Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub πŸ’›πŸ€πŸ’œπŸ–€
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips

Video #askagent starting in 2 minutes! Come ask me your querying and publishing questions! youtu.be/qY8pZP5hfHs

Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub πŸ’›πŸ€πŸ’œπŸ–€
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips

? in DM: Would an academic/research background (MsC, PhD, and so on) be a deterrent on getting an agent?

Ans: nope! unless it's nonfiction, it's not really relevant. (in NF an advanced degree would be a positive factor)

Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub πŸ’›πŸ€πŸ’œπŸ–€
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips
Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub πŸ’›πŸ€πŸ’œπŸ–€
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips

B. Zelkovich @BZelwen

@Sarah_Nicolas Thanks for doing this Sarah!

Q: when setting up The Callβ„’, would it be weird to request a video call? I have auditory processing issues which make phone calls very anxiety-inducing. I communicate much better when I can see the other person.
Replying to @BZelwen

heyyyy I have the exact same issue! Being able to see the face that is talking helps me comprehend info. When I ask for editor calls I say "Do you mind if we do a video call? I have auditory processing issues that makes audio-only hard for me."

Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub πŸ’›πŸ€πŸ’œπŸ–€
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips

Sarah Nicolas aka Sarah N Fisk @Sarah_Nicolas

? from DM: For a Debut author is there a specific bracket that is sellable? I have seen many debuts in the YA fantasy but hardly any in adult thrillers. Is there a risk limit for debut authors to what agents would be willing to take on?

Ans: there is no one genre umbrella that is clearly "easier to sell" than the others. some markets are bigger than others, but that's usually proportionate to the writers trying to publish there. write what you want to write. trying to write something you don't love is hell

Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub πŸ’›πŸ€πŸ’œπŸ–€
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips

R. B. Miner @rbminerauthor

@Sarah_Nicolas If I fumbled my query letter first time around but am confident in the novel, is it okay to submit to the same agents with a revamped letter? How long should one wait for an initial response (or non-response)?
Replying to @rbminerauthor

IMO it's always okay to resubmit once (but no more) if you've made big changes. response times vary widely! query tracker is a great place to see what kind of response times other writers are having with agents.

Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub πŸ’›πŸ€πŸ’œπŸ–€
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips

Sarah Nicolas aka Sarah N Fisk @Sarah_Nicolas

? from DM: I’m a trans nb writer who does not identify with my given/legal name. When querying, should I use the name I identify with, or my legal name?

Ans: the name you identify with! when you get an offer, have this convo with the agent since contracts will have to be signed with your legal name. if the agent is weird or insensitive about it IMO don't sign with them!

Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub πŸ’›πŸ€πŸ’œπŸ–€
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips

? from DM: Any advice or query letter examples for multiple POV and nonlinear structured stories?

focus on the main story arc. look at other published books structured similarly to yours and examine how their back cover copy does it

Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub πŸ’›πŸ€πŸ’œπŸ–€
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips

Elena Berrino @ElenaBerrino

@Sarah_Nicolas When looking for an agent for a trilogy, is it better to have all 3 books finished? Or is querying a trilogy a no go to begin with?
Replying to @ElenaBerrino

it's very very very hard to sell a trilogy so "standalone with series potential" is the golden standard. You definitely don't have to write the whole trilogy before querying, just the first book (and probably shouldn't)

Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub πŸ’›πŸ€πŸ’œπŸ–€
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips
Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub πŸ’›πŸ€πŸ’œπŸ–€
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips

Sarah Nicolas aka Sarah N Fisk @Sarah_Nicolas

? from DM: should you disclose in your query letter that your manuscript is adapted from a fanfic you wrote? Just to be transparent and also since that's a thing that's happening more now. What's the best way to do that?

i don't think i need it, unless it's still very close to the fic and the fic is still posted online. as long as, of course, the worldbuilding is original and there's not enough of a crossover that would cause an IP issue

Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub πŸ’›πŸ€πŸ’œπŸ–€
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips

? from DM: I currently have 5 fulls out with agents I've queried 16 in total. Are there odds out there to maybe getting a yes?

Ans: it's so hard to say but that is a very good request rate so you're doing something right!!

Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub πŸ’›πŸ€πŸ’œπŸ–€
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips

Sarah Nicolas aka Sarah N Fisk @Sarah_Nicolas

? from DM: I had an agent request from me that said she loved it so far and couldn't wait to read. For an agent that is so enthusiastic about a full, what could make them decline?

Ans: this is actually pretty standard language to use in a request. It could be any number of reasons! hopefully you're getting at least a little bit of feedback on full Rs! (though if the agent is especially overworked, you may not)

Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub πŸ’›πŸ€πŸ’œπŸ–€
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips

Sarah Nicolas aka Sarah N Fisk @Sarah_Nicolas

? from DM: If someone had an agent previously but parted ways long before their MS was on sub anywhere, should you mention it and is a +/-

Ans: you should definitely mention it! something like "I was previously represented by xyz and this book was never put out on sub." An agent may have follow up questions so be prepared to answer those!

Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub πŸ’›πŸ€πŸ’œπŸ–€
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips
Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub πŸ’›πŸ€πŸ’œπŸ–€
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips
Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub πŸ’›πŸ€πŸ’œπŸ–€
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips

? from DM: how long you take to respond to client emails. Not people querying but your actual clients

they get priority. if it's something I can answer quickly, two business days. if it's something i need more time to answer, i will let them know when I'll get back to them

Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub πŸ’›πŸ€πŸ’œπŸ–€
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips
Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub πŸ’›πŸ€πŸ’œπŸ–€
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips

dan delurey @dandelurey

@Sarah_Nicolas I am writing kidlit on climate change - and only on that. The topic is surprisingly not showing up as on Wishlists. How do I find agents that want a book on climate without going through the query process - which may not tell me if it was the book or the topic they rejected?
Replying to @dandelurey

climate change is literally on my wishlist haha. query the ones who want other elements that apply to your book (such as character types, plots). you can't know for sure why they rejected you unless they send a personalized rejection, which is rare.

Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub πŸ’›πŸ€πŸ’œπŸ–€
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips

Michael Gilroy is querying @VanguardsMike

@Sarah_Nicolas Should the professional edit come before or after getting an agent? I’ve heard conflicting opinions
Replying to @VanguardsMike

you do not have to pay for a professional edit before querying. some people do, and if you have the money to spare, that's fine. most people use critique partners before querying.