Beth Phelan
Literary Agent
Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency
she/her. mg & ya literary agent @galltzackerlit. founder 501c3 NPO @_DiverseVoices (#DVpit/#DVart, DVcon &more). closed to unsolicited submissions.
- #mswl (128)
- #querytip (24)
- #pubtip (3)
- #askagent (25)
- #askTBA (17)
- #askDVpit (30)
- #asklitAOC (12)
- #askGZLA (41)
Literary Agent
Anup 📝📚 @anuponthenet
#askgzla I have wondered what you are trying to look at when you ask, "How you came to write that story"Is there a deeper meaning?
I love knowing why a story is important to a writer! It’s something i usually ask when offering rep. I wanna know why they’re invested because i wanna be just as invested #askgzla
Literary Agent
Alice Arley 🍗🍁🥧 @AliceArley
What makes a MG manuscript "too dark"? I see some work getting this label (or at least very dark). Are there certain topics that lead to this label? Anything you strongly advise to avoid? Or is it just more the suspense/creep factor worked in regardless of topic?#askGZLAI think it’s less about content and more about how it’s delivered #askgzla
Literary Agent
Carla Young @CarlaYoung
#askGZLA question: what details do you want to see in an author bio on an unsolicited pitch? Thinking particularly of social media presence which I've heard lots of debate about.Eh whatever you feel is relevant. You also don’t need to put anything if you don’t want. #askgzla
Literary Agent
Carla Young @CarlaYoung
#askGZLA question: where is the best place to research what agents are interested in? Agency web site? Agent social media profile? MSWL? Query tracker?All these are great! We post everywhere lol. Some also have personal websites where they list their mswl #askgzla
Literary Agent
S. Beard @ABeardedScribe
@beth_phelan I was always worried if I did that I would get hit with the dreaded, "too many characters introduced, hate it." It's fantastic to see it's still a possibility when done right!Nah i think if it’s like 5 characters you might wanna start summarizing their arcs but otherwise I’ve def done up to 4 and it worked out fine for me (book sold) #askgzla
Literary Agent
lizzy is doing NaNoWriMo! @lizzy_writes
Is NA becoming more of a viable genre one could query with, or is it better to market your MS as a YA or Adult (depending on which one it more leans to)? #askGZLAI think you should market it as what it is! #askgzla
Literary Agent
Shannan Williams @enlightenedpen
How do we research agents? I’m aware of Manuscript Wish List but what other factors should we keep in mind besides what their wish list is? Recent Sales? # of clients?#askGZLATry writer beware and absolutewrite but also remember that talking to other authors in like a FB group or whatever is a great way to get first person info if you feel comfortable asking #askgzla
Literary Agent
S. Beard @ABeardedScribe
How would one query with Multi-POV (more than 2-3) when each MC has equal time and importance to the plot? Or would it still just be to focus one of them and mention it is Multi-POV in the comp section?#askGZLA
When I’ve written pitches for those i put like two sentences for each one (status quo, stakes/obstacle), separate paragraphs. Then one paragraph connecting them all on the major plot. Then last is two lines hinting toward the climax. #askgzla
Literary Agent
Katie LaRae 🏳️🌈 @The_Katie_LaRae
Any favorite trends you're seeing in books at the moment?Is there anything you WISH would make a comeback? #Askgzla
I know there are some vampire books out there and just waiting for mine!! #askgzla
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Tiana Torres @tiananicole15
Hi all, question about word counts. I’ve heard that with debut authors in particular, it’s best to keep the word count in the lower end of the genre’s range to minimize the risk of taking it on. How true (and imperative) is this? #askGZLAOh weird I’ve never heard that! I think for debuts it makes sense to keep it within reason but it depends on the story and how much room it needs to be effective so it’s a balance. I wouldn’t adhere too strictly to that advice #askgzla
Literary Agent
LC Milburn @LCMilburn
Hope this Q makes sense! If you sign an author for a project (book A) and they have another MS you’re not as interested in (book B) would you still help them shepherd book B (presumably after book A) to publication because they’re your client and you love them?? 😂 #askGZLAThis is a hard question lol. I think it’s case by case but really if i think my opinion of the book will be a detriment to the author then i would let them go forth on that book with another agent. They don’t benefit from having an agent who doesn’t like their book. #askgzla
Literary Agent
Suz Page @SuzPageWrites
How important are comp titles. And what do you feel a comp title should convey. #askGZLAThey’re so hard. Supposedly they indicate two things: there is a market for it as evidenced by other similar books and also it’s a way to describe the book in a hooky way. They can be important for publishers to anticipate sales (and offers). #askgzla
Literary Agent
Taylor Kemper @Taylortac
#askGZLA What makes you automatically say “pass!” when you read the first few sample pages?It really depends! There can be a whole bunch of like clinical reasons but a lot of the time for me it’s a gut thing. I need to be able to read it again and again, so i have to LOVE it personally. #askgzla
Literary Agent
Shelly Jarvis @shellyjarvis
Should I mention self-publishing 3 novels when I query? I worry that it looks like I couldn’t get interest with traditional publishing, when actually I didn’t try until this 4th book. #askGZLAI don’t think it means that. You should always be transparent. I wouldn’t wanna find out later. #askgzla
Literary Agent
Anushi Mehta @Anushi_mehta
Do agents reply to requests from Dvpit (even if it's a no) #askGZLAIt depends on each agent! I think most endeavor to because it’s a request #askgzla
Literary Agent
Michelle Lindo Rice @mlindorice
What are some reasons that an agent might reject a full manuscript request #askgzlaSometimes it’s a really strong opening that gets us to request, but maybe the rest of the book didn’t get enough polish or the plotting went somewhere that didn’t resonate ultimately #askgzla
Literary Agent
Erik Thurman #ChileDespertó #AsambleaConstiyente @ErikThurman
#askGZLA #askagent How do you combat language used in our industry that work set outside the US or with non-American characters is “a hard sell?” Especially to editors and agents who currently represent this work?F*ck em i sell them anyway #askgzla #PatronSaintsofNothing #WickedFox
Literary Agent
Katie LaRae 🏳️🌈 @The_Katie_LaRae
What factors do you consider when requesting an R&R versus offering on a project? #AskgzlaI don’t do many r&r’s really so someone else will have to take this but it’s a good question #askgzla