Tracy Marchini
Literary Agent
BookEnds Literary Agency
Senior Literary Agent at @BookEndsLit Jr. | Author CHICKEN WANTS A NAP & PRINCESSES CAN FIX IT! | she/her 🖤🤍💜 demi | Join the Quacktory! bit.ly/1DfU0Wk
Literary Agent
Aurora Krick @helloaurora_k
If an agent passes during a pitch contest (in person or virtual), should one still continue to query same agent via good ole’ QM? Incase their mind...changes?(please don’t laugh, honest question)#askagentIf they passed on that project specifically, then I wouldn't query them again. But if it was pitched on a Twitter contest where they may have been participating but didn't comment on your Twitter pitch one way or the other, I would say go ahead and query. #askagent
Literary Agent
Aurora Krick @helloaurora_k
When agents say submit first 10 pages - do they mean double or single? Sometimes the instructions do not state it on the website / QM #askagentI would say double spaced, since that's how we'd want to see the entire manuscript formatted. #askagent #amquerying
Literary Agent
Ruby 🦜 @rubyjorita1
@NaomisLitPix @bookendslit #askagent I have 2 questions (if that's ok)1) If you had to estimate, out of all the queries you get, what % do you actually continue on to read the opening pages?
2) Also (estimating again), what % of the total queries would you say are strong, even if you pass?
This is what my queries looked like in 2018. I think the breakdown is probably pretty similar (though this year I've been closed for half the year.)
tracymarchini.com/2019/01/01/my-…
#askagent #amquerying #kidlit
Literary Agent
Sara Kruger @sarakruger
What are you looking for when you ask for "target audience" for a picture book. #askagentI don't ask that question specifically in my QM form, but what they might be getting at is if this is a younger (say, preschool) audience or an older picture book. #Picturebooks can technically go up to age 8-12, depending on the subject matter (usually NF) and voice. #askagent
Literary Agent
Sara Kapadia @sarakapadia
@NaomisLitPix @bookendslit #askagentIf querying a middle grade book, can the writer include illustrations they have made since they are also an artist? Or is it better to just send it without any artwork?
If you're an author-illustrator and your art is just as strong as the text (and as other art in the market), then I'm always intrigued! I love illustrated middle grade. #askagent
Literary Agent
Mary Ann Siegel @MaryAnnSiegel
#askagent What about the fairness and validity of "non-own voices" writing PBs in a culture other than their own? Does it make it OK if they've used sensitivity readers and have a knowledge of that culture from friends, family etc?This is a tough question, but as an author, sometimes I'll have an idea and ask myself "Am I the person that should be telling this story?" and/or, "Is this my story to tell?" and if I don't feel 1000% percent comfortable that it's my space, I leave that space open. #askagent
Literary Agent
Tracy WANTS A NAP Marchini @TracyMarchini
@heybrittanyj Publishing is still very much an apprenticeship industry, so finding a paid internship is your best bet to getting a foot in the door! I found my internship by networking at a writer's conference, where an author offered to pass my resume along to her agent. #askagentOnline networking is also fabulous, and didn't exist in this way when I started. Join Twitter chats in the genres you're interested in, let people know that you're looking, and look for organizations that are helping to get young people in the door (e.g. @diversebooks) #askagent
Literary Agent
Brittany J. @heybrittanyj
#askagent with the world in its current state, what is the best way to go about the process of becoming a literary agent?Publishing is still very much an apprenticeship industry, so finding a paid internship is your best bet to getting a foot in the door! I found my internship by networking at a writer's conference, where an author offered to pass my resume along to her agent. #askagent
Literary Agent
Cristina Raymer @craymer328
If I wrote the pb I'm querying as part of a series, should I mention that? Or is it better to have multiple different pb manuscripts completed before querying in case an agent asks for other work samples? #askagentDefinitely other picture book manuscripts completed. If the one isn't grabbing them, then two more in the same series is unlikely to either. #askagent #kidlit #picturebooks
Literary Agent
Tracy WANTS A NAP Marchini @TracyMarchini
@EidsonMillicent @NaomisLitPix So all that is to say, that yes - it is possible now to indie publish in a way that wasn't possible before. But from a business standpoint, you're going to have to invest a LOT in order to do it well and have your book stand out from the noise. And for most authors... #askagent:cough: For most authors, myself included, it's not something that I can be done to the success level you might want without a team of people with different expertise behind you. And that's what traditional publishing and representation gives you. (/thread!) #askagent
Literary Agent
Tracy WANTS A NAP Marchini @TracyMarchini
@EidsonMillicent afford the cost of an editor, copyeditor, cover designer, book designer, etc. Because the quality level of indie books has risen significantly since the start of self publishing ebooks, and it's a big investment to do well. #askagent But also...I really enjoy traditional publishing. I love having a team that's working to make my book better, I love seeing the finished product that is 1,000 times better than if I'd hired all these team members separately.... #askagent
Literary Agent
Tracy WANTS A NAP Marchini @TracyMarchini
@EidsonMillicent So I have both indie published and traditionally published, and I am choosing to continue with traditional publication for a few reasons - 1.) it seems that the indie bubble burst in terms of easy eyes using Am*zon's algorithm 2.) the algorithm favors speed (pub'ing new stuff ...every thirty days, which I could not do consistently and with a level of quality I felt comfortable putting my name on 3.) certain genres just never really took off in self pub'ed ebooks, inc childrens and middle grade 4.) I could not hand sell *and* write *and* ...#askagent
Literary Agent
Questions I ask myself when I’m reading requested manuscripts - #amwriting #amquerying #askagent tracymarchini.com/2019/10/07/que…
Literary Agent
I understand picture book structure, so what’s stopping me from getting an agent? #amwriting #amquerying #askagent tracymarchini.com/2019/08/05/und…
Literary Agent
Why your agent (probably) won't shop everything you write - #askagent #amwriting #amquerying tracymarchini.com/2019/07/22/why…
Literary Agent
Should I tell an agent during a critique that I submitted to them earlier? #amwriting #amquerying #askagent tracymarchini.com/2019/07/08/tel…
Literary Agent
5 Common Mistakes on the First Page of Your Novel - #amwriting #amquerying #askagent tracymarchini.com/2019/07/01/5-c…
Literary Agent
Jillian @jmacknzie
@TracyMarchini Great post, thanks for sharing! Question- for pbs- what’s the “Harry Potter” equivalent? I feel like I can think of so many fantastic and super popular picture books that then I start to wonder- are these all off limits as comps? Curious for your thoughts- thx!!Ty! With picture books, your best bet would be to avoid series and/or licensed characters as comps and try to find stand-alones - or say something like, "the x of :this well pub'd author: with the y of :this one:" #askagent #picturebooks
Literary Agent
Reader question: I used CreateSpace for a fundraiser and have completely revamped the book. Is this still previously published? #AskAgent #Amquerying tracymarchini.com/2019/05/29/is-…
Literary Agent
What does it mean when an editor or agent says your manuscript is “quiet?” #AskAgent #QueryTip #Amwriting tracymarchini.com/2019/05/23/mea…