them know you'll be back to them soon.
Literary Agent
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Emily M. Bailey @EmilyMBailey1
@AllieLevick Hi Allie. Thanks for this. I am currently querying. I have had a request for a MS on pitmad from an editor. What is the correct protocol in this situation? Is it okay to submit to the editor and should I let the agents I have queried know?I think it's ok to submit and I think you should let agents know.
I *highly* recommend having an agent negotiate a deal for you, if it comes to that. I'm biased of course but you NEED someone advocating on your behalf.
Literary Agent
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Emily M. Bailey @EmilyMBailey1
@AllieLevick Hi Allie. Thanks for this. I am currently querying. I have had a request for a MS on pitmad from an editor. What is the correct protocol in this situation? Is it okay to submit to the editor and should I let the agents I have queried know?I think it's ok to submit and I think you should let agents know.
I *highly* recommend having an agent negotiate a deal for you, if it comes to that. I'm biased of course but you NEED someone advocating on your behalf.
Literary Agent
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Michelle Van Berkom @MVanBerkom
@AllieLevick Hi Allie, what are your thoughts on pros & cons of using a pen name vs writing under real name?I think this is a deeply personal decision. Some people don't want their personal circle knowing about their writing. Sometimes people just want a separate persona for their work. I don't think either is intrinsically better or worse, it just depends on the situation.
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Travis Simpson @trvsimpson
@AllieLevick 1. Do you read the attached sample if you don't like the query? Is it worth resubmitting a new query if you whiffed but still believe in the work overall?2. Do you have anything that is an instant no; conversely is there anything that is an instant yes for full ms requests?
1. I don't allow attachments! But generally, I do queries backward--read the sample and then the query letter. Yes! Absolutely try again.
2. If someone says something derogatory in a query it's an instant no.
Instant yes if i love their writing! 🙃
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Laura Passmore @lauracpassmore
@AllieLevick Assuming an author has followed your general guidelines and queried you regarding a genre/category of book you actually represent, what is one of the most common reasons you find yourself passing on queries? Thanks!It's often that I don't connect to the voice.
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Alexandra Ayers @authoralexayers
@AllieLevick Should you pay for editing before submitting a manuscript? Specifically, line editing.It's not strictly necessary. I would recommend working with beta readers or a critique group. However, if you feel there are a lot of line edits that need to be made and want to have someone work on it, that's totally fine! Either way, it's important to send a polished mss.
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Kelly Mangan @KellyAMangan
@AllieLevick I heard from a PB author I love that writers should always include mention of other manuscripts we’ve written in our queries (esp if the MS being pitched is part of a series). Is this something you’d recommend? Or does that come across presumptuous and/or overbearing?No! I think it seems like you're dedicated to your craft.
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Elizabeth Roderick (semi-hiatus) @LidsRodney
@AllieLevick If you’re still here:If an author has other books out with a small publisher and their sales haven’t been stellar, will this give you pause if you’re thinking about taking them on for a new MS?
Sales track is a speed bump but can be overcome. I'm honestly more concerned whether the publisher has any contractual bearing on the author's next work.
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J.L. Scritchfield @JLScritchfield
@AllieLevick What is the most important thing you'd want an author to know before querying you? Asking for a friend, of course.That a typo isn't make or break. I think so many people stress out SO much over a single typo. Obviously, if the whole query is grammatically incorrect, we have a problem, but don't worry if there was one little mistake. We all make them.
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Erik Thurman @ErikThurman
@AllieLevick That would be awesome! One more thing, do you have a preference for a web-based proposal like: erikamoen.com/comics_old/gri…or a .pdf proposal like:
dropbox.com/s/kr1gawztoa9g…
To be honest, I have a very personal hatred of DropBox. (This is totally a ME problem.) I'd love either a PDF attached or a link to view from.