Ann Rose
Literary Agent
Tobias Literary Agency
agent: @TheTobiasAgency & #rosebudauthor wrangler | author: ROAD TO EUGENICA & BREAKOUT | opinions are my own | she/her rep:@evascalzo layout:@ana_scribe
Literary Agent
@notdianahere is under renovations @_daphneemerson
@annmrose At what point is a manuscript considered over-queried?That’s kind of up to you as the writer. When you feel like there is nothing left for you to do 😔❤️
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
ECD is querying @ecoyledivers
@annmrose Thanks for your time. Is there an etiquette when an agent has had your query for 4+ months, no response, and another agent at same agency (you've been hoping would open) opens?After you check to see if they have set reply times you can either withdraw the query and try another agent or nudge the first one and see if that speeds up a response.
Literary Agent
Gab Cody @GabCody
@annmrose Good morning. If a book stands alone, but is part of a planned series, should you mention the series in your query? I’ve heard contradictory advice 1) if the first book isn’t a success no one cares if there are more 2) publishers love series. Thanks!I’m a believer in trying to sell this one book. Telling an agent that it’s part of a X book series is like saying, I need you to sell X books for the full story arc.
I am also a believer that every book can be a series if you really want it to and there’s a readership 😉
Literary Agent
Jules @julesthemayfly
@annmrose For comp titles what matter more? Genre, setting, mood or plot? For example can a space opera be a comp title for a more near future, grounded scifi book if both are a romance with and investigation plot?I think explaining how the title is the comp is key. Like in your example: the readers of (space opera) will enjoy the romance and investigative plot.
Literary Agent
Thelma 🖊️ 📖 🖤 @ThelmaMantey
@annmrose Happy new year first of all!! Thanks for the ask-agent offer! 🤗💕I have a question: if the agent uses a form, like querytracker, and it already has dedicated fields for bio and comp titles, I assume I cut them from the query letter?
You can but if you don’t that’s fine too. You won’t get points taken off or anything 😉
Literary Agent
Eve️ (on a break) 🔥 🖊️ 🎶🍜 @Evewritesbooks
@annmrose Oh and WHAT PULLS YOU IN FOR THE OPENING PAGES? What do agents want to see? Action? Build-up? Hehesorry I got excited bcz I remembered my original question 😃
I think starting with “agency” not action is the best way to go.
Meaning you give your MC a compelling goal they are trying to achieve while you set up the world and larger conflict of the story
Literary Agent
Eve️ (on a break) 🔥 🖊️ 🎶🍜 @Evewritesbooks
@annmrose I have always been scared of comps. But what I want to know is that do agents prefer the query letter to start with book info or direct dive into the story? Any advice since I will be querying my YA action/thriller about four sisters in the deadly tournament thus March🫴💕Preferences like this vary so I wouldn’t stress too much about it. Just do what feels right to you. We can always skip to the bottom and get the meta data first if that’s were it is and if we like to lead with that.
Literary Agent
Regina Weaver should take a SM break until 2023 @ReginaWAuthor
@annmrose How much do you think similar tastes inform "fit" btwn an author and agent? If an agent's top book of 2022 was an author's most hated book of 2022 (or vis versa), is it more likely that author's work won't resonate with the agent or is it not really a factor in your experience.There could be a million reason why it was their favorite and those might not be the reasons you hated it so I don’t think this can be a determining factor.
Literary Agent
Sarah Estow @SarahEstow
@annmrose If an agent asks for info in QM that is in my std query letter in separate fields (like bio etc.) Is it better to cut from letter or be redundant? Thx!You can, but it’s not a mark against you if you don’t and repeat yourself
Literary Agent
abby | querying mer WIP @abbywrites8
@annmrose Should comps be title only, or is it helpful to make them descriptive? (“Into the Drowning Deep” vs “Scary sea monsters, diverse queer cast, and humor like Mira Grant’s Into the Drowning Deep”)I think it’s always helpful to have why they are the comp. So yes descriptive IMO is better
Also love the example ❤️
Literary Agent
Stephen Harkleroad @americancrank
@annmrose What are your most/least favorite tropes in fantasy novels?🧐
Tired: Reiterating patriarchal ideals in “fantasy” settings
Fire: cozy fantasies or ones that just feel fresh and different
Literary Agent
Stacey L. Pierson @SuperStacey318
@annmrose What are most excited/looking forward to reading in queries/MSs from querying authors in 2023?I’m just excited to find compelling stories!
Literary Agent
Michelle S. Kennedy @MichelleSKenned
@annmrose What is the best way to grab an agent's attention in a query?Be professional
Have a hook
❤️
Literary Agent
S. G. Winter @SGWinter13
@annmrose Good day to you!My question would be, how do you feel (and think other agents feel) about uncalled for requeries of a project that has gotten a complete rewrite. Not an edit but an actually different book with a newfound voice that makes the story sing rather than stutter? 😰🫣
I can only speak for myself but I’m totally open to revisiting
Literary Agent
Chris Corvus, a bird of words. @inkmaderaven
@annmrose How forgiving are agents about typos and such? I know I've got issues where my brain likes to autocorrect what I read so I sometimes not even know there's typos as I go along editing. Since editors are a step in the process is it more about the story or does the technical factor?I think if there are a couple here and there it’s NBD but if it’s all just one giant typo then it could be a problem
Just do the best you can
We know typos happen ❤️
Literary Agent
Casey Kincade @Noir_Kincade
@annmrose Do you prefer a spoiler-free query letter and summary or do you want all the juicy plot points up front?Query letters should not have spoilers
Synopsis should have spoilers
Literary Agent
M.Rose is writing @mayroundstone
@annmrose I see Fantasy is listed as a genre on your Query Manager page. Does that include Urban Fantasy? Thanks and happy holidays! ☺️Yes. If there is a specific “urban fantasy” category I can select I must have missed it 🤨
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Shouka (anxious writer) @ShoukaRo
@annmrose I was told my story may be hard to market because it straddles the line between YA and adult (think stranger things with multi pov with teenagers and adults) I can't make all the pov characters teenagers. But I also hear there's barely any agents that rep crossover. Any advice?The issue it sounds like you have is one of shelf space. Remember a publisher’s job is to sell to bookstores so if your book straddles the shelf how will the store position it?
My advice, decide who your reader is and what shelf it should be on to reach them.
Good luck!