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

· 24 Nov 2020

🦙Vianna Goodwin فيانا 🦙(she/her) ☪️🏳️‍🌈 @GoodwinVianna

@LZats When we're listing accomplishments in query letters, would you appreciate former ghostwriters sharing their publishing stats (x number of book in x genre with avg star rating) in the query?
#askagent

Replying to @GoodwinVianna

I honestly don’t care about star rating—it’s more about experience in working with editors, etc. so yes, mention! But ratings are eh #askprintrun

· 24 Nov 2020

Lynn Lovegreen @lynnlovegreen

@LZats Thanks for offering! I have been working on a book that is upper MG or younger YA. Any thoughts about the difference between those categories? #askagent

Replying to @lynnlovegreen

Well in publishing distinction is mostly sales—market-wise MG is a bit more open, but the difference is relatively slight. Academically, MG is about finding a place w/in immediate social structures and YA is about finding it in a community #askprintrun

· 10 Nov 2020

Andy/P. Andrew Floyd @pandrewfloyd

@LZats As an agent, since you get to read things obviously before they're published or even repped - do you have favorite books that you have no one to talk about with or that you can only talk about to a few people?

I mean, all the books I’m on sub with I LOVE (editors, get on it!) But since I’m trying to sell them I talk about them all the time! I do get ARCs but don’t usually get time to read them until they’re already pubbed. #askagent

· 31 May 2017

Hey folks—this is a fun @printrunpodcast! We talk about the unwritten rules of working in publishing. Plus #askagent soundcloud.com/printrunpodcas…

· 10 Oct 2016

i would mention that you've been pubbed before! On the Call you can go into details! #askagent

· 10 Oct 2016

KiKiNikko @KiKiNikko

Hello @LZats - (1) how much will an agent read before deciding to decline? (2) top things you look for to *not* decline? Thx! #askagent

Replying to @KiKiNikko

The only thing I'm looking for is to fall in love #askagent

· 10 Oct 2016

KiKiNikko @KiKiNikko

Hello @LZats - (1) how much will an agent read before deciding to decline? (2) top things you look for to *not* decline? Thx! #askagent

Replying to @KiKiNikko

anything from 1 para to the whole thing. #askagent

· 10 Oct 2016

Sean Robinson @Kesterian

@LZats how do you feel about a MS with multiple first-person narrators?

Replying to @Kesterian

I'm not against it, nor for it--it just has to be good for me to read it! #askagent

· 10 Oct 2016

It's up to you--what else do you have in your bio? If you don't want to get into deets, say "previously pubbed" #askagent

· 10 Oct 2016

Katie @msynergy

@LZats Out of your current client list, what % would you say queried you more than once before you fell in love with one of their books?

Replying to @msynergy

only one of my authors sent me more than one book before I signed them, but many did R+Rs! #askagent

· 10 Oct 2016

yes, but not a lot, especially if we're switching genres! Then it's a whole new ball game #askagent

· 10 Oct 2016

Stormy Smith @stormysmith

@LZats Thanks for the response. Here's another...I've heard other agents say New Adult is dead right now. Agree or dis? #askagent

Replying to @stormysmith

Agree for us. If you're self-pub, disagree! #askagent

· 10 Oct 2016

Stormy Smith @stormysmith

@LZats When reviewing an MS, do you typically go solely on "I like it or I don't" or do you see potential and talk revisions? #askagent

Replying to @stormysmith

I only talk revisions if I really, really like it. R+Rs are rare, but are always rooted in love #askagent

· 10 Oct 2016

Keith Manuel @KeithAManuel

@LZats How much romance can I put in a SF novel? My characters keep kissing, and more. Tangled web of feels and scars.

Replying to @KeithAManuel

lots! As long as it's still SF at its heart, not transforming into speculative romance. #askagent

· 10 Oct 2016

Jarrod MacKay @ExMachinawful

@LZats Have a Bachelor's in film focused on screenwriting. Worth including in a query bio for a novel or not relevant? #askagent

Replying to @ExMachinawful

Honestly it's not going to make a huge difference. If you have room for it, sure! If you have better things, skip! #askagent

· 10 Oct 2016

Elanor Porg Smith @SaintAlia10191

@LZats If someone has a light bio (no awards, no lit degree) do you still want writing resume or prefer to hear motivation for writing ms?

Replying to @SaintAlia10191

ugh. Never motivation. A light bio isn't a bad thing! Have you been in a crit group? Conferences? Those count! #askagent

· 10 Oct 2016

Jim Cangany @JimCangany

@LZats Thoughts on Patterson's Bookshots initative? #askagent

Replying to @JimCangany

I love the idea as a way to get more people to read. I hate that they can't be called novellas. #askagent

· 10 Oct 2016

Kirtida Gautam @KirtidaGautam

@LZats While writing an #ownvoices book, should the writer use the dialect of language from place of origin (E.g. India) or the USA English?

Replying to @KirtidaGautam

A combo. If your readers are American, present the content in a way they can get, but also isn't stripped away #askagent

· 10 Oct 2016

Kristi Adams @KAdamsBooks

@LZats Top reasons partials/fulls are a pass? Thank you! 😀

Replying to @KAdamsBooks

Cliche opening. Telly. Info dump. Just overall kind of meh in either voice or craft. #askagent

· 12 Sep 2016

Keith Yatsuhashi ⛩ @KeithYatsuhashi

@LZats Ha: another Q. What do you wish authors understood about querying and landing that agent? #askagent #amquerying

Replying to @KeithYatsuhashi

a bad agent is worse than no agent! Be patient and commit to the right fit! #askagent