Alexandra Levick

Prologues are tricky and often unnecessary, but not an immediate rejection.

I would recommend double spacing or even 1.5 spacing, just because it can get a bit hard to read. (Again, this is totally a personal preference!)

This is something that really depends situation to situation, but generally, I'll want to see at least three total if I'm interested. In a query, though, I only want to see one.

No. It shouldn't be. I've absolutely worked with authors whose first language wasn't English. It's all about the writing itself.

I can only speak for myself, but there are so many times where nothing is inherently wrong with a manuscript I just don't feel the spark that says *I absolutely must have it*. And that's my cue that it isn't a good match for me.

Voice is always, always, always the way to hook me. Across any genre! I find that I just can't care about a character as much if I don't have a firm concept of them in my brain as I read.

Teens are reading! Quite a lot, in fact.

And yes, I definitely trust my gut quite often!

I think you'll get push-back on that. Agents are generally a bit suspicious of any kind of download in a query because so many have received viruses that way. It may just be worth a mention in case they're interested in the story itself.

1. Rhyming is fairly out of fashion right now when it comes to what's being acquired. 2. I think they can be super promising! Though I would recommend writing book 1 and maybe just outlining 2 and 3, so you haven't spent too much time on them if someone doesn't end up buying #1.

It's so easy to get caught up in the details, I would recommend zooming back out once everything is complete so you can be sure that the story elements that make us care are actually present and identifiable.

I think it helps to go back and be sure the essential bones of the story are there. Ex: An established want, an established obstacle, and an established action against the obstacle that you can clearly identify.

I will say, rhyming may not be the best match for me, nor are the really sweet projects.

Oops! I missed this one. Sorry, Justin! I love when there is a bit of subversive humor in a PB (that an adult reader would catch). I love when a story has layers (emotional, thematic, etc.). Generally, I think I'm amenable to most sub-genres.

Yes to all the above and I would also love to either get a link with your samples or some screencaps to show me your style. I'd also have a synopsis ready to go in case anyone asks. And you may wish to have the script ready in a word doc, too.

Thanks for joining in! I don't. Sometimes I feel authors have a great sense of timing for breaks/turns and other times I completely disregard them because I don't think they're quite right. Either way, I don't think this is a make-or-break problem for me! It's all about the text!

I'm very picky when it comes to text-only projects. Usually, rhyming isn't the best match for me editorially (though I can appreciate a good rhyming PB as a consumer). I will also say that rhyming PBs are a bit out of fashion in the present market.

ABSOLUTELY. I think this is very important and needed.

I love a bit of personality!

I love a bit of personality!

Thanks for joining! This is not a problem at all. In fact, as someone who started their career working with translations, I think this is hugely important. I judge the sample on its own merits and have absolutely worked with authors who did not speak English as a first language.