Literary Agent
View Post
Ayana Gray @AyanaGray
Do you prefer a query letter to begin with metadata or jump straight into plot? And why? I know this varies depending on agency/agent. #askPSLADoesn't matter to me! As long as the metadata details are somewhere, I'm happy. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
View Post
🧠🌈 Steve Asbell @rainforestgardn
For author/illustrators, are you (or other agents) ever considering to work with the client even if the picture book dummy or manuscript isn't a good fit at the time? #askpslaIf a project wasn't the right fit, but I liked the author/illustrator's style, I would probably ask them to reach out with another book in the future. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
View Post
Tesse Struve @StruveTesse
Is YA still a pretty hot genre? I’ve heard rumors it’s starting to slow in popularity. Thanks! #askPSLAThere will always be teenage readers! #askPSLA
Literary Agent
View Post
N. Nasim Homer @HomerNasim
Is it okay to self-identify in a query (such as #POC or #OWN)? If so, where does that go in the letter? Is it toward the end when you give a short bio? #askPSLAIt's ok to do so if you want to, but no one should ever feel it's mandatory. You could put this info in the bio section or with the intro details (ex: "an own voices manuscript called ___"). #askPSLA
Literary Agent
View Post
jstevenson @jsteven38690251
I’m planning to use a pen name. I created a twitter username to match the pen name, but it has no other activity. I have zero twitter presence in my real name anyway. How much do agents care about that? #askPSLAIf you don't want to use twitter, then don't use twitter. It doesn't bother me if my clients aren't on a particular social media platform. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
View Post
Kevin Treaccar @kevintreaccar
For PBs, how detailed do you like illustrator notes to be for an author/illustrator query? Do you want to see all pagination and illustration notes? Or mostly words with just the most important notes to avoid distracting from the story? Thank you. #AskPSLAIllustration notes should only be used when the illustrations add understanding to the story that the reader won't get from the text alone. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
View Post
Diane Lash Decker @Lash_Decker
Hi there. #askPSLA Would you consider representing a picture book that was self-published and is being sold locally and in local libraries? @PSLiteraryI prefer to work on new projects. I have a longer explanation here: mariavicente.com/blog/why-agent… #askPSLA
Literary Agent
View Post
𝐠𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐳𝐢 🌶🤷🏽 @gabriellaienzi
#askPSLA more for @msmariavicente. I have an adult contemp about a 19yo chasing closure after a bad breakup (THE MOTHERS, THE FALCONER). But writing style is less literary, and more YA (Angie Thomas). Will that work for me or against me? (or indifferent lol)With a 19yo protagonist, this sounds more like YA than adult contemporary (just based on this small pitch). Compare it to published YAs with college-aged characters and see if it fits in. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
View Post
Adriëlle @AdrielleBlaas
Is there anything you wish would make a comeback? Genre, trope, etc#askPSLA
I'm impatiently waiting for the next big vampire thing tbh. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
View Post
Barbara Martinez @Libby2964
#askPSLA Will the market always be the #1 determining factor? I know this is a business but wonder if you have rejected something you would have liked to represent, but the market is not favorable. Thank you.It is always a factor in some way. I don't want to offer to represent someone's work if I don't think I can sell it. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
View Post
WRMiller @WRMiller2
@msmariavicente @kurestinarmada Is the market still hot for dragons? #askPSLAI don't think anything is ever really "out"—any topic just needs to have a really new twist. With so many books published every year, your concept needs to stand out. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
View Post
Noreen @naziaso
How polished should the MS be, professionally edited? #askPSLAIt should be polished enough that you'd be happy for the manuscript to be published as-is. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
View Post
Ann Dayleview - is drafting something new @AnnDayleview
Does having a strong online presence help when it comes to querying editors after an author has signed? #askPSLAIt can be helpful with nonfiction projects, doesn't matter as much with fiction. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
View Post
Carmen White @_CarmenWhite
#askPSLA Within the same 24 hours I hear multiple people say, "Agents won't take you unless you have (insert huge number) of followers on your platform." and "As long as your book is good, it doesn't matter."So what's the real story there? And how do you handle it in a query?
I have never signed or not signed a writer based on their number of followers. There are many factors to consider when it comes to platform. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
View Post
Geoffrey Best @geoffreybest
If you submitted a query and you have a sudden doubt about its quality, should you revise or resubmit or accept it or maybe ........? #askPSLAMost agents read queries from oldest to most recent, so re-submitting a query isn't going to help. The old one will get read first anyway. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
View Post
christine🛸 @chrisjowrites
hi and thank you so much for doing this! I have a question about requerying. if one has done pretty heavy, substantial revisions, changed up the query, re-defined the genre, found more fitting comps, etc, would it be okay to requery an agent? thank you! #askPSLASure! The worst that can happen is they say no. Just be up front in your new query letter that you submitted the project before and that it has since been revised. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
View Post
Tamara Rittershaus @TRittershaus
@msmariavicente What do you see as the ideal word count for chapter books? The Princess in Black is ca. 2000 WC and Zoey & Sassafras are 8000+WC. Any guideline to where I should aim?#askPSLA Thanks!
It just depends on the target age group. Lower word count for 6-ish, higher word count for 8ish. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
View Post
Sabrina Kleckner @sabkleckner
Do you have advice for knowing when a project is ready to query? I've queried my current ms and stopped to revise twice because of CP notes, and am nervous to head back into the trenches again in case the book is still not ready. #askpslaIf you'd be happy with it being published as-is (and read by actual people who aren't your CPs!), then it's ready to be queried. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
View Post
Maria Vicente @msmariavicente
@ShorStar I wouldn't be concerned about a personal blog, but I would want a list of essays published elsewhere (reputable online or print publications). For nonfiction, understanding and utilizing your platform is key—but that goes beyond social media numbers. #askPSLAMy colleague @ericsmithrocks wrote an awesome post about platform, but the link seems to be broken. Eric, do you have an updated link to share for "Ways to Build Your Platform That Have Nothing to Do with Your Twitter Following"? #askPSLA
Literary Agent
View Post
Shorey Andrews @ShorStar
#askPSLA how important is it to have a well-established personal blog when pitching a book of personal essays? Is a huge social media following also a part of the consideration? Thanks 😊I wouldn't be concerned about a personal blog, but I would want a list of essays published elsewhere (reputable online or print publications). For nonfiction, understanding and utilizing your platform is key—but that goes beyond social media numbers. #askPSLA