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.
Literary Agent
EowynGN @eowyn_nygaard
@AllieLevick * typo should be "the word prologue"Prologues are tricky and often unnecessary, but not an immediate rejection.
Literary Agent
Bruce Pollock @cousinB
@AllieLevick When you say you want pages within the body of the email, is it okay if they're single spaced?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!)
Literary Agent
Akula @Akula_H
@AllieLevick How many picture book manuscripts do you prefer to see before you take on a new writer?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.
Literary Agent
Akula @Akula_H
@AllieLevick Thank you so much for askagent. I'm from India and I live in a non-English speaking country(Germany). My writing is good and it may hide the fact I'm not a native spraker , but my accent will give it away. Is this going to be problem?No. It shouldn't be. I've absolutely worked with authors whose first language wasn't English. It's all about the writing itself.
Literary Agent
Jenna Nicole @jenna_nicc
@AllieLevick Is the common response “this just isn’t for me” a kind way of saying “this needs a lot of work?” Lol!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.
Literary Agent
AIWA @aiwahannah
@AllieLevick What sort of literary fiction are you interested in? Are you drawn to voice-driven fiction? Thank you.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.
Literary Agent
D.M. King @Shhhman
@AllieLevick How would YOU get teens reading again? Do you ever go with a gut feeling in choosing a writer to represent?Teens are reading! Quite a lot, in fact.
And yes, I definitely trust my gut quite often!
Literary Agent
Zanko @Zanko65416357
@AllieLevick When I start querying with this book, do I add the custom font to the query so that agents can install the font and see the runes or is that a total no-go for agents?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.
Literary Agent
Shakira Shute @ShakiraShute
@AllieLevick Hi Allie! Thanks so much for doing this ask agent today. Posting now so I don’t miss out. 1. What are your thoughts on rhyming pb texts? 2. How do you feel about pb series?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.
Literary Agent
Allie Levick @AllieLevick
@louisefeder 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.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.
Literary Agent
Louise Feder @louisefeder
@AllieLevick Hi Allie! Thanks so much for doing this #AskAgent. Do you have any tips for authors just beginning edits on their first drafts? Anything in particular you wish we’d look for during the revision process?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.
Literary Agent
Allie Levick @AllieLevick
@JustinRColon 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.I will say, rhyming may not be the best match for me, nor are the really sweet projects.
Literary Agent
Justin Colón @JustinRColon
@AllieLevick 3) Is there a particular style of picture book you prefer or find yourself gravitating toward (short and snappy, lyrical, etc)?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.
Literary Agent
Erik Thurman @ErikThurman
@AllieLevick #AskAgent There isn't an industry agreed upon format for submitting materials in a graphic novel proposal, but if you were to look at one, what is it that you feel is vital to include? General page count and format (.pdf vs web), among other things?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.
Literary Agent
Rebecca Thill @rkthill
@AllieLevick Hi, Allie! Thank you for taking the time to answer all of our questions. I was wondering whether you have a preference on the format of PB manuscripts (page breaks, page numbers etc). Thank you!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!
Literary Agent
Catherine Friess 🇪🇺 @cjfriess
@AllieLevick Hi Allie, are there any particular kinds of picture books you are looking for? Are you open to rhyming picture book submissions? #AskAgentI'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.
Literary Agent
EowynGN @eowyn_nygaard
@AllieLevick Are you willing to consider YA that -- authentically and tastefully-- deals with healing from trauma or abuse?ABSOLUTELY. I think this is very important and needed.
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Zanko @Zanko65416357
@AllieLevick Hi Allie,Thank you so much for doing this AskAgent segment!
How do you feel about queries coming from foreign authors, particularly authors whose native language is not English? Is this a red flag criteria for you or do you judge by the sample text?
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.