Uwe Stender

· 24 Apr 2020

Elissa McColl @ElissaMccoll

@UweStenderPhD I've noticed several books recently have not had aknowledgements. Are there any other sources for determining which agent represented a particular published book?

Replying to @ElissaMccoll

You could likely look it up on Publishersmarketplace. Side commentary: *I* don't like it AT ALL if acknowledgments are not given. I find it very inconsiderate.

· 24 Apr 2020

Nancy Parish @nancyparish

@UweStenderPhD How can you tell when your manuscript is ready for primetime? #askagent

Replying to @nancyparish

Perfect like my calls. When your critique partners cannot find anything wrong with it anymore.

· 24 Apr 2020

TanisiaTeeMoore @TanisiaTeeMoore

@UweStenderPhD What’s the best way to break into literary agent world?

Replying to @TanisiaTeeMoore

As in becoming a new agent? If, yes, then start with an internship at an agency.

· 24 Apr 2020

Nancy Jarmin Author @n_jarmin_author

@UweStenderPhD Is now a good time to query agents? Are most of you working through this pandemic?

Replying to @n_jarmin_author

Nancy, you know that's a nasty question. You are Fake News 😂😂😂 I can't speak for others, but we here at #Teamtriada are working as hard as ever. And we are always looking for new projects.

· 31 Mar 2020

Brian Harrison @Brian_AHarrison

@UweStenderPhD Best way to query a book that has had offer from Netflix and Amazon - do I try to sell it on that or not even mention?

Replying to @Brian_AHarrison

IF the offer is real...HELL YES!

· 31 Mar 2020

Shaina Stacy @sstacy06

@UweStenderPhD Should you include your self-pubbed credentials in the query? How much does the success (or failure) of that prior work affect your decision, or do agents usually go solely by the pitch? (Pitching a new book, of course, not the title that is already self-published.)

Replying to @sstacy06

I don't think it matters that much either way. The focus is on thus current title.

· 31 Mar 2020

Michael De Groote @DeGroote

@UweStenderPhD @tnielsenhayden wrote in her famous "slushkiller" blogpost that about 75% of submissions can be eliminated because the author is "functionally illiterate," or worse. Another 24% or so are plagiarizing, etc. Only about 1% are remotely publishable. Is this your experience?

Replying to @DeGroote

No.

· 31 Mar 2020

Susan Gray Foster @susangrayfoster

@UweStenderPhD Would you call a novel in which there is just one fantasy element Magical Realism, or Low Fantasy, or something else? The setting is NOT contemporary real world. It’s a place that could exist in some time period, but doesn’t. Thank you!

Replying to @susangrayfoster

Tough question, probably magical realism. Maybe google it to find consensus.

· 31 Mar 2020

Vanessa Seijo @VanessaSeijo

@UweStenderPhD I’ve noticed a lot of recent YA Fantasy seems to jump right into the plot. Is there no space for stories that build up to the precipitating incident or is that classic fantasy and no longer a desirable thing?

Replying to @VanessaSeijo

You need to hook people. Draw them in, then you can let them breathe a little.

· 31 Mar 2020

ElizabethWrites @ElizabethWrite4

@UweStenderPhD What's your ideal comp format in a query? Comps are eating me alive.

Replying to @ElizabethWrite4

A book or a movie or TV show. Preferably recent, but I don't necessarily care.

· 31 Mar 2020

Margot Kidder Gilmore @GrannyRocko

@UweStenderPhD Thanks for doing this! Is now a bad time to query? Should people who are ready wait until things have stabilized a bit with the pandemic or are agents eager to read right now?

Replying to @GrannyRocko

I would query. Yes, times are bad, but you can't stop living. And don't stop working on your dreams.

· 31 Mar 2020

Kari Veenstra @KariVeenstra_

@UweStenderPhD Any advice for an author who's debut has been affected by this virus? My boom launched 2 weeks before this happened and now all my author events at local bookstores and all my school visits have been cancelled. 😔
#askagent

Replying to @KariVeenstra_

I am really sorry about that. "If you can't be out in the world on tour, tour online." <quoting AAR>
You can promote live streams via your email newsletters, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc , Facebook Events, Eventbrite. I am sure others have additional, even better ideas.

· 31 Mar 2020

Sarah Christine @sarahchristcua

@UweStenderPhD What’s the last query that made you laugh? In a good way or a bad way!

Replying to @sarahchristcua

In a bad way, it was the one who suffered from grandiosity. In a good way, it was a comic strip query.

· 31 Mar 2020

SabrinaCVienneau @sabrina38063062

@UweStenderPhD I’ve been waiting for the chance to ask this, so thanks! I have a fun MG mystery to query. Issue is, it is set on a cruise ship. Given Covid-19 environment, should I hold off querying? Or given that it is such a long tail to publication, go ahead and query?

Replying to @sabrina38063062

I would query. If you fear querying a story set on a cruise ship because of Covid-19, then nobody should query a book set in the USA.

· 31 Mar 2020

Kristi McManus 🛫 @kristimcmanus

@UweStenderPhD What is the average length of time it takes you to consider a full ms? Thanks for this! #askagent

Replying to @kristimcmanus

That depends. I strive for 3 months at the longest, but sometimes I screw up...usually it is 6 weeks.

· 31 Mar 2020

J.D. Matthew @JDMatthew2

@UweStenderPhD Thanks for doing an #askagent !
I know not to expect an answer from every agent (you guys are busy, too). If they don’t say anything about nudging, what’s a good rule of thumb for that? And—ballpark figure—how long without a response equals a no?

Replying to @JDMatthew2

I always respond unless I don't rep a genre, or the guidelines are ignored, so I can't answer this. I'd follow up after 3 months & if I did not hear back after that, I'd either conclude they're not interested, or I messed up following guidelines, or they are an unsufferable jerk.