Kaitlyn Johnson

Literary Agent

Belcastro Agency

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

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

Amalie/A.R. Frederiksen @ARFrederiksen

@RedPenKaitlyn Thank you for doing this! What's an overdone cliché/trope in SFF that you're tired of seeing, even when it's done with a fresh, twisty perspective?
Replying to @ARFrederiksen

Hmmmm that's tough. I feel like I see a lot of "reluctant hero" lately or "person suddenly has powers awaken in them". I'd love to see things that have the hook built in more to world/character instead of forced in #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

Lyz Mancini @Lyzasterous

@RedPenKaitlyn Thoughts on comp titles that are a mix of books and tv/movies?
Replying to @Lyzasterous

Totally fine! As long as you include one book and let us know what in it relates to your story, feel free to use other media forms #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

R.H. Berry @AuthorRHBerry

@RedPenKaitlyn #askagent - Do you ever make offers based on partial submissions?
Replying to @AuthorRHBerry

No, I always have to read the full manuscript before making a decision. I'm not comfortable partnering with someone otherwise #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

Neil Saul Glaser @nsglaserwriter

@RedPenKaitlyn Are YA or MG verse novels a hard sell? I adore writing & reading them! Thank you for this brilliant #askagent thread. Appreciated.
Replying to @nsglaserwriter

I'm not a huge novel in verse person, so to me, I think they're hard to sell. That being said, there are amazing ones out there and GREAT agents selling the crap out of them #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

Sasa Hawk @SasaHawk

@RedPenKaitlyn What kind of impact do you think covid and summer 2020 in general has had on querying, submissions, and/or publishing in general? Are you seeing the usual summer slump? Or is this a weird year? #askagent
Replying to @SasaHawk

Querying has deff been up, but editors are still acquiring! The only issues may be on $$ in advances or editors needing to be picky on what they pick up since the future market is very unknown #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

LivMacy @MacyLiv

@RedPenKaitlyn #askagent
What is on your personal auto reject list for fantasy?
Replying to @MacyLiv

Sex abuse, rape (graphic/on page), drug abuse (depends), and incest are usually auto-reject (and actually for all genres lol) #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

Jasper Worms @jasperworms

@RedPenKaitlyn 1. Query Letter length, better half a page or full page, assuming proper formatting?
2. If we are categorized as #ownvoices and writing in a specific demo, is it assumed in the pitch?
3. How old is "too old" for a #mswl request?
4. Fun: 1st or 3rd person?
Replying to @jasperworms

If you want it to be known that it's #ownvoices, I would state in the query. That's up to you.

For MSWL in person, I'd try not to wait too long. For something like, my website MSWL, that is ongoing until I change it

Eh, I like both! Depends on story/voice #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

Isa @PeacockGoals

@RedPenKaitlyn Awesome!

1) What would you consider to be the best word count range for upper MG fantasy? I see a lot of conflicting numbers.

2) Would addiction being discussed in an MG novel be something you would reject?
Replying to @PeacockGoals

for Upper MG Fantasy I'd say 60-70k. There's some wiggle room but, for me, that's a great sweet spot.

For me, it'd depend on form of addiction. The kid or family or what? I'm not huge into drug abuse #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

Belinda Grant @belindamgrant

@RedPenKaitlyn Should people from other countries Americanise their English for US agents, or doesn't it matter? #AskAgent
Replying to @belindamgrant

Not necessarily! If you're not from the US, I usually assume it'll be in your country's style. If it needs to change, that'll often come up with the publisher, not the agent. #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

Shannon Hawkins @sionnanigans

@RedPenKaitlyn Say you signed a trilogy, and the project is doing really well, but you feel you can/need to add more stories to the series. Is it possible to negotiate more books into a contract, or is that contract locked?
Replying to @sionnanigans

Depends on the publisher. You can always schedule a chat with your editor to discuss the potential. Sometimes they won't agree to new books or add an addendum to the contract until they see how well the original titles sell first #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

Evan Dave @EvanDave8

@RedPenKaitlyn, how important is it to have previous writing credits? I have quite a few, but all are non-fiction (I work at a NG museum, and have written texts for exhibits) #askagent
Replying to @EvanDave8

For fiction, it's not important. Is it helpful or nice to see? Of course, but it shouldn't dictate you being picked up. In nonfiction, a platform/audience often is preferred because of the nature of that form of writing #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

Michelle Young @michelle13136

@RedPenKaitlyn What's on your current manuscript wishlist? #askagent
Replying to @michelle13136

Ooooo a lot lol definitely MG with LGBTQ+ characters and I really want more historical in all ages. Check out my MSWL pg for more! #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

LivMacy @MacyLiv

@RedPenKaitlyn Do you or do you not like query letters that have been run by freelance editors? Why?
#askagent
Replying to @MacyLiv

I don't think it ever hurts having an editor look over your query. Not everyone needs to pay someone to edit something, but a professional eye can help because they know what agents/editors are looking for. #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.A.Greene PHYSICAL DISTANCING 2 FLATTEN THE CURVE @MAGreene996

@RedPenKaitlyn @MegLaTorre How do you make your query letter stand out from others.
Replying to @MAGreene996

Show what makes your story unique! We all have aspects that are similar to other stories. So what makes yours the one to stand out amongst others? #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

Kat is Writing YA! @kat_longoria

@RedPenKaitlyn #askagent Would an agent reject a YA cont romance or urban fantasy based on being written in 3rd person? I don’t like 1st. Do you have resources where I can see examples of close 3rd person?
Replying to @kat_longoria

Definitely not. It's all about preference and many agents love either, or, both... If they pass on it based off 3rd person, it usually just means that's not the thing to grab them but it's not an "every agent will say no" thing (I personally like 3rd person) #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