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
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

Rachael Bell-Irving @rbellirving

@kaitylynne13 How do you feel about receiving queries from self-pubslished authors? (that are pitching a brand new story to you). I’ve been told I shouldn’t mention previous books that are indie published if they haven’t sold 10,000s copies
Replying to @rbellirving

Perfectly happy to hear you've self published before and are now pitching a new story. Doesn't affect my choice in the least. We're not judging your self published work. You've grown. Moved on to new stories. It should be about THIS story #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

The Self-Care Enthusiast: prepping for DEC #PitMad @carleelynnlloyd

@kaitylynne13 Are works similar to GOOD OMENS trending at all? As a writer sometimes you can convince yourself a specific fantasy genre is timeless/trending when it actually isn't. Although you must believe before anyone else, of course.
Replying to @carleelynnlloyd

ever since the TV show, people have been trying to compare their story to that. But it needs to be incredibly strong and unique to really land. Angels/demons hasn't been a huge hit apart from that, so it depends what element of the show/book you're similar to #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

Emily Locklin @emlocklin

@kaitylynne13 @StephanieNBolla Ooh, I've got it.

What question/s are you hoping we ask you? Is there anything you want those of us in the query trenches to know?
Replying to @emlocklin

haha oh that's a list. I would just say be sure to always look at agent submission guidelines/twitter posts to be POSITIVE they are taking your genre/age. that's a bit deal lol #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 Johnson @kaitylynne13

@TRittershaus That's info we don't need. Give us publication credits if you have them. If not, but you have a connection to the plot/character (like it's about a social worker and you are a social worker) state that. #askagent
Replying to @kaitylynne13

If none of this, give one or two lines about you: town you live in, job, college you graduated from, how many dogs you have. I just want a bit about you. It should never be longer than the pitch letter itself. #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
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

Merril Elizabeth @natural_wizard

@kaitylynne13 Are agents more likely to work with the same publishing houses over and over? Or put another way, if you want a particular publishing house do you have to find an agent that has sold to them before
Replying to @natural_wizard

An agent should be trying to get you in any reputable house. We don't focus on just certain houses. We create a list and are continuously sending you to new people. and just because an agent hasn't sold to a house, doesn't mean they can't #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

Sierra @sierrapung

@kaitylynne13 Hi @kaitylynne13! Thank you for taking the time to do this! Can you share about your process? How often do you stop reading mid-query? If you like the query, do you read the pages next or synopsis? Thanks!
Replying to @sierrapung

Sure! Normally, unless the query is 100% no (like about rape or something I strictly say I don't take), I read the pages. I don't often read the synopsis unless I like the pages and want to see where the story goes #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

If I believe in dinosaurs, then they believe in me @SquirrelTheWR

@kaitylynne13 What's a reasonable full request rate to expect with a good query- like, what % query rejections is an indication the query/first pages need work? Thanks for doing this!
Replying to @SquirrelTheWR

Unfortunately, I don't have an answer for that. It varies writer to writer. I've seen people with great queries not get picked up for months and months; others who had average query, got picked up fast. There's no fast and hard number #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
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

Donna is finally querying the damn thing @PIXY727

@kaitylynne13 What are your biggest pet peeves in the first 5 pages?
Replying to @PIXY727

Waking from a dream. Describing weather. Beginning after a big event and reflecting on it rather than starting in the moment. Starting in the midst of sex scene (it happens!) lol I could go on and 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

Cortney Winn @CortneyWinn11

@kaitylynne13 What are the biggest most common weaknesses you see in MS? What are the biggest strengths you look for? 😊♥️
Replying to @CortneyWinn11

Passive voice! Where we fall into memories too soon or the character has no agency of their own. Kills me lol Biggest strengths are voice and worldbuilding that I could just slip into, it's that 3D #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

TheBrokeCollector @BrokeCollector

@kaitylynne13 If I'm writing a multi-book story, at what point should I begin sending out query letters to agents? Is there a specific word count or is it more about completing the first book?
Replying to @BrokeCollector

It's deff about finishing the first book. Never query an unfinished/unedited book, and never query multiple books in 1 query. Focus on Book 1, because you never know if Book 2 will be picked up in the future. Book 1 is the important one right now #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

JoeBianco @TheDriveToKill

@kaitylynne13 #askagent self published been told it’s a great story, query after query goes kaboom what makes an agent see the same vision that I have?
Replying to @TheDriveToKill

If it's self published, it may be hard to get an agent to take it on, because it's already out in the world. Depends on sales numbers, really. I can't tell you how to share that vision, because it all depends on the agent who clicks with you #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 Is it possible for a book set in college (beginning of freshman year) to be marketable as YA? Or will it always get categorized in the murky NA area just because it's set in college, even if the themes correlate with YA better? #askagent
Replying to @mackenziemreed7

We've noticed, depending on voice, this gets labeled as "crossover potential". Either YA with adult crossover, or A with YA crossover. But I'm still crossing my fingers for NA to come out of the shadows and be the fabulous age it is #askagent