Natascha Morris, Agent, BookEnds Literary Agency

Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · Feb 28

BookEnds Literary Agency @bookendslit

@ShiraZwiren Start looking for internships and make sure you’re very well reads in the current marketplace #AskAgent

Also consider how your job experience is an asset. Work at Bank? Customer service experience! Teacher? Project management experience! You still need to learn the ins here on the ground, but those skills can transfer and be helpful. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · Feb 28

Kim Lionetti @BookEndsKim

@Nicky_Adams_Pen @bookendslit @NaomisLitPix Unfortunately, I think historical in general is a little tough for YA. You never know, though, when a trend will change...

Replying to @BookEndsKim

I agree, historical is really tough in YA. That being said, if you can bring something FRESH then I am open to seeing it. WWII might be a bit tired if you are going the usual story routes, and personally, it needs to be extremely researched. But I'm game. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · Feb 28

James McGowan @jamerrson

@TalynnL @SoCalledYALife @BookEndsJessica @bookendslit No, you can save that for the synopsis. You want to get us intrigued for me. #AskAgent

Replying to @jamerrson

So here one of my client's query letters. She posted it to her blog so other people could see what worked for her: laurataylornamey.com/writing-tip-qu… Hope that helps! #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · Feb 28

Laura Lavoie @lhlavoie

How important is it for authors who are yet to be published to have an author website? #askagent

Replying to @lhlavoie

I always actively encourage my authors to set up a website. It is never to early to start marketing yourself as an author. You are not aspiring: you ARE. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · Feb 28

Julie Weathers @Julie_Weathers

@inthesestones @ICT_Pinup @bookendslit #askagent Some writer friends were discussing comps the other day and one mentioned a television show. "Fans of this show would probably enjoy your book." It would make a good comp, but...it's a television show. Should I keep casting for novels?

Replying to @Julie_Weathers

I mean I did this for a MG I sold. It is perfect for fans of the AMAZING RACE. But if you have ever watched the Amazing Race, and then read the book (which comes out 10/1/19) you will see why the comp works. It needs to be well known enough, people understand the comp. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · Feb 28

Jessica Faust @BookEndsJessica

@catecaldwell66 If it works use it. Comps can be a bit personal. I, for example, am famously known at @bookendslit for my lack of tv/film knowledge. Others however would definitely connect to a comp. 2002 is too old IMHO #askagent

Replying to @BookEndsJessica

For books, you want to use something in the last 2-3 years. For TV/Movies/Musicals you are really using it for plot comps so you need to be really spot on. Comps can be tricky as they set expectations since they can also be used to allude to your writing style as well. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · Feb 28

Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife

@jamerrson @RachnaChhabria1 I wish I was always that certain! The real truth is that sometimes talented authors have books that aren't quite right and we have to think about it more. Do we have time to really dig in? Do we have the passion for this? Does it change the author's vision if we do X? #askagent

Replying to @SoCalledYALife

Is the timing right? All these questions pile up so we say, okay set it aside and come back to it. There are alot of authors that were so close that I am keeping my eye on because they ended up in my maybe pile. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · Feb 28

James McGowan @jamerrson

@RachnaChhabria1 Oh, no. We're often on the fence about stuff. Sometimes we'll sit on it for a bit and come back to it with fresh eyes, or get second reads, etc. #AskAgent

Replying to @jamerrson

I wish I was always that certain! The real truth is that sometimes talented authors have books that aren't quite right and we have to think about it more. Do we have time to really dig in? Do we have the passion for this? Does it change the author's vision if we do X? #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · Feb 28

James McGowan @jamerrson

@WReader23 That's not necessary, I don't think #AskAgent

Replying to @jamerrson

Honestly, I don't care. Your work is going to stand for itself regardless if you are 16 or 60. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · Feb 28

Talynn Lynn @TalynnL

#askagent How much of the story should be included in the query? The opening scene? All the way to the end? One plot point? Thank you:)

Replying to @TalynnL

You want the same as you would see on the back of a book. What would make you pick up a book and read it? Same holds for a query. You are selling your book to us, the same way a book sales itself to a read. @BookEndsJessica @bookendslit might have blog post about this. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · 31 Aug 2018

Lara D. Elliott @lara_d_writer

@SoCalledYALife Do you like to see an age range given for picture book queries?

Replying to @lara_d_writer

I think an age range can bite an author in the ass, particularly if they don't understand it. So if an author is like "I have a picture book for 10-15 year olds" I know they don't know the category. So personally, I think it can hurt you. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · 31 Aug 2018

Traci Piescki @tpiescki

@BookEndsJessica @jamerrson @bookendslit #askagent Generally speaking, would an MG with no human characters (think An American Tail) be marketable these days or would it be better to establish one’s self with a story about human characters?

Replying to @tpiescki

Personally, I don't connect with talking animals in MG. We still see those books on the marketplace on occasion, but I suspect since it's something of a classic int he genre, people are pickier about them #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · 31 Aug 2018

Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife

@KristanaArp That goes person to person. Ask yourself if you have looked at the rejections and seen a common theme or if there is something about your work that is making it a harder sell. When to retire a manuscript is different for everyone. But the general rule of thumb is retire it when

Replying to @SoCalledYALife

it no longer is an accurate reflection of the writer you are now. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · 31 Aug 2018

P.K. Merlott @PKMerlott

@SoCalledYALife If you know other agents are interested in a project (eg, in a pitch contest), does that make you more or less interested in that project? Is it more exciting, as an agent, to land a hot property, or to find what others might be missing?

Replying to @PKMerlott

Pitch contest are kind of not an accurate reflection. Someone who gets alot of likes might write for shit. So it comes down to pages. And that is a 1 on 1 thing. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · 31 Aug 2018

Melissa Charles @2TheImp

@BookEndsJessica @jamerrson @bookendslit #askagent Speaking of MG, I'm working on my 2nd. Are creepy dolls that may or may not be possessed an overdone trope? Or is it like anything else that it all depends how it's done?

Replying to @2TheImp

It depends on how it is done, but I will also say DOLL BONES was published a few years ago, so it might be a harder sell. As long as you manage your expectations, nothing ventured, nothing gained. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · 31 Aug 2018

Jessica Faust @BookEndsJessica

@ValdezBrittanym @jamerrson @bookendslit I think you mention that it's the first book in a trilogy. Most everyone will assume that each book can still standalone. It's sort of a requirement. #askagent

Replying to @BookEndsJessica

As much as I hate the phrase "Standalone with series potential" that is a fan favorite for alot of agents. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · 31 Aug 2018

Allie Greenberg @absolutestartup

@BookEndsJessica @jamerrson @bookendslit #askagent what YA themes are you looking for these days? Seems like this genre is a lot of the same!

Replying to @absolutestartup

I was just talking about how we need something new to re-energize us. But thematically, it's the same themes as always. It's just the new way of telling.

I will say that I am looking for first gen issues, college set stories that are YA themed, and historical fiction. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · 31 Aug 2018

Erin Price @Super_Weenie

@absolutestartup @BookEndsJessica @jamerrson @bookendslit I would ask the same about MG? Any topics you're itching to see covered?

#askagent

Replying to @Super_Weenie

I'd love to see immigration issues and first gen issued covered! #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · 8 Aug 2018

Swati Hegde @SwatiTheGeek

@bookendslit How long should you wait after one rejection to query the same agent/agency again with a different book? Weeks? Months?

Replying to @SwatiTheGeek

I would say you want to consider what the agent said in their pass and then see if you can address that in your next mss. How long that takes depends in the author. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · 6 Aug 2018

Tracy Marchini @TracyMarchini

@bookendslit @BookEndsJessica @ellen_press @NaomisLitPix @SoCalledYALife With today's shorter, snappier text, if it's fiction I feel like I rarely see full paragraphs. Short lines for effect are fine, and also make it easier to see page breaks. #askagent

Replying to @TracyMarchini

I agree. Attention spans for children are shorter so I don't mind a 2-3 word line. #askagent

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Natascha Morris

@SoCalledYALife

MSWL