Uwe Stender
Literary Agent
Triada US Literary Agency
Founder @triadaus , Literary/Film Agent. Herthaner. Berliner Schnauze. Westend. Qualität kommt von Qual. 1982,1991, 2013, 2017. Books, Films, Music. ❤ Berlin ❤
Literary Agent
Sharon Black @TheSharonBlack
@UweStenderPhD If you really loved the idea from a query but rejected the full...then it spent a year being revised and was a much better book with the same idea, would you consider looking at it again? I see this Q a lot and am curious. Thank you for your time!*I* would, yes.
Literary Agent
K.A. Blaser @KABlaser
@UweStenderPhD When an agent requests a full, how often do you think they read the whole thing? Is that less common?I can't speak for others. I personally will read as long as I love what I am reading.
Literary Agent
Paige Wyatt @Paigeotto
@UweStenderPhD Thanks for doing this! How has COVID impacted publishers purchasing novels and agents signing new clients? I know this is a huge question but just wanted to know what the general trends might be.It has not affected me at all. But I can't speak for all of publishing.
Literary Agent
WBWrites @WbWrites
@UweStenderPhD Do you have any tips for writing a good query letter? I struggle quite a bit with that particular format.Google that, then distill from all the findings what works best for YOU and YOUR project.
Literary Agent
Shanice | Wakanda Forever @twixsftbl
@UweStenderPhD I have an idea for a new book that I’ve written down. It seems adult or NA but idk yet. But I feel very rooted in the YA world rn. How do I as a writer transition to writing for adults (when I’m ready)? Adult genre writing reads very very different to YA to meIf you want it to sell, then sadly it needs to feature characters who are 30 or older, because most publishers will claim that under 30 books won't sell, unless they are YA. Exceptions prove the rule.
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Luther Whiting-Collins @lutherwrites
@UweStenderPhD Do you see room for a 14-year-old MC in YA, or is that too close to the upper MG threshold? Also, how mandatory is it that a YA MC be in high school? For example, the MC in my WIP is an older 8th grader who’s 14. I realize that’s probably odd.I'd prefer 15 or older, but look at #Teamtriada's @reckj's debut novel...
Literary Agent
Sajan Prabhakar @hinduskakid
@UweStenderPhD Thanks for doing this! What separates a near offer of rep from an offer of rep in your opinion?If I LOVE LOVE LOVE a book, I will offer. If I just love it, I won't. I need the addictive feel.
Literary Agent
(((Zan Safra))) is Querying @CharmQuark12
@UweStenderPhD Thanks for doing this! I have a quick question: An agent who requested my full has had it for a few months now, but I'm worried that a polite nudge may result in a quicker rejection. Is this sheer paranoia on my part?Paranoia. They will either like it or not, and a few months (more than 3) is a reasonable time to follow up.
Literary Agent
E R Hoffer (@🏠) @erhoffer
@UweStenderPhD Thanks for sharing your insights! What factors engaged you when you read a recent submission? What was it about the characters, the world, the premise, or the writing that kept you turning the page?I wish I could give you a helpful answer, but I can't. Why do you like a song you hear vs. not liking it? Why a movie? Why a TV show? Why a love interest? Why a Fussball Mannschaft? Etc. etc. It's like that for me.
Literary Agent
Alyssa M. Perez S @lavamermaid
@UweStenderPhD I've been genuinely curious if you as an agent pass on a query but then one day later that book you passed on gets published... Do you usually read it or not want to?No, I get about 50 queries a day on average, so admittedly, sadly, I wouldn't even know. BUT, if I offered and the writer picked another agent, I would love to, and do, read it.
Literary Agent
Catherine Eli @TheCatherineEli
@UweStenderPhD What do you wish you could see more of in your inbox for YA right now? Thanks!Friendship stories. A brilliant retelling of a clasdic novel or fairytale.
Literary Agent
CJ Simone @CJSimone333
@UweStenderPhD Advice is to make POV voices distinct, but can they be too distinct? Some readers/agents have had a strong preference for one POV voice in my stories. Also, is it a problem if voice is too different across stories (for developing fan base)? Thanks!I don't know, I don't know the project. PERSONALLY, the more distinct the better.
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Lucie Frost @LucieHFrost
@UweStenderPhD For a NF humor book...do you (or most agents) want a MS or proposal? I know NF is proposal, but didn't know if humor is different.I personally would want a proposal, but I cannot speak for others.
Literary Agent
Craig Noles (CN Scott) @CNScott4
@UweStenderPhD A book I read about querying said to consider stopping after 50 rejections. What are you thoughts on that? Thanks!I would stop after you went through all "legitimate" agents. Sadly it's not necessarily clear what "legitimate" means. But I would not go by a specific number. At Triada, you have 6. I am certain you can get to more than 50.
Literary Agent
Justin Kownacki @JustinKownacki
@UweStenderPhD @LLAWrites What happens if you read something you like, but which you don't think you can sell? (e.g., a bad fit for your go-to publishers, wrong time for the genre, not in your specific wheelhouse, etc.)I will pass.
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Sara Kruger @sarakruger
@UweStenderPhD @Michelle4Laughs Is it ever ok to use a best selling book by a prolific author as a comp?As long as you don't say "I am the next xyz,"all is well. In nonfiction, your comps actually preferably be against the bestsellers...so it depends on genre, too.
Literary Agent
Lori Keckler (Wear Your Mask!) @LoriKeckler
@UweStenderPhD On the practice of submitting to a different agent at the same agency after 1 has turned you down: have you ever heard of a writer finding their agent this way? For some reason, I'm shy to query like that. Danke!Yes, as long as the agency does not object. If you write YA, for instance, query me- if I pass, go to the other 5, one after the other, just don't do it simultaneously. A NO is an individual NO, not an agency wide NO here.