Kaitlyn Katsoupis

Literary Agent

Belcastro Agency

Agent @belcastr. insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147

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

Sierra @sierrapung

@kaitylynne13 Thanks for answering! I love hearing behind the scenes stuff like this. Follow up Q. How often do you reject for query? For pages? For concept? For something else? Thanks again :)
Replying to @sierrapung

Don't really have numbers for that, but often it's if the query is just something I'm not interested in, or if the pages are just not strong enough writing. Sometimes it's synopsis, but that varies #askagent

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

H.W. Johnston @hwjohnston7

@kaitylynne13 @KJHarrowick Are novellas something agents stay away from?
Replying to @hwjohnston7

Not all of them! Check their preferences. I don't take novellas, but another agent in the agency might, so deff do research #askagent

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

Metra Kootsikas @Nice2Meecha

@kaitylynne13 Hello Kaitlyn! I see lots of agent tweets on major query mistakes...what % would you say are actually good, researched, strong queries? Even if the MS is not for you, is your inbox filled with competitive, well-written queries?
Replying to @Nice2Meecha

I have a Maybe pile of around 60 queries right now. All decent or great. Sometimes I request, sometimes I don't. I have CLIENTS right now who didn't have the best queries. I don't have %, but it's more about the plot or writing that grabs me even if query is sub-par #askagent

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

Mackenzie Reed @mackenziemreed7

@kaitylynne13 Last question from me! If an editor likes your pitch (like from Pitmad), is that something that should be mentioned in an initial agent query?
Replying to @mackenziemreed7

Keep a list of any editor that liked your pitch. You can mention in the query, or you can just save it for when you get an agent offer and let them know, so they can reach out to the editor #askagent

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

Jennifer Kinzler @JenniferKinzler

@kaitylynne13 What do you think about the gray area between MG and YA? Is there a place for a 14yo MC starting high school?
Replying to @JenniferKinzler

We want to see more in this age. It's a murky area and we don't have nearly enough. It would most likely by MG or YA dependent on voice/plot #askagent

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

Biciido @DeeqaJibrell

@kaitylynne13 Do you have any suggestions on how to tackle a query hook when you have multiple main characters? Do you focus on the main plot or on one BIG main character? Thank you!
Replying to @DeeqaJibrell

if 1 character feels like the main one the plot revolves around, focus on them. It's hard to do more than 2 characters in a query. Things often get complicated after that #askagent

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

Cierra McGee @CDGMcGee

@kaitylynne13 @iza_sultan Follow-up: I've read tips from agents (specifically thinking of Donald Maass) advising only to use shelf-specific genres in queries. For example, I'm writing a space western--but since that's not a "real" genre you'd find in bookstore, am I better-off calling it sci-fi?
Replying to @CDGMcGee

Um, I love space western. We can read between the lines lol just do research on the agency. If they've stated they prefer shelf-specific, edit your query for them. But for others, if it's not super vague, something like space western works #askagent

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

Stephanie Bolla @StephanieNBolla

@kaitylynne13 @emlocklin I read that having a large social media presence is a key factor when agents are choosing who to represent. Is this true? And how much does this effect your decision making process?
Replying to @StephanieNBolla

Platform matters for nonfiction, because you should be involved/have experience in topic. For fiction, social media doesn't bother me. I will work with you on bulking that, but it's not necessary to have a big platform #askagent

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

Shay Emms @ShayEmms

@kaitylynne13 I have a longish list of publication credits but half of them are small press and the others are for VERY old graphic novels from bigger name companies. One friend told me agents won't be interested in small press books from publishers they've never heard of- is this true?
Replying to @ShayEmms

You could state you've published graphic novels with NAME and also had publications through various small presses. If they want to know more, they'll ask who those presses are (it's still a great accomplishment, though! Congrats!) #askagent

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

Helena Hoayun {on semi hiatus} @helenahoayun

@kaitylynne13 Oh I thought of another question! Is it wise to mention that other agents have your full in future queries? Or should we leave that out? (Could it hurt because the agents wouldn’t want to compete???) #askagent
Replying to @helenahoayun

I would only let agents know if you've had an offer of representation or if a press/publisher is currently considering the manuscript. We expect other agents to be reading it, so we don't need you to let us know #askagent

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

R.M. Seidler @RMSeidler

@kaitylynne13 Hi!
Is it a mark against the author if they are self publishing a series while trying to find an agent to publish a second series?
Ty for your time!
Replying to @RMSeidler

Nope! If it's a completely separate work/series, the agent shouldn't be concerned with that. If they want to set up a call to discuss your work, let them know so they're aware of all the projects you're working on #askagent

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

Lexie Sharabianlou @lexieshar

@kaitylynne13 Hi Kathryn! Q about page samples: i have a nice tidy arc of my first 10...but more and more agents want the first 5. Does it matter if the pages end mid scene? Or is it worth sending a 6th page to come to a natural end point?
Replying to @lexieshar

Totally fine ending mid-scene. I would suggest not going over the stated number of pages. And yes, whatever they request, it should be double spaced first. Double space the pages, then send the first 5 (if requested) or 10 if they asked for more #askagent

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

Lane @lanewriteswords

@kaitylynne13 A lot of agents don’t rep sexual assault manuscripts, but does that include all related topics? My MC is the resulting child of a sexual assault and I’m not sure if I should avoid querying to those agents. Don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable/annoyed
Replying to @lanewriteswords

It's not usually all related topics. Like, I don't like graphic rape, but I understand a character who has a past where they experienced it or as you said, are the product of. So, unless they state graphic or any relation to it, you might be ok #askagent

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

Cortney Winn @CortneyWinn11

@kaitylynne13 Ooh, one more question. What is your dream as an agent? Like, if you achieved this, your career would be fulfilled.
Replying to @CortneyWinn11

Oh, lord! Ummmm have all of my clients at Big 5 publishers? Maybe? Probably to make enough money that I can agent full time and not have a second job? lol I don't really know. I just love what I do #askagent

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

John Ryland @JohnRyland10

@kaitylynne13 Do you feel that "new adult"is a viable sub genre?
Replying to @JohnRyland10

New adult is an agent category, not a sub genre, but we're still trying to get it the attention it needs. Right now, most publishers shy away, or label is YA with adult crossover or Adult with YA crossover. #askagent