Anne Tibbets
Literary Agent
Donald Maass Literary Agency
Literary Agent @MaassLitAgency . Author. SCREAMS FROM THE VOID out now. Opinions & sarcasm my own.
Literary Agent
Claire Wright @clairewrites__
@AnneTibbets Hi! I see you finished this, but thought I’d throw my hat into the ring still. If I pitched a book to an agent before, but it’s gone through an extensive overhaul where even the main characters are different genders/names/semi-different plot, can I repitch it or nah?I'd say yes, but with full disclosure that it's an extensive revision of one they'd seen before.
Literary Agent
Michelle Henrie @MichelleHenrie
@AnneTibbets Great advice! Also, would you recommend slipping in information about a New York Times best-selling author who has offered to write a recommendation or wait until I have an offer?You can slip that in, but honestly, as an agent, I wouldn't believe it until I saw the actual recommendation.
Sadly, the liars have jaded me.
But, it may hold more weight with a different agent.
Literary Agent
Lee Greenaway @leegwrites
@AnneTibbets If a novel rides the YA/Adult line, should the writer use ‘YA with crossover potential’? Rewrite to suit one or the other, or dare I say it, NA?Sadly, NA has a bad rep so I wouldn't pitch it as that unless the agent is looking for NA.
Yes, "YA with crossover appeal" is my vote.
Harder to place YA in adult, than YA cross in YA, but there have been some exceptions lately, esp in Fantasy, so this might be evolving.
Literary Agent
H.W. Johnston @hwjohnston7
@AnneTibbets Are a majority of agents editorial agents?If an agented author has a tough day job can extensions be made to a deadline?
#askagent
I don't know if the majority of agents are editorial, but I'm going to say the majority of agents I know are, yes.
And yes, extensions can be made. Best to ask for more time upfront, honestly, so it doesn't mess up a publisher's production schedule.
Literary Agent
Michelle Henrie @MichelleHenrie
@AnneTibbets If you're still looking for questions, I'd love to know an agent's thoughts on jumping genres.I write fantasy, but since a contemporary romcom has percolated in my brain, that's what I'm doing right now.
As a writer I jumped genres (and even categories), and my agents pitched it all. So, just be sure when you query to look for an agent who reps widely, and if they offer, be sure to ask them how THEY feel about it. Better that than signing and springing it on them.
Literary Agent
DawsonEmerich @DawsonEmerich
@AnneTibbets How do agents balance work reading and pleasure reading?In my case, very poorly. I used to read about a half dozen books a year, but now, I'm like MAYBE 3.
I love and admire all agents who manage to read more. They're a necessary part of the job, as palate cleansers and a temperature of the market.
Literary Agent
Rebecca Benison @rbenison89
@AnneTibbets Is it a turn-off to use Mary Higgins Clark novels as comps? I feel like it might seem dated, but I really feel like her pacing and energy is the closest match to my MS.If you have another comp that's less than 5 years old ALSO, then I see no problem with MHC as a comp. I LOOOOOOOOOOVE MHC.
Literary Agent
KimVampyVampDrinksBloodInTheCorner @Natkim17052342
@AnneTibbets Is it true that YA sci fi is a hard sell?I have opinions on this, but I always hesitate to say them for fear people will take it as prophecy or the ultimate truth...but, in my ever so humble opinion, dystopia and paranormal are due for a comeback. YA space opera isn't impossible, just in less demand at this time.
Literary Agent
Hayley @hsquared20
@AnneTibbets How specific should you be with the manuscript word count in the query? I’ve been including the exact number of words, but some of the examples I see look like the author just rounds to the nearest 1,000.You can round up. It's likely to change if we sign and do edits anyway.
Literary Agent
Lily Mehallick @LilyMehallick
@AnneTibbets Thanks for doing this! I’m getting the impression that not many agents will be taking a look at pitmad pitches tomorrow. Thoughts?I know several agents who will be there! I'm going to be checking them too. Pitmad is never a waste of time, but also, querying works just as well.
Literary Agent
Maya Keita @MayaKeita4
@AnneTibbets What would you need to see in a query for a series (1-3 books). Would I just pitch the first book and pray that catches your attention or would you need more?Pitch the first book and mention in the query it's intended as a first in a series. Have book 2 and 3 pitches on standby. If the agent loves the first book, they're likely to ask what you have planned for the rest.
Literary Agent
CJ Dotson @cj_dots
@AnneTibbets Is there a general preference among agents to represent an author who writes in several genres, or an author who focuses on one genre, or not really a common preference either way?I think this depends on the agent. It's certainly EASIER to shop a writer w/n the same genre, but I think a writer has to be open to other genres if they can't land a deal in that one. I write in several genres and my agents have been flexible. I would hope most agents are too.
Literary Agent
E. J. Dawson @ejdawsonauthor
@AnneTibbets Query letter; pitch first or details?I'm on Query Manager, so it doesn't pertain to me, but I'd say details first, pitch second. I don't think it's a deal breaker either way though
Literary Agent
Yveline Garnier @YvelineGarnier
@AnneTibbets What do you look for in a query? (Aside from the usual)I might be one of the few agents who doesn't put a whole lot of stock in queries. The sample pages are more important to me. Off the cuff I'd say professionalism, an ability to follow direction, and a brief explanation as to why they queried me specifically. Aside from the usual.
Literary Agent
AND MORE @BamaWriter
@AnneTibbets if i have an indie publisher offering a contract, what's the best way to approach an agent in that situation?Query them and maybe put "Offer of Publication" someplace in the subject line? Send the query, sample pages, and let them know you've had an offer and are looking for an agent to either a) negotiate this one deal and that's it, or b) negotiate the deal and sign you.
Literary Agent
Adam Godfrey @adamfgodfrey
@AnneTibbets As a general rule, are novella submissions (25-50k words) generally not of interest to agents?Some agents rep novellas, so it's not a blanket no.
You'd have to check their query specs first.
Literary Agent
Emily is at 49K words! @writeonwagner
@AnneTibbets What draws you in to the first 5 pages?First 5? A strong voice and starting the story in a compelling scene.
Literary Agent
Randi Muilenburg @RandiLeaWriting
@AnneTibbets Is it ever considered okay to nudge an agent who has a full copy without having an offer to update them with? Or is that basically an automatic rejection? If it is okay, how long should you wait before nudging?Yes, nudges to agents are acceptable, even without an offer. If an agent rejects you for nudging, you're better off without them. I would recommend you wait at least 3 months before you nudge an agent.
Literary Agent
Sherry is writing @busybooklife
@AnneTibbets @AuthorBeccaDay May I piggyback on this question? I wrote a YA horror in 3rd omniscient to make it feel the way a horror film is in the sense that readers "see" what is happening but MC doesn't, to build dread and fear. Should I worry it will be rejected because of POV right now?Without having read it, I can't say definitively, obvs. But one of the biggest selling points of YA rn is voice, so if it's unique in the 3rd omni narrative it will likely stand out. Whether that helps or hinders, I can't really say.
Literary Agent
McKelle Anderson @MckelleA
@AnneTibbets I know you don't take pb, which is what I write, but in general, does querying an agent shoot your future chances with a specific agent. I hear submit, submit, but also make sure your writing awesome first. If we midjudge how rest our ms is how does that affect future querying?If an agent judges you solely based on the first query you send them, and then refuses to consider you again? They're kinda a jerk, so...it's in your favor if they reject you.
I'm in the submit, submit, submit.
I've signed clients off their 2nd query to me.