Kate Nash

· 13 May 2020

Ruthy Mason @R_Mason92

Half my submissions have resulted in full requests, but the only feedback I’ve had so far has been ‘great writing but not falling in love with it enough.’ Is this a euphemism, or should I keep trying and hoping someone else might love it #askagent

Replying to @R_Mason92

Sounds like you are getting close. A downer of this job is turning down manuscripts you know are good and will be published but aren't right for you as an agent. That is what prompts me to write the "I like this but I don't love it" type of feedback. #AskAgent

· 13 May 2020

Mark Lowes @MJLAuthor

#askagent is 61k words too short for a novel?

Replying to @MJLAuthor

61K would be regarded as likely short for a thriller but perhaps not a literary novel. #AskAgent

· 13 May 2020

Zoë🌹 @zoeclarewrites

Is there a particular genre agents receive a lot of queries for? I see a lot of people asking about fantasy novels but rarely other genres #AskAgent

Replying to @zoeclarewrites

I get a good deal of histfic which I love and people know this, but never enough crime or romcoms for my personal tastes. #AskAgent

· 13 May 2020

Liz Harvey @lizlaumiere

Hi, if an agent requests a full, how long until I might expect a reply? (I know... but rough window?!) Would you give feedback even if it’s a No? Would you even get back to me?? Thanks! #askagent

Replying to @lizlaumiere

I aim to get back within 3-4 weeks. #AskAgent

· 29 Apr 2020

Tracy Fells @theliterarypig

Hi, what can be the reasons for an agent not responding after calling in a full, even after the writer sends a polite follow-up email? I'd hoped for some feedback once a full was requested but am feeling pretty demotivated after experiencing this sometimes. Thank you #askagent

Replying to @theliterarypig

Sometimes I am really swamped and sometimes I lose things. It is hard because agents have to prioritise work for existing clients and I often fail to have the time I hoped to read subs. #AskAgent

· 29 Apr 2020

Shona Kinsella @shona_kinsella

@mushenska If an author has already been offered a contract direct from a publisher, would you be willing to help them in negotiating said contract? #askagent

Replying to @shona_kinsella

Yes. Never feel pressured into signing anything before you've had the chance to do your due diligence which includes, if you are unagented, speaking to possible agents and @Soc_of_Authors #AskAgent

· 29 Apr 2020

Ben Ross @flyraccoonfly

@mushenska Thanks! I'm curious if you ever wish you hadn't read the spoilers before reading a full manuscript? #askagent

Replying to @flyraccoonfly

I rarely read synopses that come in on submission for precisely this reason. Takes the fun out of the reading the mss. #AskAgent

· 29 Apr 2020

staringattheblankpage @nickarmitage

@julietpickering Why would I send a mss to an agent and not straight to a publisher ? #Askagent?

Replying to @nickarmitage

An agent might be able to get you a better deal than you could yourself. #AskAgent

· 22 Apr 2020

Eilish Fisher @EilishFisher

@katenashagent Is it worth getting your MS/synopsis/query letter professionally edited before submitting? Money well spent? Thank you 🙂

Replying to @EilishFisher

You may want to work with a pro editor to help learn your writing craft but I would hope most writers are writing their own query letters. Any letter that tells me why the writer has thought I might be the agent for them works for me. #AskAgent

· 22 Apr 2020

Nikki Dudley @nikkidudley20

@katenashagent @AshaHick #askagent Can you revise and resubmit after a full ms rejection if an agent doesn't specifically say so but gives feedback you can work on? I think it's no...

Replying to @nikkidudley20

If I have invested the time to read a full manuscript I will always give some feedback but I will be explicit whether I am up for a reread. If in doubt ask the agent whether they do want to revisit. #AskAgent

· 22 Apr 2020

Nick Feldman @NickZG

@katenashagent So if I *do* have enough story to justify the length-- pending my editor's feedback on that-- not a big deal?

Replying to @NickZG

The issue with length relates mostly to print costs but a great story that needs its length to be told will always trump this (I hope). #AskAgent

· 22 Apr 2020

Nick Jury @TheRealNickJury

@katenashagent Are you still taking submissions? And in particular for crime stories. #askagent

Replying to @TheRealNickJury

Yes please. Crime is one of my favourite genres. #AskAgent

· 22 Apr 2020

Nick Feldman @NickZG

@katenashagent #askagent how big of a deal is book being longer than 100k words?

Replying to @NickZG

The question really is, "do you have enough story to justify your word length?" In the commercial genres I work in novels are most typically 80-100K in length. #AskAgent

· 22 Apr 2020

Annabel Tellis @AnnabelTellis

Hi agents and thanks. I sent my mg novel off ten years ago when it was far from ready. It’s now completed and really topical and has a sister book too. I wonder whether agents think they’ve seen it before, do we only have the one real chance? #askagent pic.twitter.com/3I5QelsNqU

Replying to @AnnabelTellis

I have surprised writers before by telling them all about a book of theirs I read years ago they can't recall pitching to me 😂 but I would probably prefer a heads up in your submission email if I had read before so I am not struggling with unidentified deja vu. #AskAgent

· 22 Apr 2020

Sarah Lawton 🇪🇺 @sarahwrites80

#askagent Have you ever not placed a book at a publisher but pitched it to film makers instead?

Replying to @sarahwrites80

Specialist agents pitch books to film and television but occasionally a book comes along and actually that story breaks through first on screen. #AskAgent