Kaitlyn Johnson
Literary Agent
Belcastro Agency
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
Literary Agent
Rachael Bell-Irving @rbellirving
@kaitylynne13 Sorry more questions: my characters have LGBT+, disability, and POC identities, but that’s mostly not a part of the plot. Do I mention that representation or not? #askanagentThis, too, is up to you. You can mention this kind of cast or not. I love seeing a diverse cast with these elements (cause I so want more LGBT, POC, disability, &mental health) but again, you shouldn't feel you MUST say it to be noticed #askagent
Literary Agent
🐱Ellen Whitfield IS QUERYING🐱 @EllenWfield
@kaitylynne13 How do you feel about writers whose debuts are part of a series?That doesn't bother me at all. Depends on genre/age, but having a series isn't deal breaker. Just make sure Book 1 can feel satisfying and provide closure on its own, just in case the second isn't picked up #askagent
Literary Agent
Helena Hoayun {on semi hiatus} @helenahoayun
@kaitylynne13 One last question I’m asking for @chels_of_harper!! If an editor at a publishing house read my partial MS and said they’d like to read a full once I have an agent, should I mention this in my query to agents? If so, how do I go about it? Thank you!Yes! That's great, especially since they've already read a partial, not just heard the pitch. I would mention it either in the metadata paragraph (title, word count, etc.) or just before the bio #askagent
Literary Agent
Karina Liane Evans @AsTold_By_Ging
@kaitylynne13 Hi Kaitlyn! Thank you so much for doing this. I listened to your PitMad post mortem live stream on Thursday and regarding the desire for more MG horror - other than Goosebumps, what are some good comps I could read to get a better sense of appropriate amount of scary?Ah! I wish I could answer this! I don't represent horror, so I'm not the best voice here. I just know editors have been mentioning it a lot 😭 #askagent
Literary Agent
Kaitlyn Johnson @kaitylynne13
@carleelynnlloyd ah, for nonfiction I see it. For fiction, if you've not even started querying yet (or if you are unpublished), I wonder why a podcast would slate you to speak? Just because, podcasts usually have published authors or to-be-published for interviews #askagent (1/2)If you've self published, I could see that, though. You have more to talk about and experience #askagent
Literary Agent
The Self-Care Enthusiast: prepping for DEC #PitMad @carleelynnlloyd
@kaitylynne13 Thank you! I watched a course by the manuscript academy that suggested for fiction or non-fiction you begin building a platform abd have your work seen/talled about on podcasts before querying.ah, for nonfiction I see it. For fiction, if you've not even started querying yet (or if you are unpublished), I wonder why a podcast would slate you to speak? Just because, podcasts usually have published authors or to-be-published for interviews #askagent (1/2)
Literary Agent
Amy Lange Kawamura @AmyLangeKawmura
@kaitylynne13 Hi, thanks for doing this. My question: What do you think about protag using imperfect grammar in MG? Such as "John and me went to the mall." "I never been to no circus before." etc. Even though this is the way many Americans speak, I've seen online reviews that criticize this.If this is the actual voice of your character, then it makes sense. That's who they are. If you're doing it when it's not really the character speaking/narrating (meaning it feels more like author voice) then it may be a bit off for readers #askagent
Literary Agent
Jennifer Mandula @JennyGHall
@kaitylynne13 Hi @kaitylynne13! Thanks for doing an #askagent! I think my WIP slots in nicely with books like Broken Monsters, Night Film, and Night Circus, but not sure what genre that is. I *think* it's probably "upmarket speculative* - does that sound right to you??The Night Circus is often listed as Fantasy. Broken Monsters (is this Beukes?) was thriller, and I think Night Film was, too. You might have a fantasy with thriller elements. Depends on setting/plot #askagent
Literary Agent
Katie LaRae @The_Katie_LaRae
@kaitylynne13 How do you decide between requesting a partial or full manuscript when you get a submission you like? (Thanks for doing this!)If I'm head over heels, I might ask for full. But usually, if my list of TBR is already really long, I'll do partial because I know I need to focus on the fulls I already have #askagent
Literary Agent
Rachael Bell-Irving @rbellirving
@kaitylynne13 Are there any keywords or buzzwords that instantly turn you on or off a query? #askanagentI weirdly hate "spunky" or "feisty" lol and the whole "not your normal kid" lines. It's overused or cliche and doesn't really tell me anything #askagent
Literary Agent
Isabel Arcane @IsabelArcane
@kaitylynne13 In my current Fantasy MS my MC is latina but I never state this in my queries. I also haven't been labeling my MS as own voices. Is this something I should start mentioning in future queries in pitches and does it matter?That is purely up to you. I love seeing the tag #ownvoices, but it's not mandatory. A great story is a great story and I will request based on that plot and wonderful voice. You shouldn't be forced to use it or feel you HAVE to in order to be requested ❤️ #askagent
Literary Agent
Rachael Bell-Irving @rbellirving
@helenahoayun @kaitylynne13 Similar question, but 3 POV. Should I focus on one character for the query and synopsis, or try and capture all three? Any suggestions? One is more like a subplot so I could cut that out if needed #askanagentIf one is more like a subplot, I'd advise focusing only on the main two. We can learn about this 3rd person in the pages themselves #askagent
Literary Agent
Helena Hoayun {on semi hiatus} @helenahoayun
@kaitylynne13 @kaitylynne13 #askagent another query question: Is it okay to focus my query on one main character, but have the actual story start with the second main character? (She’s mentioned in the query, but it doesn’t revolve around her). Thank you!!As long as she's mentioned, that can work. It's sometimes very startling to read the query and expect one thing, but then jump into another #askagent
Literary Agent
Carla Rehse @CRehse
@kaitylynne13 Thanks for this! Is there a market for younger spec fic YA? Like a 14 yr old MC?14 is that shadow area lol we're trying to bulk it! I think there's definitely potential and, if that's your story, WRITE IT. You could start the landslide. But yes, I personally want to see more in this age w/ younger voice. #askagent
Literary Agent
Stephanie Bolla @StephanieNBolla
@kaitylynne13 Hello! First, thank you for taking the time to do this. When you are reading through queries from different writers, what is the most common mistake you see writers make?Oof. A lot is not knowing how to write a professional query (i.e. spending too much time on bio or not giving me the hook/conflict). Sometimes, they don't give me what's unique. Great details, but what makes your story different? I need that! lol #askagent
Literary Agent
Rachael is at 57,339 words💻☕ @RachaelEWrites
@kaitylynne13 How might one put that in a query? I saw some agents (I googled tis and didn't get a 100% solid answer...) and some Agents were like, "Nah. If I don't like it, then I don't like it. Trigger warnings mean nothing to me."I think it's hit or miss. Either we want it or we don't mind it being absent. So it can't hurt. I would do a disclaimer (perhaps after the pitch or maybe in the metadata paragraph) that just states this story does address blank, blank, and blank. #askagent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
The Self-Care Enthusiast: prepping for DEC #PitMad @carleelynnlloyd
@kaitylynne13 How many podcasts etc should you get yourself booked on before querying? Is it possible to have a lifelong career with both fiction & non-fiction works, or just stick to 1 genre? Any good agents that represent both you can suggest?Podcasts really aren't a mandatory thing. None of mine have been on any, and it feels odd (unless nonfiction) that you'd be required to before querying. I can't name any agents at the moment, but it's definitely possible to be successful in both nonfiction and fiction #askagent
Literary Agent
Aurora Thornton @Aurora_T_Books
@kaitylynne13 Guess this one might be a little on the nose, but - how to appropriately interact with agents on Twitter as an author? As far as following, liking posts, etc?You can totally follow, like posts, even comment on them! Don't expect answers all the time and don't plague the agent with messages/comments, but we welcome writers getting to know us! And deff participate when they do events like this! #askagent
Literary Agent
Rachael is at 57,339 words💻☕ @RachaelEWrites
@kaitylynne13 Hello, Question! What are your thoughts on trigger warnings? Like, should queries of books with content that deals with things such as suicide, assault, depression, the like possesses them? #askagentI think they're helpful. I do this with editors so they can immediately tell me "this isn't for me." Personally, I'm not a huge fan of cancer stories (having recently lost family members) and I don't do graphic rape. So, if that's in there, a warning is needed. #askagent