Jessica Faust
Literary Agent
BookEnds Literary Agency
President & founder of BookEnds Literary Agency, author advocate, optimist, & professional pain in the ass. Runs on coffee, wine, & kettlebells. She/Her
Literary Agent
Sassy Cat Chat @LisaLDriscoll
@BookEndsJessica I fell my Query is a bit long but having a really hard time cutting it. Does having a QL that's a page deter an agent or is ok?Hmmm. Have you looked at the manuscript? Might that need cutting too? Maybe the query is indicative of something larger? In a nutshell, if you feel it's too long then I would say it's too long. #askagent
Literary Agent
Purple @Ppurple_w
@BookEndsJessica Hi! I have a silly question. Is it ok to use a pen name? And will that affect me in any way in the future?It is okay and the only impact it might have is that you'll be required to use it forever (ala Nora Roberts). #askagent
Literary Agent
E @ewc_cooper
@BookEndsJessica #askagent I write in multiple genres. Should I mention this in my query bio? (Thinking a short sentence.) I’m hoping to find an agent who might be interested in other ms down the line.I would not. Focus right now on the book you are writing. #askagent
Literary Agent
Chelsea Covington Maass @chelseasfiction
@BookEndsJessica Say you get a submission with solid voice and excellent plot - the MS is complete but still needs work. How do you determine which books to take on? What are the biggest factors? #askagentIt usually doesn't "need work" from the author's point of view. We take on books that we see need very little work, that we think are fantastic and that the market is asking for #askagent
Literary Agent
tim @timsalterego
@BookEndsJessica #AskAgent Besides the story itself, what does an agent hope for in a client? What makes a "good" client (or a nightmare one)?Someone open to revisions, critique and brainstorming. Someone willing to work hard on the book as well as marketing & social media. Someone who communicates & asks questions. Someone who sends presents (that one is a joke...sort of). #askagent
Literary Agent
Julia Martins @books_by_julia
@BookEndsJessica What are your thoughts on using a book the agent represents as a comp? (For context: they're similar in voice/style, but not in theme/plot) #askagentI think it's a good idea. You at least know the agent knows the book. #askagent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Julia Martins @books_by_julia
@BookEndsKim If I'm planning on referencing things the agent asked for on their blog/agent bio/mswl in the first paragraph of my query, how long should that paragraph be? #askagentI don't think it needs to be longer than a sentence or to frankly. #askagent
Literary Agent
Devin Overman @devinlikescake
@BookEndsJessica Hi! Thanks for doing these!Q: If you have a few queries out and one requests a manuscript, should you follow up with the other queries or wait until an offer of representation/publication is extended? Or neither? #askagent
There is no reason to inform other agents of a request, I'd wait until you have an offer. Most agents will assume others are reading. #askagent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
The Impact Previous Book Sales Have on Your Current Submission #askagent bookendsliterary.com/2018/06/20/the…
Literary Agent
Using Comp Titles in Queries #amwriting #amquerying #askagent bookendsliterary.com/2018/06/19/usi…
Literary Agent
VBOwrites @vbowrites
@BookEndsJessica Submissions question: When sending a manuscript to an agent or publisher, is it proper to include any quotes at the beginning of the book? I have two quotes that are very pertinent to the material and I don't want to get anything wrong when submitting.Do you mean quotes about the book from others or quotes that you pulled from other works? I would not put in review quotes about the book, but quotes from other works are fine. #askagent
Literary Agent
greendragon9 @greendragon9
@BookEndsJessica #askagent I'm querying a new MS. But if you've got other books published through small press, should you mention the number of copies you've sold? (i.e., over 5,000 copies sold since publication in 2015)I don't think you need to mention that in the query. The agent will likely ask later #askagent
Literary Agent
Shannon Fisher @MsShannonFisher
@BookEndsJessica How much detail should be included in an initial nonfiction pitch? Three paragraphs (author's bio, platform, and synopsis)? Or should writers include a full outline? #askagentblurb (not necessarily synopsis)--like back cover copy, author bio and platform should be enough for the query. #askagent With nonfiction the platform is vital.
Literary Agent
DeeLinn @Roaringmoms
@BookEndsJessica I was told once that agents hate it when writers sub to publishers accepting unagented ms. If that is available to us, shouldn't we give it a go?Another issue is that you've now possibly closed the door on that house. Even if you submitted to the wrong editor, or with an unrevised book. #askagent
Literary Agent
DeeLinn @Roaringmoms
@BookEndsJessica I was told once that agents hate it when writers sub to publishers accepting unagented ms. If that is available to us, shouldn't we give it a go?you absolutely can. The problem is that often when you get an agent the agent will do revisions with you before submitting. Which means you submitted a presumably less then perfect work #askagent
Literary Agent
Kaylen Wade @kaylen_wade
@BookEndsJessica If you write in two genres, how important is it to find a single agent who reps both, and why? (WF & PBs--there are some, but it's tough to build a very robust query list so far.) Would it be terrible to have two agents? #askagent (thank you for doing these!)I would focus on finding one agent for one book first. Once that happens you can see where your career leads you and if you need two agents or have found one who can do everything. #askagent
Literary Agent
Gabriella-L-Garlock @HistoReWriter
@BookEndsJessica So what is it with this New Adult tag? I've heard everything from it's up and coming to it's death to a query to "it'd better be full of sex". I just wanna write for young people starting out in life. #askagentSkip new adult and write YA or fantasy, or SFF, or romance. Young people are reading all sorts of things. Oh, I forgot MG. New adult doesn't have any traction. #askagent