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
Chris Jones @ChrisJonesInk
@UweStenderPhD Hi, Uwe.What does a nonfiction author have to demonstrate beyond the proposal?
Hi, Chris
In addition to the proposal, I think 50 pages or so of sample pages are good. However, THE most important part of it is that you have to have a strong platform for better, or worse.
Literary Agent
Lula Lockwood @lulalockwood
@UweStenderPhD Should debut authors avoid multi POVs?Not necessarily. The strength of the writing is more valid.
Literary Agent
StanleyRichKid @StanleyRichKid1
@UweStenderPhD Does a call from an editor (about a MS on sub) usually mean an offer is coming? What are some reasons they wouldn’t offer after that call? #askagentNot necessarily. And I don't have enough info to answer the second part of your question.
Literary Agent
Amanda Spell @StonesofMoss
@UweStenderPhD What are some immediate red flags that would indicate to you that more work needed to be done before querying? #AskAgentSpelling errors and nonsensical plots.
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Jean-Maré Gagliardi🇿🇦 @jeanmare_gag
@UweStenderPhD What do you want to see in first pages? And how far in do you typically know you’ll offer rep? #askagentI hate to say it, but "I know it when I see it", is my answer to your first question. Re: your second question: At the end.
Literary Agent
Katja IS going to 'contaminated' Zurich! 🌸🎈🧡 @OneOfUsHasToGo
@UweStenderPhD Of course I missed this. 😔I would have a question not quite publishing related but about whether it's fair usage to use a cartoon character's name in my manuscript 3 times or if that violates copyrights.
(Use the cartoon character as a nickname for one of my characters.)
It should be fine.
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Julie L Whitehead @julielwhitehea1
@UweStenderPhD How do you know your manuscript is ready to go out to agents? I am on my sixth write-through and some of the essays have already been published in lower-tier journals. Or is it an unanswerable question?Whenever you think you, and your CPs can no longer realistically improve it, then it is ready.
Literary Agent
R.B. Shifman is also Richard Shifman @rshifman
@UweStenderPhD Other than an author’s own knowledge or googling key terms, and what is a good way to find great comps? Is there a super-secret database? Thank you! #askagentNot to my knowledge. Rely, preferably, on your own reading experience.
Literary Agent
Nancy Parish @nancyparish
@UweStenderPhD Since the Olympics just happened, is there an interest in YA contemporary sports books? #AskAgentI don't know. It depends on the book, not the timing per se.
Literary Agent
Dean Marquis @DeanMarquis1
@UweStenderPhD Who's your favorite authorMatthias Brandt.
Literary Agent
Jessica L. Cozzi @JessCozziWrites
@UweStenderPhD Do you, as an agent, usually fully read the whole page of the query letter to see if they’re interested, or if they’re not grabbed from the first few seconds, they let it go?I believe that many, if not most agents, may read the entire query. I, personally, know within seconds what intrigues me.
Literary Agent
Sarah Adler @sarahaadler
@UweStenderPhD I have a new project I hope to query in Sept, but a few agents still have fulls of a previous project. If I don't hear back from them before then (they'll have had my ms for 6+ mo) what is the etiquette? Keep waiting? Nudge? Query new project & let them know if I get an offer?Nudge, and let them know when you have an offer.
Literary Agent
Caren Lissner @CarenLissner
@UweStenderPhD Which times of the year are best and worst times to submit to agents? Also, has covid affected the kinds of books & genres agents want to see and what readers want to read?Don't query (me) between December 16- January 9. I can't speak for others. For me, no <except I have 0% interest in Covid related stories.>
Literary Agent
Juliana Clayton @kidlit_writer
@UweStenderPhD Thanks for this! What pushes a query from a "maybe/pass" to a "must request?" I have gotten very positive feedback on my book from Betas, re-written my first pages dozens of times, polished my query until it gleams, attended workshops, and I still have a very low request rate.That is tough to answer without knowing the query. For *me*, I know if I am interested or not within 5 seconds. It has to intrigue me. But why does something intrigue me?!? I don't know in general. I *know* it when I see it.
Literary Agent
HM_Braverman is drafting again (17k/75k) @HMBraverman
@UweStenderPhD In your experience, have most of the manuscripts you’ve loved and offered on been immediate requests? (Ie hasn’t been sitting in the maybe pile)For me, yes, but I respond instantly to emails during work hours. My guess is that most people don't, thus if I were you, I wouldn't worry.
Literary Agent
Amy Harpe @harpea23
@UweStenderPhD Is historical MG a harder sell right now? I've noticed many agents don't have historical on their MSWLs.I don't know. I suspect that historical novels depend strongly on the writer being able to write atmospherically and realistically in/about that time in the past...and that is difficult, for surem
Literary Agent
Lynn Hooghiemstra @Nicky_Adams_Pen
@UweStenderPhD Which do you prefer, character driven or plot driven thrillers?I very much enjoyed While Justice Sleeps, but would have liked a little more character depth, which prompted my question.
I generally prefer character over plot, but not necessarily.
Literary Agent
Nancy Parish @nancyparish
@UweStenderPhD Thanks, what should a writer say when following up? #askagentDear <insert agent's name>,
Good morning <afternoon etc.>. I am wondering if you have had a chance to take a look at <insert title> yet.
I am looking forward to your response.
Best wishes,
<insert your name>.