Megan Manzano
Literary Agent
Steven Literary
Agent @StevenLiterary • #RevPit Editor • Mentor @BreakthroughWBC • (She/They) • Latinx 🇵🇷 Opinions are my own.
Literary Agent
Laura Genn 🐉 | 21.5k ✨ @LauraGenn
@Megan_Manzano How do you know if an agent allows you to re-query the same MS after significant revisions? Is it usually listed on the agency website somewhere, or would it be best to ask the agent directly before querying again? #askagentI feel like it's kind of an overarching rule that you're allowed to requery if you make significant changes, but it can't hurt to ask!
#askagent
Literary Agent
K.A. Van Sumrall @k_sumrall
@Megan_Manzano I’ve heard from a few writers on Twitter that agents seriously consider a writer’s online following before offering rep. One writer claimed that an agent told her to submit again “when you have at least 2,000 more followers.” Any truth in this, or just WritingCommunity legend?Platform only matters for nonfiction work since agents want to see you have an authority about what you're writing about.
Having a huge following to get signed by an agent for a fiction book seems very sketchy to me.
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Literary Agent
Kelly is using Query Manager now! @LitAgentKelly
Y'ALL.WE NEED TO HAVE A CHAT...
...about word counts, because I'm starting to think I'm just getting spammed.
So listen up! Word counts are IMPORTANT when querying, so let's make sure you're in the correct range for your genre and age range, and not get you auto-rejected.
This is a really good thread that breaks all of this down for you!
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twitter.com/LitAgentKelly/…
Literary Agent
MattiOGreen🐝 @mattiOgreen
@Megan_Manzano Thank you for doing this, it's so helpful! How do I best structure a synopsis with dual POV's that take place 175 years apart, and the historical POV makes several large jumps in time?This is tricky. You can kind of do an overview of the world as the opening and then alternate the big points of each arc, with the final paragraphs of the synopsis linking the two POVs.
It'll take some tweaking for sure!
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Literary Agent
Ariana 🌸💜💙 @ariana__celeste
@Megan_Manzano What is the recommended word count for a debut YA Contemporary Fantasy? I'm having a difficult time finding it online. Some say less than 90k, others say under 100k. (I'm used to Adult Fantasy wordcounts)75K - 85K is a good range for a contemporary fantasy but can be a little longer if needed.
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Literary Agent
📚Sim Carter @simcarter
@Megan_Manzano Should you mention there are semi autobiographical elements in the novel in your query letter? And thanks for doing this!You can! I don't think it's 100% necessary when it's a fictional work but it doesn't hurt.
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Literary Agent
A M Duperre (Doo-perry) @A_M_Duperre
@Megan_Manzano I’ve seen some agents say to put “with series potential” in queries and others say don’t waste the space. I know it probably all comes down to what the publishers want to do anyway, but do you have a preference for query letters?I prefer to have "with series potential" in my queries.
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Literary Agent
LivMacy @MacyLiv
@Megan_Manzano What advice would you give to a debut author querying you? What is it the will make you want to offer?My main advice would be to keep patient and keep going. Things are A LOT right now so agents may be slower than usual when it comes to reading.
As to what will make me want to offer - I love a really strong voice or just a concept I can't stop thinking about.
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Literary Agent
Elizabeth Bates @ElizabethKBates
@Megan_Manzano Thank you so much for doing this! If a novel has a major plot twist should that be addressed in a query? Also, do agents want to know the ending of the book in the query letter? #askagentDo not put a plot twist or the ending in a query letter. You only reveal the ending / twists in the synopsis.
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Literary Agent
Paulette B Sharkey author of A DOLL FOR GRANDMA @pbsharkey
@Megan_Manzano I recently read an interview in which a children's author mentioned getting "project-based representation" for one manuscript. I’d never heard of this before. Would most agents consider this type of representation? #askagentThere are some agents / agencies that do sign a client based on a project versus a career.
I don't think it's very common but it is not unheard of.
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Literary Agent
Toyin Adek @ToyinAdekola1
@Megan_Manzano Let's talk tropes. If you use a trope in one work and a similar one in the next, does that make you a one trick pony?Not necessarily since it'll always look different when writing a different story.
Plus, I think every writer has a trope or theme or topic they include in almost every work.
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Literary Agent
Elizabeth Bates @ElizabethKBates
@Megan_Manzano I am writing a fiction novel, but have characters going to actual locations. What is the legality of this? Do I need permissions from business owners in order to feature locations in my work? Thanks! #askagentNope, you don't need permission.
More about why and what's considered fair use can be found here:
janefriedman.com/sample-permiss….
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Literary Agent
Kelsey Mickailyk @KelseyMickailyk
@Megan_Manzano I’ve read that it’s almost impossible for a debut author to have a trilogy sold to publishers, but what about a duology? Is that more likely, or is a writer better off just presenting a book as a stand-alone that could potentially have a second book? Thank you :) #askagentStandalone with series potential. For debuts, a series deal isn't always guaranteed as publishers want to see how your first book does via sales before committing to more.
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Literary Agent
Sara Baysinger 🦕 @sarambaysinger
@Megan_Manzano If a writer gets an offer from an agent, should they only notify the agents who have a full, or all agents who have the query?All agents who have your work, even if it's just a query.
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Literary Agent
Kate Jackson @KateBJackson
@Megan_Manzano If you have two books of a potential series, should they be queried together or should the second book even be mentioned at all, especially if book one can be standalone?Query the first book as a standalone with series potential. You can discuss the second book with your agent if you sign with them.
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Literary Agent
tatum layne (black lives always matter) @tatelaynex
@Megan_Manzano @sabinapost To add onto this question, what about comps to television shows/movies/media in general outside of books?Love those! I'd add in one book comp to show you know the current market but media comps are some of my faves.
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Literary Agent
Me @KJoyceWrites
@Megan_Manzano Do agents truly dismiss all works under 30k? Even middle grade?Not really since lower middle grade can have a word count of about 25k words, but not all agents are open to younger middle grade works.
There's also the difference to consider between chapter books and middle grade novels.
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Literary Agent
S. Alessandro Martinez @The_Morda_Shin
@Megan_Manzano @tajiinaa How likely would an agent be to take on a manuscript that was previously handled by a prior agent and didn’t sell? Is it a good or bad idea to query that previously handled manuscript?It can be tricky to take on a MS that was previously repped by another agent and didn't sell, because that MS has already been seen and presumably passed on by editors.
It makes it harder to go on sub with for the new agent.
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Literary Agent
Sabina (semi hiatus) @sabinapost
@Megan_Manzano What kind of comps do you prefer?Ex:
-Similar book x similar book
-"For fans of (book or authors)"
-Element X of (book) meets element or theme Y of (book).
I've noticed agents have different preferences. Thanks
I'm okay with all of these, but I really like option 1 and option 3 the most.
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Literary Agent
Sasa Hawk @SasaHawk
@Megan_Manzano What kind of stories are you hungry for right now? Any burning wishes from your mswl? #askagent-MG stories of all kinds
-Latinx stories, especially with Magical Realism
-Queer AF romcoms
-Non-western MG/YA fantasies
-A really good YA thriller, esp if it had an unreliable narrator
#askagent