Tara Gilbert
Literary Agent
KT Literary
Literary Agent at @ktliterary | 🌈she/them | ✨magical | opinions my own | Gemini ☼ Pisces ☽ Capricorn ↑
Literary Agent
Sarah Adler @sarahaadler
@Literary_Tara Ah 36 mins... hopefully you're still answering!If querying an agent with a new ms when they rejected a previous full, should you mention that in the query letter and if so, what's the best way to phrase it?
You could. But I don't think you have to. I would just say "I previously queried MANUSCRIPT and loved your feedback and thought you would be interested in MANUSCRIPT 2."
Literary Agent
Tallie Rose *preorder Sea and Flame now* @_TallieRose
@Literary_Tara What makes you instantly roll your eyes in a query?When people say "this is the only book of its kind" or "this is the best book you will ever read."
Anytime either of those things has been said, they were very untrue.
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Cheyenne Campbell 🧜🏼♀️ 🍄 🦄 @chylu
@Literary_Tara Is there truth to the idea that most agents won’t read a requested full until the author gets an offer from someone else?That's not true at all. At least not for me and the agents I'm associated with. Often times I don't even have time to read when I get a notice of offer, so I have to pass because I can't make the 2 wk deadline. I always try to be the first to offer.
Literary Agent
Kathleen S. Allen 🏳️🌈🏴☠️😷💙 @kathleea
@Literary_Tara Do you share queries/pages with colleagues if the story doesn't seem a good fit for you?Yes! Especially with @ZREllor and @erin_clyburn because our tastes align depending on the book.
Literary Agent
Lauryn 🏳️🌈 @lauryngreen99
@Literary_Tara What are your top 3 MSWL picks right now? xRomance, all MG, and a Killing Eve comp. :)
Literary Agent
Alix not Alex @alix_jo22
@Literary_Tara I’ve got two but feel free to pick one😅Book question: what’s one thing you want to see on an author’s website when they haven’t published yet?
Personal question: do you have a favorite place to find Tarot decks and if so where?
1) I don't often look at author websites unless they have been published. Mostly, because I judge a book by what's inside, not by a website.
2) Everyone! Kickstarter, Instagram, my Facebook tarot group, google, amazon. Lol
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Felicity Alma @FAAlmaWrites
@Literary_Tara What different countries do you have clients in?US, Canada, UK, and AUS. :)
Literary Agent
Mari J. Silva @MJ_Silva_Dia
@Literary_Tara For an author who is not based in the US/UK, are there any relevant differences between agents from UK vs the US? Will it affect one's career and publishing process?I'm from the US and my international clients will probably tell you that there is a difference between agents. I think our markets are very different, so what we pick up will be very different. I also start my submissions in the US unless my clients specifically ask me not to.
Literary Agent
K Callard @k_callard
@Literary_Tara How do you know when to dump a ms? If your CPs say your query & chapters are strong, but all you get is form rejections, is there any point in continuing to query?That is entirely up to you. I've seen people get agents after years and 100's of queries after reworking their MSs several times. If you no longer feel love for the project, it might be time to try a new project.
Literary Agent
ava is elsewhere @mothmime
@Literary_Tara how long have you been agenting/ what drew you to publishing initially?I've been an agent for almost 2 years (in April), but I've been in publishing since 2017 as an intern. I kind of fell into it through my writer group. Decided to try the internship and fell in love!
Literary Agent
N.A. Pearson (she/her) @NAPearsonWrites
@Literary_Tara What's an insta-reject from you?Anything that has to do with pregnancy usually. I'm not a mom and I have no plans on becoming one, so I don't relate to the stories enough to champion them the way they need to be.
Also not a fan of contemporary romances with men in uniform. Police, military, etc.
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Brandon Breen @BrandoBreen
@Literary_Tara How far do agents typically read through submitted pages? If, say, an agent requests ten pages in the query, and ends up rejecting it, how likely is it they got through all ten pages? I'm guessing if the pages don't resonate, then an agent will stop reading relatively soon?If I love the premise I'll read until I know I want a partial or until I realize the writing isn't there/pulling me in. Sometimes I read all of the pages, sometimes I read a few paragraphs. Sometimes I don't read the pages at all if the concept isn't there. #askagent
Literary Agent
Sarah @sarahjordan728
@CorvisieroLit #askagentIf you receive a query where you feel like the writing style and talent are there, but the manuscript may need some polishing or further development, would you consider representation? Or are do you prefer a highly edited/polished MS?
Thanks agents!
If I absolutely love the concept and the writing is great, but just needs a little help, I would totally consider it. #askagent
Literary Agent
Mary Boone @boonewrites
@Literary_Tara Are you actually finding publishers who want to buy MS right now? Or is everyone in a holding pattern?#askagent
Yes, publishers are buying books. :) #askagent
Literary Agent
Rob @RobertPolk2
@Literary_Tara I was deep into drafting a virus induced postapocolyptic #MG with contemporary family issues. Should I keep writing it or shelve for now? Thanks. #askagentThere will probably be agents who will want to capitalize on that story, but I'm not one of them. Lol. So that is truly up to you. #askagent
Literary Agent
Terry Brewer @Stories2121
@Literary_Tara If one has written and self-published erotic romances under a pen name but wants to pitch a non-erotic romance with their own name, should they mention the other stories in a query?Yes, I think that would be helpful to mention along with the penname. #askagent
Literary Agent
LivMacy @MacyLiv
@Literary_Tara @emilyjbonar Is there anything an author repped by @CorvisieroLit needs to pay out?No. An agent should never make you pay for anything. #askagent