Kaitlyn Johnson

Literary Agent

Belcastro Agency

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Armanis Ar-feinial(Author) @Sarcastic_elf

@RedPenKaitlyn Question: is there a time frame when you don't hear back from an agent that you should consider a pass on the project?
Replying to @Sarcastic_elf

I'd say a year. I know it's a lot! I suggest checking in after three months. Then again after two more months and so on. If no answers, assume a pass #askagent

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips
Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips
Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

E J McKenna is querying @EJMcKennaWrites

@RedPenKaitlyn What about the opening pages would make you stop reading?
Replying to @EJMcKennaWrites

Lots of telling language, where we aren't in the character's head/feeling like we're experiencing the story rather than being told a story.

I'm a person who likes intimacy with characters and loves the internal emotion/physical reaction added to make it 3D #askagent

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Chris Johns @creativeChrisJ

@RedPenKaitlyn Hi Kaitlyn, in a query letter, do put more stock in the brief synopsis of the book or the author's background and experience?
Replying to @creativeChrisJ

So, a synopsis is very different than a query, so be sure to research that. But I definitely put more consideration into your pitch than your bio. You do NOT need a super impressive bio! #askagent

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

M.Rose is writing @mayroundstone

@RedPenKaitlyn If you have a query letter that isn’t necessarily the greatest, how likely are you to read their work? I get that agents have a bazillion subs in their inbox and have to make quick decisions, I just wonder what might play a bigger role in your decision, pages or query letter?
Replying to @mayroundstone

I read pages unless it's 100% not a genre or elements of plot I don't represent (on screen rape, nonfiction, etc.). Many agents I know understand it's hard to write a query and we still consider at least your first page to gauge voice/style. #askagent it's usually a merge of both

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips
Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Arty⁉️🌹 @CuriousArtemis

@RedPenKaitlyn Should you even bother querying if your book is about 20k over the "generally accepted" word count for that genre (in this case YA fantasy - I've been leaning towards adult because of the word count issue!)
Replying to @CuriousArtemis

your best bet is to try to get it as close to 110k as possible. That's around where YA fantasy is right now (I often suggest shooting for 100k). If you're not too far off, an agent will be able to keep editing in mind and still be willing to work with you #askagent

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Dragonness Wyverna @DragonnessRawr

@RedPenKaitlyn How do you write a query for a boo with 2 authors? (Also, do you fill out a queryshark form for two authors?)
Replying to @DragonnessRawr

often, you can dual paragraph.

ex: introduce 1st character - opening situation in book
Introduce 2nd character - opening situation in book
Introduce conflict that brings the two together
Introduce the stakes and how they merge their stories to provide on outcome #askagent

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Ponderingcorporis @Ponderingcorpo

@RedPenKaitlyn Also, would you ever take up a fantasy series if the first book was self-published, but there are 3-4 more left in the series?
Replying to @Ponderingcorpo

Often, unless it had intense, successful sales, most agents won't be able to sign you on the sequels. They'd prefer you query them on something new #askagent

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips
Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

David Neuner @david_neuner

@RedPenKaitlyn Thank you do much for taking the time to do an ask agent session.

Could you share your thoughts on New Adult fiction and where you feel stories about the college experience should be marketed?
Replying to @david_neuner

I WISH NA was a thing, but many agents/editors shy away from that term. Often, we now say YA w/ adult crossover potential or vice versa. College stories depend on theme, if they deal more with younger themes or more adult ones #askagent

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Jordan Safranski ✍🏼 Freelance Writer @JordanSafranski

@RedPenKaitlyn Hi Kaitlyn! Something I always wonder is if having a strong social media following is something you take into consideration when you’re determining whether or not to represent a writer. Thanks! ☺️
Replying to @JordanSafranski

For fiction, not really. I can work with a writer on that. It's more about having a positive social media presence. We will most likely pass if the writer seems to be fighting, bullying, or engaging in problematic things on social media #askagent

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Charles Petrie @october_fish

@RedPenKaitlyn @JazdzewskiTara What's the thinking on an opening line that begins with a cuss word?

And

how important are beginnings to any length of story?
Replying to @october_fish

If it makes sense to the story/character, I don't have a problem with it. Depends on the agent, I'd assume.

Beginnings are the most edited spots! That being said, if the voice/situation/action isn't engaging or doesn't make sense to overall plot? You might get a pass. #askagent

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Savannah Cash @cavalierbasil

@RedPenKaitlyn If you have a series, and you've already written several of the books already, and you've fully plotted out the rest, should you mention this in any way in a query?
Replying to @cavalierbasil

If the first depends on the others, meaning it can't technically stand alone, I would say it's the first in an intended series. You don't need to mention the sequels and whatnot unless the agent wants to chat further about the story #askagent

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

coffeehousescribbler 🇨🇦🇮🇪 @coffeehousescr1

@RedPenKaitlyn Specific genres you prefer?
Replying to @coffeehousescr1

I absolutely love fantasy, contemporary, contemporary romance (and paranormal romance and general), historical, MG horror. Those are my big loves =] #askagent

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Jessie Knutson @JesKnutson

@RedPenKaitlyn @dmniccoli They don’t age in the story. The story centers on family so I have multiple POVs with mature voices, but the agent wouldn’t see that in the opening pages.
Replying to @JesKnutson

Hm, are some of the POVs older than 18/19? If so, I would state your story contains multiple POVs of varying age ranges. That will clue the agent into the potential reasoning for labeling it adult. #askagent

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

defy every cynical narrative 🏳️‍🌈 @tehartley

@RedPenKaitlyn @JesKnutson @dmniccoli Similar question: is there a good rule on whether people should query YA or adult agents for books that are crossover or fall into the "new adult" 18-22 age bracket?
Replying to @tehartley

Depends on the themes/age. If a character is 18/19, most likely YA with adult crossover potential. If older, you're probably falling into Adult w/ YA crossover and should query agents accordingly #askagent

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips
Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips