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 Feb 2016

Adana K. Washington @adanawashington

What's the best way to show your YA fantasy novel's USP without throwing everything in the query? #askagent

@adanawashington think of a detail that paints a bigger picture of the story/chara/world. Give me something to hold on to #askagent

· 9 Feb 2016

Travel Movie Guide @750GMT

#askagent You get a very promising query; the sender says she’s querying A) just you for now B) multiple agents. Make any difference to you?

@750GMT It's expected that a query is not exclusive. Both say to me the author doesn't know the biz. A is flattering, but worse #askagent

· 9 Feb 2016

AmandaCharles @amandaLcharles

@LZats #askagent what would "super different" fall under for UF or paranormal? Creatures not usually used or seen, or plot in general?

@amandaLcharles All of the above. New belief systems, new settings, non-chosen ones, you name it! #askagent

· 9 Feb 2016

Rebecca Thorne @novelarnia

@LZats @erikhane #askagent I want to attend either the Las Vegas or DFW Writer's Conference. Which would you recommend? Worth the cost??

@novelarnia @erikhane I've never been to LVWC, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE @DFWCON. GO THERE. #askagent

· 9 Feb 2016

J.H. Winter @jhwinterauthor

#askagent When you request for manuscript pages to be added into the body of the email, are you expecting it to be formatted properly?

@jhwinterauthor ALWAYS. #askagent

· 9 Feb 2016

❄️Athena🌠Freya Greyson ❄️ @AthenaGreyson

What is the upper limit of YA? 18? Also, for 17yo MCs, should we define the age group even more in queries? Like say, upper YA? #askagent

@AthenaGreyson Ideally 17, but 18 okay. And yes! If you can! #askagent

· 9 Feb 2016

Amber T. Morrell @atmorrell

I’m finishing my English BA in Dec. Any tips for landing an internship at an agency/publisher? I'm willing to move, but not NYC. #AskAgent

@atmorrell bookjobs.com. Look for scut work. Freelance work. Get known in the book community. Read ALL THE TIME. #askagent

· 9 Feb 2016

❄️Athena🌠Freya Greyson ❄️ @AthenaGreyson

What fantasy subgenres are/will soon be hard to sell to agents/publishers? In YA and/or Adult. #askagent

@AthenaGreyson Oh boy. UF is hard,& dystopian. Special snowflake MCs are not interesting. Anything paranormal has to be SUPER diff #askagent

· 9 Feb 2016

Amber Hall @AmberHallWrites

#askagent Several agents complain of one genre masquerading as another. What determines this? how can I avoid making this mistake?

@AmberAHall Genre is often about how a book *feels* & tropes. Think about where your book will be shelved in a bookstore! #askagent

· 9 Feb 2016

Amber T. Morrell @atmorrell

I’m going to a conference for the first time (#AWP16). Any first-timer survival tips? #AskAgent

@atmorrell OMG have fun! Wear good shoes, bring cards, and talk to people as people, not networking opps. #askagent

· 9 Feb 2016

Hannah Roberts @h_m_roberts

#askagent If my MC is a POC but it is a fantasy race and his race is not the plot, should I mention it in the query? How? @LZats @erikhane

@h_m_roberts @erikhane Just mention that your book is diverse. That's all that's needed. We'll find out why later. #askagent

· 9 Feb 2016

Samantha E. Williams @SEdenWilliams

#askagent Would an agent indicate in a rejection if a MS is too short for a specific genre? #AskingForAFriend

@SEdenWilliams Not usually. These auto-nos get form rejections. #askagent

· 9 Feb 2016

Amber T. Morrell @atmorrell

.@lzats You mentioned you’re picky about time travel. What do you like to see in that genre (for MG)? #AskAgent

@atmorrell Honestly I don't know. It's all about surpris--I'm not into traditional time travel stories, which is why I love WHO #askagent

· 9 Feb 2016

Deanna Cabinian @DeannaCabinian

Is a revise & resubmit request a slow no? Or leaves the door open for yes? How often do you ask for R&R's? #askagent

@OdeliaEmmanuel Nope! R+Rs are rare, as it means agent is INVESTED but the book's not there yet. Take this seriously! #askagent

· 9 Feb 2016

eBook Realm @ebookrealm

RT : If the main protagonist in a fantasy is a young adult does that automatically make the book YA?
#askagent twitter.com/lesswithoutyou…

@ebookrealm No! YA is defined as having YA protg, audience, & coming-of-age. Need all three to be YA. #askagent

· 9 Feb 2016

J.H. Winter @jhwinterauthor

#askagent What things are best to mention for the section on why you are querying a certain agent? Do you feel this element is necessary?

@jhwinterauthor I wouldn't say it's necessary, but nice-Include books they love/rep/#mswl/blogpost. Don't say where you found info #askagent

· 9 Feb 2016

Hannah R. Miller @HRuthMiller

#askagent MY kids 15-20 want more YA stories w/o emphasis on romance. Is there a market for stories like these? They hate love triangles.

@HRuthMiller Absolutely! First love ALWAYS will have a place. Triangles are just a fad. #askagent

· 8 Feb 2016

YOU GUYS! #askagent is tomorrow @ 1p.m. CST! #teamredsofa's newest agent @erikhane will be there with me! Come with questions! Exclamation!

· 4 Feb 2016

Are you coming to our #askagent next Tuesday, Feb 9 at 1 p.m. CST? #teamredsofa's newest agent @erikhane will be there, too!

· 3 Feb 2016

Next Tuesday, Feb 9 at 1 p.m. CST, #teamredsofa's newest agent @erikhane and I will be doing an #askagent. Will you be there?