Laura Zats

@LZats

Literary Agent

Headwater Literary Management

Founder & Agent @HeadwaterLit. Host of the award-winning @printrunpodcast. Publishers Weekly industry MVP. She/her & Ms/Mx. Open to queries!

querytracker.net/agent.php?agent=5659

manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/laura-zats

· 9 Nov 2015

S.H. Marr @SH_Marr_Writes

@LZats #askagent How long should an author take with an R&R at maximum?

@SH_Marr_Writes I don't have a set time limit. The best answer? As fast as possible, while also doing it the best as possible #askagent

· 9 Nov 2015

Emily Oberton @obertonwrites

@LZats #askagent I think I know the answer 2 this :) but does an author have to finish writing the book before querying an agent?

@eoberton For fiction, yes. For non-fiction, no. #askagent

· 9 Nov 2015

Kelly @kbarina113

@LZats #askagent If I've heavily revised my manuscript and my query, is okay to query the same agent again?

@TsuyoKirai technically, no--we're also saying that the idea doesn't jive with us. If it's unrecognizable, then that's okay #askagent

· 9 Nov 2015

Meredith Ireland @MeredithIreland

@LZats #askagent What are your thoughts on having queries out for more than one manuscript? I've heard conflicting ideas. Thanks!

@MeredithIreland Don't do it! There's nothing sadder than giving and R+R to hear that an author signed based on a better book #askagent

· 9 Nov 2015

Emily Oberton @obertonwrites

@LZats #askagent Do you have to be published to get an agent? If so, what’s a good starting point? #newby

@eoberton No! Almost all of my authors are brand new like you, and I get to sell their first book! #askagent

· 9 Nov 2015

@GregAndree71 I rep R, just not YA R. In R, romance as the source of the tension & uses tropes. F w/R has other tension sources #askagent

· 9 Nov 2015

Laura Zats @LZats

@GregAndree71 I'm highly editorial, b/c I began as an editor. I love to brainstorm/dev ed, but don't copyedit/replace betas/CPs! #askagent

@GregAndree71 Normally, I begin w/ advising on new ideas "should I write this, y/n" and then do dev after beta rounds #askagent

· 9 Nov 2015

@GregAndree71 I'm highly editorial, b/c I began as an editor. I love to brainstorm/dev ed, but don't copyedit/replace betas/CPs! #askagent

· 9 Nov 2015

Mendeia @mendeia

@LZats #askagent Is it worth it to query when self-promotion terrifies me (I'm an introvert)? Will lack of Facebook make me unpublishable?

@mendeia Twitter is more important, and you're already here! Read christinakatz.com/read/get-known… and make it less scary! #askagent

· 9 Nov 2015

May B. Bridges 💋 @MayBBridges

@LZats #askagent Do you feel like Adult is a harder sale than YA or MG right now?

@MayBBridges Not at all! People be reading all over the place. It's just different editors I sell to #askagent

· 9 Nov 2015

Elissa Dickey @ElissaDickey

@LZats #askagent Are any agents at Red Sofa open to darker, apocalyptic women's fiction (set in MN)? Thank you!

@ElissaDickey maybe Bree? Check our rep categories on the site! #askagent

· 9 Nov 2015

Lucas Pederson 👀 @pederson_lucas

@LZats What narrative voice engages you?

@pederson_lucas It varies based on category and genre! But I love smart + funny + poignant in kidlit and smart in adult #askagent

· 9 Nov 2015

Amanda Marie @AmandaMOlivier

@LZats Hi there! Is it okay to have a Goodreads Author account for indie pubbed works if I'm also interested in traditional querying? :)

@AmandaMOlivier YES! But don't query something already self-pubbed #askagent

· 9 Nov 2015

Rachel Lenzi @lenziwrites

.@LZats if you aren't interested in a manuscript, would you pass it along to another agent or strictly move along?

@lenziwrites I pass it on if I think it's good enough to be seen, but just isn't my taste, and if someone at theSofa might like it #askagent

· 9 Nov 2015

Claribel A. Ortega - On Fake Hiatus 💙 @Claribel_Ortega

@LZats how would you feel about a YA (Fantasy) book set in the 80s? #askagent

@Claribel_Ortega Fairly neutral as a basic premise--this is one that will depend 100% on the story itself! #askagent

· 9 Nov 2015

S.H. Marr @SH_Marr_Writes

@LZats #askagent How do you think YA books about aro/ace characters should be handled in such a romance-heavy category?

@SH_Marr_Writes I don't LIKE romance YA, so I'm into that idea! Handle it by writing them as real ppl & make sure audience gets it #askagent

· 9 Nov 2015

Emily Oberton @obertonwrites

If a publisher’s website says it doesn’t accept unsolicited manuscripts, will they review query letters? #askagent @LZats

@eoberton No. #askagent

· 9 Nov 2015

Rachel Stevenson @whatshewrote

@LZats #askagent does query history influence your decision when requesting a MS?

@whatshewrote Y (ish). If irecognize a name and might read more slowly, but if you've queried me 3x, I might not be right for u #askagent

· 14 Sep 2015

Clairey Christmas✨ @linhcindered

@LZats is 93k for a MG fantasy too much? #askagent

@lllclaire95 YES. #askagent

· 14 Sep 2015

Patti Buff @pattibuff

@LZats Help please w/ genre. YA set in our world with 1 fantastical element. Full out Fantasy or Contemp Fantasy? Thanks!

@pattibuff if it's in our world, it'll be contemp. Regular fantasy is in a new world. #askagent