Megan Manzano
Literary Agent
Steven Literary
Agent @StevenLiterary • #RevPit Editor • Mentor @BreakthroughWBC • (She/They) • Latinx 🇵🇷 Opinions are my own.
Literary Agent
Nightmusic @Nightmusics
@Megan_Manzano Everyone seems to want a customized query. Can you give us examples of good customization? Is it a paragraph or one line? How do you avoid the awkward, "I've been stalking you on twitter, and I see you like dogs and cupcakes. Maybe you'll like my book about dogs and cupcakes."It's up to you. I think a short and sweet (2-3 sentences) is solid.
You can say "For your MSWL for angsty ships I think you'd be a good fit for X" or "After watching you give a speech about X, I think you'd be a good fit for me and my work" (1/2)
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Literary Agent
Megan Manzano 🇵🇷 🌸 @Megan_Manzano
@MichaelJWriting Find the agent that represents most, if not all of your genres b/c ideally you want an agent for your writing career. Some agents may bring on a co-agent. Some writers choose to have two different agents (say one for fiction, one for non-fiction) as an example. (1/2)#askagent
Ultimately, if you were to get an offer of representation, this should be a discussion point during the call so you know if an agent will be willing to represent you across multiple genres. (2/2)
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Literary Agent
MichaelJWriting @MichaelJWriting
@Megan_Manzano Let's say you have 5 books in your mind or that you've written, all in different genres. How important is it to query an agent that says they like all your ideas? Do agents represent a clients work if it's not in their wheelhouse, or ask a co-worker to take on the project?Find the agent that represents most, if not all of your genres b/c ideally you want an agent for your writing career. Some agents may bring on a co-agent. Some writers choose to have two different agents (say one for fiction, one for non-fiction) as an example. (1/2)
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Literary Agent
Melody @DakWriter
@Megan_Manzano When submitting to an agent, how long should one wait before following up if there's no response time mentioned?Check an agency's/agent's submission page as a time frame for follow up is usually listed there.
If not, I'd follow up within 2-3 months.
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Literary Agent
Debra Anton @debraanton3
@Megan_Manzano Hello and thank you. As you know, there are services that will review query letters, manuscripts, etc. How do I know whether a service is "legit"? After all, a lot of people can build a nice-looking website.Check testimonials, how upfront they are about fees/the services provided, if they guarantee you publication (which no one can), if they'd be willing to provide you a sample of their work/answer questions.
If there's hesitance or weird price haggling, red flag.
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Literary Agent
Alice Arley 🐇🌹🍵 @AliceArley
@Megan_Manzano A lot of people are asking if they should hold off querying for now given the state of affairs. What is your advice?Keep querying. Publishers are still acquiring titles. Agents are still reading what's in their query boxes.
Things may be a bit more difficult for books publishing now, but the time from getting an agent to getting a deal could be years.
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Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Melissa See @melissasee
@Megan_Manzano If a book is dual POV, what has to compel you to fall in love with each respective character?Voice is huge for me for any character, but for dual POVs, I love when each character adds something to the narrative. Whether that's tension, a new take on a relationship, a very different way of seeing the world, etc.
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Literary Agent
Khadijah L. VanBrakle 🇨🇦 @LVanBrakle
@Megan_Manzano How do you feel about YA coming of age stories from an #ownvoices perspective?#askagent
Send them my way. I absolutely want to see them!
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Literary Agent
Brittany Evans 🍩 @ImBrittanyEvans
@Megan_Manzano Is a year too long of a time to send stuff back to an agent who asked for a revise and resubmit 💀That's definitely on the longer end for an R&R so I'd remind the agent of your work and when they sent the R&R to you.
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Literary Agent
Shannon Elaine @ShannonElainexo
@Megan_Manzano Does the manuscript need to be completed before submitting?Absolutely. A manuscript should be complete and as polished as possible.
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Literary Agent
Literary Agent
🌬Mandy❄☃️🌨 @DMandzz
@Megan_Manzano I know you are looking for upper MG. I have something that fits your req for friendship and awesome girls! I read your comment about a 60k for word count. Is 70k something you wouldnt be open to reading?I'd be open to reading it but I'd definitely be wondering where the story could be trimmed down or if it was perhaps tipping into younger YA.
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Literary Agent
Kale Brunson @KaleBrunson
@Megan_Manzano Thank you for this opportunity! What advice do you have for the first few pages of a novel? Specifically, how might one gain reader connection with a character when the novel begins in a suspenseful scene?I actually wrote a post on this a while back! For a suspenseful opening in particular, give us good character voice so at least if we don't know what's happening, we want to stick with it for the character.
meganmanzano129.wordpress.com/2018/11/15/how…
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Literary Agent
Avhlee🏹🌙 @AvhleeWrites
@Megan_Manzano What kind of magic system elements do you love to see, not only in submissions, but in books you enjoy in general?I like all kinds. Necromancy, alchemy (this is a big WANT right now), elemental magic, magical realism, fortune telling, dream magic (think The Raven Cycle or Reverie).
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Literary Agent
Howard Wolke @HowardWolke
@Megan_Manzano This is awesome! Thank you!How strict are word count ranges? If a YA is at 95k words, is that an automatic no-go for you?
Thanks!
I'd say word counts are fairly strict. 95K for YA isn't a red flag as a fantasy novel, but would be a red flag for contemporary. There are different expectations for each genre.
And for debut authors, word counts outside the norm are much harder to sell.
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Literary Agent
vika/victoria (festive edition) @village_witch
@Megan_Manzano @ESymesSmith How did you become an agent? What would you recommend for someone trying to break into publishing? I'm interested in the trade side of books but apply as I might I can't get anybody to respond to me.I was lucky to get a remote internship which led me to grow/become an agent.
Publishing is so hard to get into. My tip would be try and find opportunities with agencies or smaller presses as they're likely to have those opportunities/accept non NY based applicants.
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Literary Agent
John Taylor @JATauthor
@Megan_Manzano Is it common to not hear anything while on submission - not a yes, not a no - for eight months?I wouldn't say it's common but it definitely happens. As an agent becomes more known, queries can come in at 50+ per day and reading them as quickly with clients/editing/life isn't feasible.
I'd check the agency policy and follow up.
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Literary Agent
kenzie rain @imkenzierain
@Megan_Manzano What’s a note you find yourself giving out the most?Either an opening has too much exposition, there's too much telling, or not enough sense of who the main character is.
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Literary Agent
Kaetlyn @KaetlynParish
@Megan_Manzano @ESymesSmith I’m so excited for this! Thank you!Do you rep upper MG and what word count do you look for?
I love MG and do prefer upper MG. I'd say 60k is a solid word count.
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