Cecilia Lyra

I have before, yes! It's rare, and it usually happens when I love the writing but the project needs SO MUCH WORK that I'm not sure my vision will match with the writer's. #askPSLA

When are we not swamped? 🙃

Seriously, though: it's the best job in the world. It's all good. #askPSLA

YES! #askPSLA

I think after 3 months it's fair to send a polite nudge! #askPSLA

Hum... for me, I'd prefer you to acknowledge. But, sorry to ask, can't you get it down to 99k? Pretty please? There HAS to be things you can cut. Your editor will likely expect you to. #askPSLA

I think all agents do. Sush pile = queries from people without a referral — so the majority of cases. And yes, absolutely! I've signed several authors from the slush pile. #askPSLA

I like it when a writer has more than one book in them, whether polished now (great!) or to be written in the future. As an agent, it's my intention to sign an author for the duration of their career—and I hope it'll be a long one! 🥰 #askPSLA

I like a little bit of personal. Especially love it if you tell me about your fur babies, just saying ❤️
#askPSLA

WHITE IVY by Susie Yang and CONFIDENT WOMEN by Tori Telfer — please see my pinned tweet for more! #askPSLA

100% yes! #askPSLA

Yes, but only if the query is for a genre I don't represent OR if there's a serious red flag (e.g. offensive or rude etc.). #askPSLA

I assume all manuscripts have gone through developmental editing — it's an important step to get a work ready for submission. (Sadly, the ones who have not stand out in a bad way.) If you used an editor, then it might be worth mentioning that editor's name. #askPSLA

The writing. The writing. The writing. 😍 #askPSLA

A few ways an agent could help include negotiating the contract, offering a big-picture vision of your career vis-à-vis the industry, and selling your rights to work in other territories and formats. #askPSLA

Speaking for myself, yes! 🥰 #askPSLA

If I love the writing style, I'd have an honest conversation with the writer and, if they agreed, I'd suggest working on something new together and then saving that other work for later. Full disclosure: the quality of the writing would have to be EXCEPTIONAL. #askPSLA

No (with very few exceptions). Agents do welcome NEW work from self-published authors. #askPSLA

Yes, if there's an average. And if there's not (perhaps because it does vary SO much), then explain that. ☺️ The important part is to address the length. #askPSLA

For me, usually 2 – 5 rounds of edits. It does depend on the category, genre, whether this is the writer's first work or not, etc.

In terms of time, it depends on the writer's availability more than anything. #askPSLA

It's a no-no! I recommend waiting till you hear back from that first agent. If, for example, they pass, then you are free to query this new work to any agent you'd prefer. #askPSLA