Kelly Peterson
Literary Agent
Rees Literary Agency
Literary Agent at @reesagency . Twitter Valkyrie. Philadelphian. Pisces. She/her. Multitasks #LikeABoss . Gandalf of #TheFellowship . Tweets are my own.✌🏻
Literary Agent
Sheretta Allen @AuthorHopeful
@LitAgentKelly Even if rejected, is it possible to still continue a series?You can always continue a series because you’re the one who writes it! But I wouldn’t pitch any book in a series but the first one. It’s up to you what you do with the response, though. ❤️
Literary Agent
Hannah @hanpparker
@LitAgentKelly I’d love to know that if a writer has worked with a freelance editor if they should mention it in their query? I’ve heard mixed things 🤔They could mention that it’s been professionally edited their bio, but it’s not necessary. Sometimes it can help though!
Literary Agent
Carmen Baca, author @bacacarmen1
@LitAgentKelly Do #agents respond to all queries? And do they respond quickly?Most don’t respond to queries at all, but there are a few that still do respond to all. Their responses vary depending on their work schedule, life interruptions, and free time.
Literary Agent
Sara Hardin @SaraHardinBooks
@LitAgentKelly Hope I’m not too late! If an agent has your full, after how many weeks/months is it okay to nudge? (Especially if their website doesn’t specify?)3 months is usually industry standard for nudging. :)
Literary Agent
ElectraFox | Book Trailers @BookTrailer4U
@LitAgentKelly Do you personally prefer to have manuscripts totally polished/ professionally edited before they reach your desk? Or at what stage is it best to get the pro-edit? (ie. before querying / after getting agent but before publisher / after publisher?) Thank you so much for your time!We want it the best it can be before hitting our desks, and if it’s the best it can be through beta readers and CPs and your editing, then that’s fine! If you want to utilize an editor, just make sure you get a well recommended and professional editor.
Literary Agent
Author Wendy Doyle Palumbo @SuperWendyWoman
@LitAgentKelly I have significantly rewritten my novel at the advice of an editor. Is it worth it to repitch to agents I previously submitted to?If it’s a major revision, I think it might be alright as long as you state that it’s a resubmission and has been through major edits.
Literary Agent
Heather R. Fowler @TheShadesofHRF
@LitAgentKelly Have always wanted to ask this question but was always WAY too nervous. Can authors requery an agent that gave them great advice about their work, once they’ve modified it. pic.twitter.com/1ASSQ9LEMFI think that would be fine, as long as you state you’re requesting in the hopes that you’ve revised enough and followed their advice and wanted to see if they’re interested at all.
Literary Agent
Tina Holland @haveubeenaughty
@LitAgentKelly Do agents take on clients whose writing the like, but maybe the genre isn't selling like steampunk, vampires or American Historicals -guessing these are dead, well the vampires are. 😁They can, but sometimes they’ll decline purely on its current commercial viability too. It all depends on the agent and what they’re looking for.
Literary Agent
Chelsea Pennington Hahn @_chelseawrites
@LitAgentKelly Not sure if you're still available, but figured I'd try - I know it's typical to a few agents at a time, but do you have any advice on balancing querying a "dream agent" vs testing out your query letter to see if you get responses?Hmmm...spread out your dream agents, I think, and query others at the same time as one or two dream agents. Wait for feedback if you can, but most times you might not get much. :( Got with your gut instincts! And that’s about all I’ve got for advice on that unfortunately. :((
Literary Agent
Nega Tronn @tronnnega
@LitAgentKelly Honestly, is talent even a factor? How do you choose your clients?Voice, story structure, and strengths. :)
Literary Agent
Shay McClean @shaymcclean
@LitAgentKelly @christyswift27 Follow up if it’s not too late - if you request an R&R, but ultimately pass on the revision, is it ok for the author to send you a different ms later?Of course! We don’t mind multiple manuscripts from an author, as long as they’re not necessarily at the same time unless otherwise requested. :)
Literary Agent
✨𝙎𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙚 𝘽 is querying ⚔️ @HogwartsGrad_7
@LitAgentKelly Hi, Kelly!So, I’ve queried agents who are looking for futuristic fantasy/dystopian YA stories, but the rejection emails I receive say things like “this wouldn’t be the right fit for me right now.” I know querying is subjective...any tips on finding agents who want what I have?
That’s SUPER tough, because I know there’s a very large divide in dystopians/futuristic anything right now. Fantasy is also having a tough go of it recently in general which could be why. But my best advice is to just keep on plugging away. You’ll find them eventually!
Literary Agent
K.M. Butler @kmbutlerauthor
@LitAgentKelly I was receiving form rejections for two ms (1st novel, queried separately) that were about 130k. I don't think I stood a chance and tightened both down to 106k. At what point should I conclude the problem isn't the length? Betas are consistent that the voice and style are ok.It could be any factor such as timing and commercial appeal, and may not be your voice. Or maybe it’s your opening pages, or it’s just not connecting with the right agents. The only person who’s able to conclude something like that is you. You know what’s best for your work.
Literary Agent
Mumber Mag 😺😺😺😺😾 @mumbermag
@LitAgentKelly If you my narrator is sarcastic and my humor is sarcastic and my book is sarcastic should the query be sarcastic or whatever?Not necessarily, but it should reflect that feel or tone.
Literary Agent
Kati Felix @KatiGirl90
@LitAgentKelly Hi! What are your thoughts on urban fantasy? I hear it's really hard to get an agent if you're querying for UF or contemporary fantasy because the market is so saturated. Is that true or is there hope for UF authors?Stick with saying contemporary fantasy and it will probably help. :) UF has been our for a while, and CF is kind of the new term. Fantasy right now is a bit difficult, but it will swing back eventually.
Literary Agent
Sarah K Goldsmith @SarahKGoldsmith
@LitAgentKelly Many thanks for your reply, much appreciated! I have 1 more question if that's ok. Do you accept submissions from UK writers?Yes, most agencies I know of accept queries and submissions from writers all over the world.
Literary Agent
Kelly 📚 @LitAgentKelly
@AliBabaDeBooks It’s hard to describe, but each author should have their own slant to it, and each character should be different in feel and description and tone. It takes a while to develop, and it should be less descriptive in a query and more focused on drawing in a reader, rather thanMeeting a reader half way. The voice can be the snark or the emotions or the descriptions, but mostly the voice is the specific style in which you use all of this to expand on your character and draw your reader in.
Literary Agent
Alexandra Montgomery @AliBabaDeBooks
@LitAgentKelly Oh man! 😂 I feel like writers/agents/editors have different opinions on the actual definition of voice. If you don't mind me asking another question, how would you define it? Is it snarky? Is it descriptive from the mc POV? Is it stream of thought from the mc? #askagentIt’s hard to describe, but each author should have their own slant to it, and each character should be different in feel and description and tone. It takes a while to develop, and it should be less descriptive in a query and more focused on drawing in a reader, rather than
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Madeleine McLaughlin @Madoxane
@LitAgentKelly When a writer pitches to an agent at a conference, what does the writer need to do to make a favorable impression?Be kind, not cry, and be able to have a conversation! Keep your pitch to only a minute or two long, sticking to the main story arc and stakes. Allow time for the agent to ask questions, and allow time for general conversation should it happen, too!